Grays and Ships round trip Oct 2014

And thanks for the pics Ghaz, posted while I was typing

Papa Dragon wrote: Thanks Riaan for the detailed reply, and Ghaz for the info.
Getting a bit concerned about Ship's Prow, would Leslie's be a better alternative,
and still doable/easy in 4 days?
Thanks

There wouldn't be any easy route back to Monk's Cowl from Leslie's, so you'd probably have to arrange to be picked up from Injisuthi. The "contour path" between Leslie's and Ship's is not great.

Edit: going down Leslie's and finishing at Monk's Cowl would probably be doable in 4 days, but it certainly wouldn't be "easy"!

I had to seach a bit in my archives but eventually found this image I took right before we started the descent down Ships Prow South. Should help you to recognise the right gully. The "prow" should be on your left as you descend.

my suggestion is that you turn it around and ascend Ships. It's not hard to go down Greys.. I've done it quite a few times and it's one of the simpler descents from the escarpment.

Thanks ASL. Do you think it would be easier to ascend Ships than descend? I was toying with giving Ship's a miss and taking Grays both ways.


Sent from my D2005 using Tapatalk

Papa Dragon wrote: Thanks ASL. Do you think it would be easier to ascend Ships than descend? I was toying with giving Ship's a miss and taking Grays both ways.


Sent from my D2005 using Tapatalk

I called Riaan after my post because he recently decended Ship's and he actually feels is easier to descend it. I know Greys and that's fine both ways so it looks like your original route is good!

Cheers, Asl


Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Thanks a mill. Still very much in the planning stages. Also depends on who can get off when.

Sent from my D2005 using Tapatalk

Papa Dragon, we did it in 3 days and I took two novice hikers along for the , uhm, experience Both survived (ok, the one hasn't hiked since) but for a four day trip you have more than enough time, really, don't stress about it too much. That view from the top of Ships looking down was awesome, next time I'm going to sleep right at the top and watch the sunset. Just to the right as you descend seems like a nice area to spend the night

Just note that Ships Prow is the highest pass in the Berg and tops out at about 3300m ASL, so you are in for, on average, a climb of 300m above the norm. This was less than an issue than fighting the bush at the bottom though. That 3km's or so took us a lot of time and sweat, but once you are through that it's nice contour path walking back to Blind mans corner and then down the little Berg.

Riaang wrote: just note that Ships Prow is the highest pass in the Berg

*3rd, behind Kantuba 3350m and Cathkin Mountain Pass

Ok, give or take a half rugby field . Bottom line - your'e in for more climbing than you are used to.