Thumb Pass

10 Nov 2012 07:17 - 10 Nov 2012 07:19 #55609 by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Thumb Pass
Has anyone out there done Thumb Pass?

Got a good look at the gully that I think is Thumb Pass last weekend (the gully on the right):


Looks steep but doable - no steeper than Hlubi Pass, just a very narrow gully at the top.

I want to do this as a chilled 3 dayer (after the less than chilled hikes I have done so far this year). Day 1 with a late start hike to the base of the pass and camp there, day 2 do the pass and khulu bag Bannerman Face as well as Senqebethu, camp on the flattish spot behind Langies Pass, day 3 come down North Hlubi Pass. It will be either December or January. Anyone who is keen to join, let me know :)

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Last edit: 10 Nov 2012 07:19 by ghaznavid.

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10 Nov 2012 08:43 - 10 Nov 2012 08:44 #55610 by Smurfatefrog
Last edit: 10 Nov 2012 08:44 by Smurfatefrog.

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10 Nov 2012 08:57 #55611 by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Thumb Pass
:laugh: did a search for "Thumb Pass" and that thread didn't come up.

@Intrepid, could you merge the 2 threads? Thanks.

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14 Jan 2013 18:41 #55863 by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Thumb Pass
Ok - so I'm doing Thumb Pass next month. Any info would be helpful.

The narrow gully on the right would be the pass, right? And it tops out on the escarpment, right?


The top of the pass would be on one of the sides of that bit of rock sticking up there? This is from the side of Thumb Spur Peak:

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14 Jan 2013 18:45 #55864 by Smurfatefrog
Replied by Smurfatefrog on topic Thumb Pass
Ghaz, no more deja vu yet? :whistle:

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14 Jan 2013 18:59 #55866 by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Thumb Pass
Lol - I started a new thread since the last one was under the heading "Jarding Pass". It was off different photos though.

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02 Feb 2013 14:27 - 02 Feb 2013 14:34 #55968 by intrepid
Replied by intrepid on topic Thumb Pass
Did Thumb Pass by accident while accessing the Thumb itself. This must be about 14 years ago or so, but here are some things I do remember:

- Not difficult finding it from the escarpment, provided it's clear enough to see The Thumb.
- There is a ridge jutting out from the escarpment, leading to the Thumb which is free-standing; its quite a fun ridge to walk along and easily accessed from the escarpment (from what I remember); in the pic at the start of this thread its the middle bump, just to the left of the narrow grass gully.
- We got down the narrow grass gully pretty easily and then walked along the topmost grass band to The Thumb (this band is very clear in the pic at the start of this thread); from there we kind of followed the ridge (left hand skyline) down to the contour path, zig zagging through rock bands. This did get tricky in about 2 or 3 places and did require some careful climbing. We had no special gear with us whatsoever though.
- It does appear as though this main gully can be hiked and scrambled all the way. Hard to get a picture of the whole thing though.
- I do remember thinking at the time that following the main gully all the way down would have been better.

Hope this helps. Hope the gully is do-able :P


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

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Last edit: 02 Feb 2013 14:34 by intrepid.
The following user(s) said Thank You: ghaznavid

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02 Feb 2013 15:12 - 02 Feb 2013 15:14 #55969 by Smurfatefrog
Replied by Smurfatefrog on topic Thumb Pass
Does this pic help?

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Last edit: 02 Feb 2013 15:14 by Smurfatefrog.
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02 Feb 2013 15:36 #55970 by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Thumb Pass
@Intrepid: Now you have me worried! I remember standing on the edge of Thumb Spur Peak with Kliktrak and us agreeing that there is a nice camping spot in the saddle between that middle block and Thumb Spur Peak - but we agreed that we couldn't see a way of getting there! Sadly I didn't get a photo of the exact angle I'm referring to from the top.

I'll be going up the pass - so from a safety point of view that is better. I have also got an "escape route" figured out to get to the summit gully of North Hlubi Pass via a long traverse around the Thumb (or through the gap if possible).

I'm trying to attach 2 photos to this thread, but for some reason my browser isn't letting me.

@Smurf: I have almost the exact same angle. But you posting that photo gave me an idea. I have had a look at my pics from that area (incidentally from the hike when myself and a friend both got really sick on water from just above Bannerman Hut on my 3rd failed attempt on Popple in 2011). I think I've figured out where that top headland from my second photo above connects to the pass. So actually that pic has helped a hang of a lot :thumbsup:

Ok - so I think I actually have a route planned. I did feel more confident about Gypaetus Pass than this one, but (mist aside) I think I'm ready for this pass.

Should be an epic B)

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02 Feb 2013 16:45 #55971 by Smurfatefrog
Replied by Smurfatefrog on topic Thumb Pass

ghaznavid wrote: I'm trying to attach 2 photos to this thread, but for some reason my browser isn't letting me.

I also had hassles uploading the above pic with Firefox, had to resort to Chrome

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