Elandshoek Pass

Has anyone done Elandshoek Pass, if so how difficult is it ? The approach path seems quite defined, there appears to be a high and a low approach, and there is a pic posted by Bobby Stanton in a berg quiz post. Any other pics, track info or insight would be appreciated.

After the post by Bobby in the photo quiz and the info supplied by him in response to my query, this pass have been on my to do list, well this weekend we got to do it. Thanks again Bobby for the info, without the feedback I don't think I would have attempted it, which is what makes this forum so great.

We decided to do the pass from Giants Castle returning via Giants Pass, we also decided what should be a 3 day hike would become a 4 day hike.

The first day was up Oribi Ridge to a campsite near the end of the South Ridge on one of the headwaters of the Mooi River, there was limited level space, but a larger group could collect water here and move on to the plateau at the end of the South Ridge.

On the morning of day two as you round the South Ridge, do you for the first time see the length of it, as it curves around to the pass, it is 6 km of contour path at around 2500 m straight into the pass.

I think at this stage I should insert the warning;

WARNING

This is a smugglers pass occasionaly used by hikers, it is used extensively by drug smugglers and not shoppers. There is evidence of shredded white bags all along the path, and the ususal sumugglers litter at all the convenient rest spots. We found a bread packet at one with fresh crumbs in it and a sell by date of the day we did the pass. We did not see anyone along the route, however given the extensive usage ,the chances of an encounter are high.

That all being said the approach path is well worn with litte erosion and the first 3 km are a pleasure to walk with fantastic views. The next 3 km become a bit more rugged, with two places were erosion by the side streams requires a bit of scrambling. Water is available at a few of the side streams and at the start of the gully, but is often polluted by the smugglers litter.

There is a short cut that is visble traversing up and over the South Ridge to join the ridge path to Highmoor on the other side.

There is a well worn, but not eroded, path up the entire gully with one quite long scramble up what is a fairly vertical section of path around the middle section of the gully to clear a waterfall. Wendy managed it Ok and she is not good with heights, but I certainly would not like to come down it in the dark with a 40 kg bag on my back! The upper section is fine with a clear path topping out in an intersting rock "bowl" at 3124 m. The approach and pass took about 4,5 hrs.

We went on to camp up on Giants Castle butress, as the weather was so good, and visited the peak and the Dakota crash site on the third day, before going down Giants Pass to camp at the bottom. The fourth day was a stroll back down Giants Ridge to camp for brunch.

Would I do the pass again, yes, going south past the tent and into the Lotheni area looks too good to resist.

First view of the pass


A close up of the pass , morning light was unfortunely creating a shadow



Some of the litter and evidence of smugglers on the pass










The contour path as it entres the gully

Litter in the gully



View up the gully from where the contour path enters


Scramble on the pass





View from the top



Tenting on Giants Castle

Nice one diverian. Eastern Gully next?
Ja Elandshoek is definitely a smugglers/stock theft pass. That path that contours along the escarpment past Giants and into Elandhoeks has clear evidence of high traffic by both humans and a number of different domestic animals.
I think they access the Lotheni road from there and possibly into the Impendle area.

ghaznavid wrote: @Viking: I think we have our next trip lined up quite nicely! Up Elandshoek down Hlathimba or the other way round...

I'll be sure to bring along a hessian sack or some animals so as to blend in.