Lotheni Pass South Gully access
15 Sep 2023 16:44 - 16 Sep 2023 11:24 #78748
by tonymarshall
Lotheni Pass South Gully access was created by tonymarshall
Lotheni Pass South (Gully access)
On the Easter long weekend 2017, elinda, Richard Hunt, Thora, Papa Dragon, Single Speed and tonymarshall did a circuit at Lotheni, ascending Elandshoek Pass and descending Lotheni Pass, using the Gully access.
After ascending Elandshoek Pass on the second day of the hike, we tented close to the summit of Giant’s Castle, on a small levelish spot with an awesome view of the escarpment to the north, and the next day we descended Lotheni Pass.
Recently while I was working on the Central Drakensberg Pass Index, I saw that there is no write up of the Gully access of Lotheni Pass South, which I was puzzled by, as I was sure I had done a write up. I found my write up and photos of the write up saved on my laptop, but for some unknown reason I had never completed the write up, or posted it on VE, so here it is now.
The map below shows my gps track of Lotheni Pass South – Main access in red, and my track of Lotheni Pass South – Gully access in blue. The routes diverge at Lotheni Cave, and each route from Lotheni Cave to the top is quite short, both are shorter than 150m, although they are regarded as separate routes. There is a path on the route of the Main Access (see the write up on the Lotheni Pass South – Main Access topic), but no trail or path on the top section of the Gully access. The map shows both tracks on the path to the east of Lotheni Cave, and the difference between them is just minor gps wandering, common in all pass gullies. Where the path of Lotheni Pass South crosses the stream, Lotheni Pass North branches off and follows the stream shown on the map, it does not have a trail, and is apparently more difficult than the Lotheni South passes.
The photo below shows the view down from the top of the gully.
A view back up to the top of the gully.
The photo below shows the location of Lotheni Cave, just to the right of the centre of the photo, with the cave in the shadow between the rock and grass (the small patch of shadow under the overhanging rock). The path of the Main Access can be made out, just to the left of the cave, and between the big patch of shadow to the left of the photo and the cave.
Some of the group waiting in the shade on the path just below Lotheni Cave, while I finish taking photos.
We then headed down on the path, and the photo below is a view back up the top section of the pass with the path visible.
On the Easter long weekend 2017, elinda, Richard Hunt, Thora, Papa Dragon, Single Speed and tonymarshall did a circuit at Lotheni, ascending Elandshoek Pass and descending Lotheni Pass, using the Gully access.
After ascending Elandshoek Pass on the second day of the hike, we tented close to the summit of Giant’s Castle, on a small levelish spot with an awesome view of the escarpment to the north, and the next day we descended Lotheni Pass.
Recently while I was working on the Central Drakensberg Pass Index, I saw that there is no write up of the Gully access of Lotheni Pass South, which I was puzzled by, as I was sure I had done a write up. I found my write up and photos of the write up saved on my laptop, but for some unknown reason I had never completed the write up, or posted it on VE, so here it is now.
The map below shows my gps track of Lotheni Pass South – Main access in red, and my track of Lotheni Pass South – Gully access in blue. The routes diverge at Lotheni Cave, and each route from Lotheni Cave to the top is quite short, both are shorter than 150m, although they are regarded as separate routes. There is a path on the route of the Main Access (see the write up on the Lotheni Pass South – Main Access topic), but no trail or path on the top section of the Gully access. The map shows both tracks on the path to the east of Lotheni Cave, and the difference between them is just minor gps wandering, common in all pass gullies. Where the path of Lotheni Pass South crosses the stream, Lotheni Pass North branches off and follows the stream shown on the map, it does not have a trail, and is apparently more difficult than the Lotheni South passes.
The photo below shows the view down from the top of the gully.
A view back up to the top of the gully.
The photo below shows the location of Lotheni Cave, just to the right of the centre of the photo, with the cave in the shadow between the rock and grass (the small patch of shadow under the overhanging rock). The path of the Main Access can be made out, just to the left of the cave, and between the big patch of shadow to the left of the photo and the cave.
Some of the group waiting in the shade on the path just below Lotheni Cave, while I finish taking photos.
We then headed down on the path, and the photo below is a view back up the top section of the pass with the path visible.
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Last edit: 16 Sep 2023 11:24 by tonymarshall. Reason: Correct formatting,spelling
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15 Sep 2023 16:48 - 15 Sep 2023 16:49 #78749
by tonymarshall
Replied by tonymarshall on topic Lotheni Pass South Gully access
A view down the bottom section of the pass, where the path is on the slopes on the true right of the stream.
A view back up the pass from the stream crossing, where the Lotheni South and North routes split, going on either side of the prominent rock feature at the centre of the photo below. The Lotheni Pass North follows the stream to the right of the rock feature, while Single Speed stands on the path of Lotheni Pass South, which goes up the slopes to the left of the rock feature.
