Gray's Pass - Ships Prow Pass Loop

Hi guys.

I am new on this forum and relatively new to Mountain Hiking.

My question:

how long would it take me from Monks Cowl Campsite and parking to the top of Ships Prow Pass and back?
1 As a circle rout?
2 Fastest way up and back
3 What is the fastest route?
4 Does any one know what is the fastest that it was done in the past?
5 What is the safest route?

Hi bungykhb and welcome
In October 2012 I was part of a group that did Ship's Prow from Monk's Cowl campsite. There are a number of posts already about this trip (search probably the easiest). We were in a large group (20+) and the rivers were up, which added a bit of time to our trip. We left Monk's Cowl at 7am and got to the top of the pass at 9pm (and the campsite an hour later!). Our route was: Monk's Cowl, Sphinx, Blind Man's Corner, contour path to Ship's Prow Stream, then up the pass.

It can be done quicker, depending on your fitness etc. E.g. on that same trip, Sabine (also a forum member) got to the top around 6pm I think (also starting at 7am).

Thanx joshilewis, I am busy reading some of these posts as we speak. Some humour to those more seasoned and experienced - and here I was thinking I was going up and down in a day. I thought that being "Comrades fit" would give me a big advantage. Now I am thankful that I decided to first do some thorough homework before attempting it....

Smurfatefrog wrote: Why are you in particular looking at Ships Prow? If you are new to hiking rather try another pass first

I like the challenge.

Rather find out that a 'lesser' pass isn't enough of a challenge first

Hi Bungyk, welcome to the forum.

Your comrades fitness is certainly worth something, both physically and mentally on any tough trip. It does count for something.

However, and particularly in the case of Ships Prow, there are many other factors at play. The route into Ships Prow is not straight forward, and involves struggling up an overgrown riverbed plus finding routes up side gullies etc. If time is on your side, none of this is overly tough, but it takes time and fitness only has about 40-50% bearing on how fast you will go. The other 50-60% is a good dose of mountain savvy.

Then the route up Ships Prow South Fork is tough and most certainly not the first pass I would recommend anyone do in the Berg. I won't even mention North Fork, which would be downright mad for new hikers. With both forks as I understand (have only done south fork myself) the issue of boulder scree is big, and prevalent all year round. It takes some care to navigate through this: Neither South or North Fork has routes that go up straight as an arrow, nor do they have established routes navigating through the scree fields etc. We stayed on the South Fork true right bank on our way up (left of scree field as you go) as far as possible, as it is elevated above scree fields a bit which provides some safety when rocks starts tumbling (Read Intrepids report on North Fork ascent and you'll understand why this is important - www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/14-drakensberg-general/55148-rock-falls.html#55241 )

We are certainly not trying to put you off Ships Prow for any reasons other than safety. At the end of the day it is not too tough for any determined person to do. It is just a bit unsafe if you are admittedly a bit new to the Berg.

My recommendation: for a first pass do Leslie's, which is Ship's immediate southern cousin (as far as hiking passes are concerned). It is a very solid challenge, with much the same issues as Ship's in terms of approach, but the pass itself has a much clearer route, and stays high above its own little scree field (only one cross is done over the riverbed about halfway up the pass on a well established route). You still climb about 1km on climb day, or if started from Injasuthi camp (it is possible if started early and everyone is fit), you will climb a solid 1.7km to the top on the day. It is tough as well, but only about half the steriod dose of Ship's.

To quote joshilewis here, he sums it up well.

joshilewis wrote: Rather find out that a 'lesser' pass isn't enough of a challenge first

As an alternative view, if you go with a day pack (5kg) and turn round when you are 3/5 of the way through daylight, you might just top out. You could run/fast walk a lot of the way to river which flows down the pass. Check out the weather forecast before you head off.

Great Advice Highlands Fanatic.

Hi bungykhb,

Me and a friend did it this past weekend (12/07/2014) and it was definitely the challenge we were also looking for. It took us 11 hours from Monks Cowl campsite to the top of Ship's Prow (southern fork). We spent the night midway between Ship's and Grey's pass and walked down Grey's pass the next day. Personally I wouldn't wanna go down Ship's Prow after going up it. It takes a lot out of you.

I know some adventure racing guys did the Grey's Pass up and Ship's down, from Monks Cowl Campsite, in 15 hours. But I reckon going light you can definitely do a sub 15 hour going up Ship's and down Grey's. Our hiking time over the weekend was 17 hours (excluding the sleep over) and that was with big packs.

Let us know how it goes and how you experience it. Like my friend said at one point while labouring up that final section of Ship's, "I have seen my uncle twice in the last 20 minutes! And he's been dead for 15 years!".