Keith Bush Camp - Gray's Pass - Vulture's Retreat - Champagne Castle hike

29 Dec 2017 13:49 #72527 by tiska

Riaang wrote: @Marz, as Tony said you can definitely camp on top of Champagne Castle. The views are spectacular. Alternatively you can go to Moncs Cowl cave which is not too far from there,


As far as I know, to reach Cowl Cave from the top of Champagne Castle you would need to descend Gray's Pass to Keith Bush camp and then go up the long gully/valley north of Monks Cowl and then around the south side of Cowl. That would take about 5 hours.

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30 Dec 2017 20:52 #72532 by tonymarshall
Yes, Cowl Cave is a very difficult place to access, and is certainly not recommended accommodation for Champagne Castle.

I think Riaan may have inadvertently referred to Nkosazana Cave as Moncs Cowl cave (sic). Anyway, even though Nkosazana Cave may be a possible overnight spot, it is usually poor (damp floor and dirty) and doesn't fulfil the requirement of camping on the top of Champagne Castle.

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03 Jan 2018 11:29 #72556 by Riaang
Thanks Tony for the correction (again!!!!)
Shucks, I need to get out more ;-)

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23 Apr 2018 22:55 #73273 by ivan
re grays pass if one arrives at monks cowl at about 12pm would it perhaps be a good idea to hike as far as blind mans corner? make camp there first night and then second day hike up grays and make camp there and then third day return to monks Cowl?
How may hours from Monks Cowl campsite to Blind mans corner or from monks Cowl to KBC?

How long in hours is it from KBC to top of Grays?
How long then from grays top back to Monks Cowl?
thanks
Ivan

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24 Apr 2018 07:16 #73280 by Smurfatefrog
Hi Ivan

It obviously greatly depends on the fitness of the group.
Times for reasonably fit hikers would be approx:
Monks Cowl to Blind Mans Corner - 2 hours (1.5 hours down)
Monks Cowl to Keith Bush Camp - 4 hours (3 hours down)
Keith Bush to top of Grays - 3 hours (2 hours down)

Allow for an extra hour or two if you're unsure of fitness levels

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24 Apr 2018 07:21 #73281 by PeterHowells
@Smurfatefrog

"Monks Cowl to Keith Bush Camp - 4 hours" I think a bit optimistic with this time. More like 4 hours from Blind Mans to KBC.

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24 Apr 2018 08:52 #73282 by TheRealDave
I'm with Smurf on this one: 4 hours from Blind Man's to KBC would be sloooow.

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24 Apr 2018 09:56 #73285 by ivan
so are we looking at 6 hours from monks cowl to KBC. Any good places to make camp if we cant get to KBC in time?

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24 Apr 2018 11:16 #73286 by ivan
so are we looking at 6 hours from monks cowl to KBC. Any good places to make camp if we cant get to KBC in time?
Is it possible to get the GPS co ordinates for Blind mans corner, KBC and then a few for Grays pass itself ?
thanks

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24 Apr 2018 11:24 #73287 by TheRealDave
6 hours is a good time-frame. If you are slow, chances are you'll be looking for a campsite in the Mhlwazini riverbed. You will find some options shortly after the contour path enters the valley. It gets bushy farther up. Pushing to KBC will be worth the comfort and the gain in altitude the next day. At the head of the valley, as you come to the slopes of Gray's, you continue over some scree towards a terrace above the river. It should be easy to find even at night. GPS tracks may be found in the Downloads section.
The following user(s) said Thank You: ivan

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