Lower down the path goes through a bushy area where several streams converge, but the path is clear and easy to follow even in the bush.
We stopped for lunch at the water where the path crossed the streams, before continuing on, away from the stream and water.
The path of the pass follows Ka Pitoli Ridge at the bottom of the pass section, contouring up the ridge, and not the Lotheni River, and the section along the Lotheni River from the bottom of the pass to Ash Cave has no trail. The photo below shows the path going up Ka Pitoli Ridge in the foreground, with the pass in the background.
A view ahead of the path going up Ka Pitoli Ridge, with the river below in the valley on the right.
Once we were on Ka Pitoli Ridge, we left the path and headed south along the top of the ridge to tent near a tarn, and the following day walked out back to the Lotheni office, with quite a lot of the walk off path, and some in quite bushy sections.
A view back up the pass from the stream crossing, where the Lotheni South and North routes split, going on either side of the prominent rock feature at the centre of the photo below. The Lotheni Pass North follows the stream to the right of the rock feature, while Single Speed stands on the path of Lotheni Pass South, which goes up the slopes to the left of the rock feature.
Lower down the path goes through a bushy area where several streams converge, but the path is clear and easy to follow even in the bush.
We stopped for lunch at the water where the path crossed the streams, before continuing on, away from the stream and water.
The path of the pass follows Ka Pitoli Ridge at the bottom of the pass section, contouring up the ridge, and not the Lotheni River, and the section along the Lotheni River from the bottom of the pass to Ash Cave has no trail. The photo below shows the path going up Ka Pitoli Ridge in the foreground, with the pass in the background.
A view ahead of the path going up Ka Pitoli Ridge, with the river below in the valley on the right.
Once we were on Ka Pitoli Ridge, we left the path and headed south along the top of the ridge to tent near a tarn, and the following day walked out back to the Lotheni office, with quite a lot of the walk off path, and some in quite bushy sections.
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Last edit: 15 Sep 2023 16:49 by tonymarshall. Reason: Correct formatting
The following user(s) said Thank You: Stijn, JonWells, DeonS, ghaznavid, MarkT, TheRealDave, Edwin128
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14 Apr 2024 20:52 - 14 Apr 2024 20:54 #79023
by tonymarshall
Replied by tonymarshall on topic Lotheni Pass South Gully access
In early March, The Real Dave and tonymarshall did a four day hike at Lotheni, ascending eNtubeni Pass on the second day. We would head along the summit to the top of Lotheni Pass South, and go down the top section of Lotheni Pass to Lotheni Cave where we planned to overnight. Hiding our packs at the cave, we descended Lotheni Pass South to the river crossing, and then ascended Lotheni Pass North.
This is just an update on the state of the path on Lotheni Pass South, which is mentioned in the previous posts on the pass, and visible in the photos in my posts, and was a very good and well used path when I did the pass in 2017. The path has now fallen into disuse, and is almost non existent in places, with other sections being very eroded, and the eroded sections are quite visible. Perhaps because of the erosion, the locals that made and used the path, are no longer using it.
We only went as far down on the remains of the path as the river crossing, but it can be assumed that the section of path on the pass below this, and going out of the valley onto KaPitoli Ridge, is similarly affected. So please be aware that the path in the previous write ups which was very useful for doing Lotheni Pass, is now no longer as useful, and this has a significant impact on the time required for doing the pass.
I have put the same information on the thread for Lotheni Pass South – Main access, for record and information purposes.
This is just an update on the state of the path on Lotheni Pass South, which is mentioned in the previous posts on the pass, and visible in the photos in my posts, and was a very good and well used path when I did the pass in 2017. The path has now fallen into disuse, and is almost non existent in places, with other sections being very eroded, and the eroded sections are quite visible. Perhaps because of the erosion, the locals that made and used the path, are no longer using it.
We only went as far down on the remains of the path as the river crossing, but it can be assumed that the section of path on the pass below this, and going out of the valley onto KaPitoli Ridge, is similarly affected. So please be aware that the path in the previous write ups which was very useful for doing Lotheni Pass, is now no longer as useful, and this has a significant impact on the time required for doing the pass.
I have put the same information on the thread for Lotheni Pass South – Main access, for record and information purposes.
Last edit: 14 Apr 2024 20:54 by tonymarshall. Reason: Correct formatting
The following user(s) said Thank You: supertramp
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15 Apr 2024 14:05 #79028
by supertramp
Replied by supertramp on topic Lotheni Pass South Gully access
Thank you for the update tonymarshall. I've been contemplating doing Lotheni pass for many years now and the state of the path, as you are describing it, is enough to convince me to park the idea for the foreseeable future
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