Mnweni Pass - Rockeries Pass Loop

30 Sep 2018 13:57 #74053 by michal
Hi Sabine
Sorry to bother with this after such long time, but if its still possible to get your GPS track for this route i'd be grateful.
Thank you
Uria

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17 Nov 2018 20:56 #74212 by Fuwaad
Hello, I know this post is old but can you please assist with a copy of this if you do have.
thank you

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20 Nov 2018 08:46 #74240 by intrepid
I have put together some tracks and waypoints for this and made it available as a download here:
www.vertical-endeavour.com/downloads/download/4-drakensberg-hiking/211-mnweni-pass-rockeries-pass-loop-gps-data.html

It includes tracks, even of the roads and some useful waypoints. The data is not all from a single trip, its a selection put together from multiple trips. I have offered some route variations for the escarpment section, but for the rest it is simply what I would consider a reasonably optimal route through the valleys. There are many variations. Some of the variations in the Mnweni Valley are addressed in another download I put together some time ago:
www.vertical-endeavour.com/downloads/download/4-drakensberg-hiking/133-mnweni-centre-to-five-star-cave-area.html

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

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20 Nov 2018 10:14 #74242 by Fuwaad
Thank you very much.

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22 Nov 2018 19:57 #74262 by ruthtbl
I recently did the Mnweni - Rockeries Loop again and made a quick video about it here:

The following user(s) said Thank You: Serious tribe, hikingle, tonymarshall, pfoj, Riaang, Rhinoandhedgehog

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05 Dec 2018 20:49 #74330 by Rhinoandhedgehog

ruthtbl wrote: I recently did the Mnweni - Rockeries Loop again and made a quick video about it here:

Happy memories. Time to do it again I think. Thanks for that.

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12 Feb 2019 16:32 #74641 by Colan
Hi all

Planning on doing the loop this weekend and aiming for Mponjwane cave on night 2. Looks like there are some thunderstorms forecast though. I know a cave isn't necessarily the safest place to be during a storm, but what are your feelings on the safety of this cave specifically? Would it be better to find a 'safe' spot to pitch tents? I've seen a few mentions that it's at least safer than Ledgers.

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13 Feb 2019 07:58 #74646 by firephish
Ledgers is hairy in a lightning storm, Mponjwane is fine i would say, although getting to the cave in a lightning storm you would be pretty exposed.

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13 Feb 2019 17:23 #74654 by Colan
@firephish thanks a lot for the piece of mind. Won't be approaching it if the storm is raging!

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13 Feb 2019 20:07 #74655 by intrepid
My own impression from reading the various lightning risk management documents (some of which are available in the downloads section) is that Berg caves, and in particular the ones on the escarpment, are generally too shallow to offer real protection. If lightning is going to arc over the gap of the cave, I would say that the difference in depth between Ledgers and Mponj Caves is probably not considerably different. Another consideration is that Mponj Cave is situated much higher, closer to the summit of a peak, whereas Ledgers is lower down and does not have prominent features near it which, in theory, have a higher chance of attracting a lightning strike. In very heavy, sustained rainfall Mponj Cave can get flooded from the drips, which makes for a higher lightning risk. On the other hand Ledgers Cave is more vulnerable to wind blowing in rain from the front, which also introduces the risk of nearby water. I have experienced both. So I'm not sure if either of the two is any different in terms of lightning risk.

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

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