Bond Pass

16 Aug 2012 10:37 #54997 by ghaznavid
Bond Pass was created by ghaznavid
Has anyone checked out this gully between Bond and Erskine (or Bond and Potterill if you go with the naming error on the EKZN maps):


Looks like a fairly straightforward route to the top.

It seems that there are tons of unmarked passes at Giants Castle - between Giants Pass and South Jarding there is a promising gully, there are 2 possibilities between North Jarding and Langies (the only one I have got a proper pic of is the northern one of these). North Hlubi still needs checking, but I am sure its easily doable (just very steep). Thereafter there is Gypaetus Pass (which should be confirmed in just over 5 weeks time) and Auditor Pass.

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

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

More
01 Jul 2013 16:59 - 01 Jul 2013 17:16 #57491 by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Bond Pass
I got a better view of a new prospective pass at Giant's Castle yesterday:


Possible line for the route (not 100% sure about the gaps in the final short rock band):


All items marked with an arrow are areas I have identified as possible passes.


Its always fun trying to open new passes, hoping to hit at least 1 prospective new pass this winter.

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

Last edit: 01 Jul 2013 17:16 by ghaznavid.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Smurfatefrog, HFc

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

More
01 Jul 2013 18:32 #57493 by Fitness
Replied by Fitness on topic Bond Pass
@Ghaz, you know me I'm always up for new pass challenges, count me in, maybe we won't have to camp on a 10degree angle at 2500m to hide from the hail.

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

More
01 Jul 2013 18:41 #57494 by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Bond Pass

Fitness wrote: maybe we won't have to camp on a 10degree angle at 2500m to hide from the hail.


That would be a first :laugh:

I want to camp at the bottom and again at the top for this pass - it looks harder than Gypaetus and doesn't seem to have a nice cave half way up.

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

More
24 Feb 2014 16:26 #59744 by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Bond Pass
Ok - so on Saturday I got a good look at one of my "ones for the future". 007 Pass deriving its proposed name from the fact that it is between the real Bond and the fake Bond - even though Edwin Bond has nothing to do with James Bond, the name seems to be appropriate. Even if only as a project name...

This is from quite close to the real Bond Peak looking down the gully one would follow to ascend this pass:


The top of the pass


Looking down the pass


I didn't have a proper chance to check out the actually summit section, but this is about 2m down where I would hope to top out.


If there proved to be any obstacles obstructing the summit - there were also 3 easy scrambles of about 1m high through the top rock bands within 300m south of the proposed top.

I plan to try for this pass later this year - equipped with bivy bags and the intention of camping on the route if necessary. But I am not one to think I own a route I have my eye on, so I won't be offended if someone steels the first ascent (I'm pretty sure such an obvious gully has been used before anyway).

From a distance it looks like this:

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

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

More
24 Feb 2014 18:04 #59745 by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Bond Pass
Nothing like replying to myself - but much like the Gypaetus Pass thread, this seams to be more of a blog than a forum :laugh:

ghaznavid wrote: It seems that there are tons of unmarked passes at Giants Castle - between Giants Pass and South Jarding there is a promising gully

No there isn't :laugh: 20-100m of rock make this a non-pass. Always good to ask the question and eliminate the options rather than miss the potential.

ghaznavid wrote: There are 2 possibilities between North Jarding and Langies (the only one I have got a proper pic of is the northern one of these).

One is 007 which I think warrants a go, the other has a massive cliff at the top and can be written off. I believe there is actually a climbing route up the gully between Potterill and Bond already.

ghaznavid wrote: North Hlubi still needs checking, but I am sure its easily doable (just very steep). Thereafter there is Gypaetus Pass (which should be confirmed in just over 5 weeks time) and Auditor Pass.

North Hlubi - not very steep, little ugly bit in the middle that should be ok if dry.
Gypaetus Pass - awesome route
Auditor Pass - more research is required before setting out

Add to the list:
- Katana Pass (immediately south of Katana), see above
- Thumb Pass south approach route, a possible (but probably too steep) line to summit Thumb Pass from the south side of the Thumb
- Gypaetus Pass north variation, an almost definitely possible route that tops out north of the summit of Gypaetus Point. It may be possible to approach it from an entirely different gully in order to qualify it as "Popple Pass", but if the same bottom gully is required it will only be a variation gully, not a separate pass. A bit more research is required.

At this point in time I am not aware of any more possible pass lines at Giant's Castle. So that 12 definites (counting the 3 Corner Pass lines as 1), 5 possible additions - although the Thumb variation would use the same summit gully as Thumb Pass main line and therefore would not be a new pass, only a new approach.

Not bad considering the map only shows 6 passes...

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

More
25 Feb 2014 11:08 #59750 by Fitness
Replied by Fitness on topic Bond Pass
@Ghaz. When we going?
I'm in, always up for crazy "new" routes

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

More
08 May 2014 18:59 #60625 by Dillon
Replied by Dillon on topic Bond Pass

ghaznavid wrote: Add to the list:
- Katana Pass (immediately south of Katana)


Ok, I really don't know a whole lot about passes in the Giant's Castle area, but how about a possible pass topping out just to the west of Katana? Or is this already an established route that has been left off the map?




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

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

More
08 May 2014 19:06 - 08 May 2014 19:12 #60626 by tonymarshall
Replied by tonymarshall on topic Bond Pass
We had a look at the view from there on the GT, definitely looked liked a possible pass until we stood at the edge and could see the top section was vertical rock. This is the only photo I took from there, which sort of shows this.



I'm sure ghaz has a photo of this somewhere from the bottom, and has checked it out.

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

Last edit: 08 May 2014 19:12 by tonymarshall.

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

More
08 May 2014 19:09 - 04 Apr 2019 19:33 #60627 by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Bond Pass

Dillon wrote: Ok, I really don't know a whole lot about passes in the Giant's Castle area, but how about a possible pass topping out just to the west of Katana? Or is this already an established route that has been left off the map?


I had my eye on that as a possible route, but there is a narrow ledge leading to a cliff in that gully. Couldn't see a way through and the top will be very exposed if there is one. From below it looks pretty clear that there isn't a pass in this gully.

Discussion and pics on this one at www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/drakenberg-passes-giants-castle/55389-jarateng-pass-middle.html
Last edit: 04 Apr 2019 19:33 by intrepid. Reason: Updated to new link
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dillon

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

More
Powered by Kunena Forum