Organ Pipes Pass

Does anyone know the condition of the bell traverse? Iv never done it before an Im planning to ascend that pass and head down the Organ pipes at the end of March?

Rating:* * * (4/10)Difficulty of the pass...

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Edit: Trip report www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/drakensberg-trips/55791-organ-pipes-pass-mlambonja-pass-loop-trip-report.html

Full Pass Writeup
The traditional route to Organ Pipes Pass, known as the Thuthumi Ridge route, starts at Arendsig gate at the top of Mike’s Pass, along the road giving access to the old forest research area. Below is a view of the road looking back towards Arendsig near the met station.



Just past the met station, a path runs off the road to the left (up slope) side of the road, which is usually used by hikers as it has a constant flattish uphill gradient, compared to the road which is more undulating.



Either can be used, as they come together near the base of the ridge up to the old fire lookout. I have done this route several times recently, and have combined photos from different trips in this write up, hence the differing appearances of the vegetation.



In the photo above, the path up the ridge to the old fire lookout can be seen to the left of the photo. The old fire lookout can be seen at the top of the left hand portion of the ridge (in front of Little Saddle in the background), with Organ Pipes Pass being the low point on the horizon. To the right of the pass are the peaks Castle Buttress and Cleft Peak. The route follows the Thuthumi ridge from the old fire lookout towards the pass, which is more visible in the photo below.



The photo below shows the view down the ridge below the old fire lookout, which is probably the most difficult section of the route due to the lengthy steep gradient, and is not to be underestimated.



The old fire lookout, also referred to as the Thuthumi Hut or Organ Pipes Ridge Hut, was very comfortable hikers accommodation in the late 1980s and 1990s, complete with a water tank, but has fallen into a poor state of repair due to ongoing vandalism, which also rules out any future repair efforts.



Above the old fire lookout the path follows the Thuthumi ridge, in places on the knife edge. In the photo below, Organ Pipes Pass is again the low point on the horizon, and the gully to the left of the ridge is Thuthumi Pass. The pointed peak in the centre (to the right of Thuthumi Pass) is unnamed, Ndumeni Dome is the high point just to the left of Thuthumi Pass, with Windsor Castle to the far left.

Just less than an hours hike from the old fire lookout there is a spring which has water most of the year and is a convenient lunch spot where hikers can replenish their water. The spring feeds a tributary of the Thuthumi River.



At several places along the route where the path is close to the edge of the ridge, the Thuthumi Pass path can be seen below you in the Thuthumi valley to the left. In the photo below, the Organ Pipes route passes below to the right of the rock outcrops in the centre of the photo, whilst Thuthumi Pass is to the left. At this point a path has developed between the two routes, which intrepid has appropriately named Smuggler’s Pass, and which will be the subject of my next write up, our group having used Smuggler's Pass on our recent long weekend trip to Didima Cave.



Below, the route to Thuthumi Pass to the left is obscured by the mist, while the hikers are on the path to Organ Pipes at the position of the split of the paths.



Some of the Organ Pipes, after which Organ Pipes Pass is named, and photographed from the path which passes just below these interesting rock formations.



There is a steep but relatively short gully leading to the top of the pass.



Near the top of the pass, a path branches off to Windy Gap, leading to the Camel route which is the other route using Organ Pipes Pass. Below, the path up Organ Pipes Pass goes out of the photo to the left, while the path along the middle of the photo goes to Windy Gap, at the rock spire in the centre of the photo.



An enormous cairn marks the top of Organ Pipes Pass.

Thanks for the writeup! Looking forward to the one on Smugglers Pass.

I looked at those photos and thought some of them looked very familiar - then I noticed myself filling up my hydration bladder

Its a great pass - definitely one of my favourites, possibly only beaten for view by Grays and Gypaetus Pass. Highly recommended for those who haven't done it before

@moderators: maybe it should get moved to the blog section or linked to Stijn's pass summary?

JonWells wrote: Is the spring you mentioned the only point on the route that has water?

Yes - you follow the ridge for almost the entire route, hence no water. There isn't much water above the pass either.