Giant's Castle Pass

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A useful winter cave,damp in summer, is on the left hand side ascending, shortly before the impressive crack/gulley on that side. This is all about 120 metres (?) below the head of the pass.

Yes, 120m sounds about right. By the way, we managed to squeeze our isodome tent into the cave, both the inner and outer. We slept 4 in the tent that night, a bit of a squeeze but it was snug and warm. It is always a good idea to know of these little caves if the weather turns sour.

I did not realize there was a second cave on the other side. One wonders how many good caves there are sitting in side valleys that no one uses and never know about. I know that there are some with really good caves with paintings like Eland Cave which are not marked on the maps. And in this case for good reason.

On the last weekend in June I was part of a large group that summited Giant’s Castle via Giant’s Castle Pass. Although there have recently been some write ups covering Giant’s Castle Pass (Giants hike report by Geordie and Jax, and Hike Report: Giants Castle – Giants Pass by Smurfatefrog) I want to supplement these with some more detail and photos on Giant’s Castle Pass and the approaches to the pass.

We used the Oribi Ridge route to access the area, and had the morning view of the ‘berg from Giant’s Castle to the Cathkin Range, still with some snow on the high ridges, although this soon disappeared.



Near the end of the ridge we passed the old Lammergeier hide. Giant’s Castle is the peak behind the hide, and Giant’s Castle Pass is to the right of Giant’s Castle, behind the ridge coming down to the right from Giant’s Castle in the photo below.



After a leisurely lunch break near where the Oribi Ridge route joined the Contour Path, we passed the newly roofed Giants Hut. See the ‘Giants hike report’ thread by Geordie and Jax for a picture of the roofless Giants Hut a few months ago.



We tented on a large flat area next to the Contour Path below Giant’s Castle, and had a great afternoon view of the peak and part of the pass.



Early the next morning, we departed from our camp, following the contour Path to cross a stream, and then heading diagonally up the ridge towards the Giant’s Castle Pass gully.



We kept to the left (true right) side of the gully on the ridge, crossing a large patch of scree and boulders.



After entering the gully, we found the trail which was on the right (true left) side and led us upwards into the pass.



A view down Giant’s Castle Pass, showing a steep section in the loose scree and gravel.

A view up Giant’s Castle Pass.



The view down the pass from the top, showing the upper section of scree.



The view from the top of the pass (in the opposite direction) to the escarpment, the Tent visible in the foreground with the Hawk to the left, kaMasihlenga Pass behind these two peaks and Redi the high point to the left.



From the top of Giant’s Castle Pass, we contoured around the peak to the south of the pass and got a good view of the Giant’s Castle high point from the ridge near the Makhaza ice climbing waterfall.



Soon it was just a short scramble up the final slope, and then 15 of us stood on the small summit of Giant’s Castle.



On the way back down the pass, some of us visited one of the Giant’s Caves, a short detour off the route into the largest gully entering the pass. The cave appeared well used and although the front area was on a slope, there was a flat area at the back of this cave where 4 to 5 could sleep.



After returning to our camp and packing up, we retraced our previous days route back along the Contour Path for a short distance before taking the path to our return route along Giant’s Ridge.



Near the Giant’s Castle Main Camp, we had a last view back to Giant’s Castle and the pass up the Bushman’s River.

I always enjoy photos of passes - it makes them look so much easier than they actually are

Thanks for sharing Tony, can't wait to bag this pass and the accompanying khulu next month