Rhino Pass

14 Jan 2013 18:52 #55865 by intrepid

Replied by intrepid on topic Rhino Pass

The pass can easily be approached from Garden Castle campsite. Cross the river and follow the main trail up to an arbitary point where you deem it best to get onto the crest of the ridge coming off Little Rhino. This is the ridge running above the river, directly opposite the campsite. Eventually you will pick up on a faint trail that takes you right below the Little Rhino and then contours around the base of it to the North. Once you have traversed around, the track will eventually start fading on you but by this time you will see the pass. Where you choose to enter the main gully is up to you, whether u drop down to the river, or just maintain the contour. I will post some GPS tracks soon. Have a look at this on Google Earth, it will give you an idea.

It can easily be combined with Mashai Pass from Garden Castle, I did this in a day.

Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.

The following user(s) said Thank You: Fitness

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

intrepid
Offline
Administrator

15 Jan 2013 11:11 #55872 by Fitness

Replied by Fitness on topic Rhino Pass

@Ghaz, so just that I don't confuse myself as we look at the picture of Rhino Pass you descended on the left hand side (right hand side if you descending)?
I'm wanting to do this pass fairly soon so I'm just trying to get my ducks in a row
@intrepid. Please send me the GPS co ordinate s so I can plot a potential route.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Fitness
Offline
Elite Member

15 Jan 2013 11:32 #55873 by ghaznavid

Replied by ghaznavid on topic Rhino Pass

We did the gully on the right hand side of the photo, so on the left from the top. I didn't see a cairn on top, but it was the more obvious gully (well from the north side anyway).

Please login or register to view the images attached to this post.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

ghaznavid
Offline
Platinum Member

15 Jan 2013 20:35 #55876 by ghaznavid

Replied by ghaznavid on topic Rhino Pass

Just in case it helps, here is the approx line we used up the pass:

Reversing the route we would have traversed into the gully at 2600m, followed the north grassy bank for about 100m vertical gain and thereafter remained very close to the river the rest of the way up - mainly staying on the south side, but we probably crossed it about 4 times. There are vague bits of path in places. I didn't see any cairns on the route though.

Just be careful, the ground on the pass from 2700m to the top is often not very stable, your trekking poles will be of great value on this pass.

Please login or register to view the image attached to this post.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

ghaznavid
Offline
Platinum Member

16 Jan 2013 19:54 #55890 by intrepid

Replied by intrepid on topic Rhino Pass

GPS data for Rhino Pass

Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.

The following user(s) said Thank You: ghaznavid

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

intrepid
Offline
Administrator

04 Apr 2013 12:00 #56519 by ghaznavid

Replied by ghaznavid on topic Rhino Pass

Good old Rhino Pass is back on my hiking plate

Ok - I know the normal route (north gully) from having done it, I know David Bristow (whose book unfortunately has so many errors in it) refers to the 2 gullies as one being iced up all winter and the other being sunny all winter and I know that Dave Gay says that the south gully isn't safe. Has anyone out there done the south gully? Anyone know whether or not it is in fact safe in May/June?

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

ghaznavid
Offline
Platinum Member

15 Feb 2014 19:47 #59689 by ghaznavid

Replied by ghaznavid on topic Rhino Pass

I think there is another thread for Rhino Pass somewhere on the site - but has anyone out there done the south gully of Rhino Pass?

I have done the north one, just don't want to get half way up the south one and find a 5m waterfall or something...

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

ghaznavid
Offline
Platinum Member

13 Oct 2014 08:49 #62037 by ghaznavid

Replied by ghaznavid on topic Rhino Pass

That's funny - I was coming to this thread to ask a question. I see I have already asked it twice with no response :laugh:

At risk of this thread becoming another Ghaznavid monologue like the Gypaetus Pass and Giants Cup threads - one last time, anyone have any info on the south gully of Rhino Pass?

I am hoping to loop it with Bollard Pass later this month, but if I can't confirm that it is safe to go down, I will have to switch with the north gully and just make a plan to go up the south gully as a day hike some time.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

ghaznavid
Offline
Platinum Member

13 Oct 2014 12:44 #62038 by Andrew5336

Replied by Andrew5336 on topic Rhino Pass

Sorry, we didn't go up this weekend but when I next go this is number one on the list to do so will post info once we've gone.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Andrew5336
Offline
Senior Member

13 Oct 2014 12:49 - 13 Oct 2014 12:56 #62039 by ghaznavid

Replied by ghaznavid on topic Rhino Pass

Andrew5336 wrote: Sorry, we didn't go up this weekend but when I next go this is number one on the list to do so will post info once we've gone.

Which gully are you planning on using? The pass splits quite early on. The north gully has a waterfall right near the top, but it can easily be bypassed (or probably climbed when the river is dry). This is the split off of the pass, and the only photo I have which shows part of the south (left in the photo) gully:

The waterfall right at the top of the north gully. To be completely honest, I actually can't remember how we got down this - I think we used the grass bank on the right of the photo and scrambled down the rocks at the bottom. I don't recall it being particularly difficult though.

I see the waterfall didn't even feature in my hike report , so it must have been easy to get past.

Please login or register to view the images attached to this post.

Last edit: 13 Oct 2014 12:56 by ghaznavid. Reason: adding detail

The following user(s) said Thank You: Andrew5336, relihanm

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

ghaznavid
Offline
Platinum Member

Back to Recent Topics

Rhino Pass

Please login or register to view the images attached to this post.

Please login or register to view the image attached to this post.

Please login or register to view the images attached to this post.

Gallery Selection