Keartland's Pass

Hi Everyone

Just want to confirm whether this is correct or not.

In the GE screen capture shown below, is the head of the Keartland Pass the path following the yellow line (as opposed to the red line which is the path heading back to Monk's Cowl Offices via the Sphinx)?



Whilst on the subject, this will be a family outing, with the wife carrying our son on her back. Any sections on Keartland that may be tough with a heavy pack? (she is a super-fit and agile, but that baby backpack and its contents are quite heavy(and precious offcourse)).

Thanks

Hi HF,

Yes that looks correct. There are some steep sections on Keartlands Pass, but nothing steeper than you'd have on sections of the Sphinx route. There are also erosion barriers forming steps on Keartlands, which are quite awkwardly spaced, and I find them quite tough on the knees going down them.

I can give you a gps track, which you can then see the slope too, pm me if you'd like it.

Whilst on the subject, this will be a family outing, with the wife carrying our son on her back. Any sections on Keartland that may be tough with a heavy pack? (she is a super-fit and agile, but that baby backpack and its contents are quite heavy(and precious of

Thanks[/quote]
Highland fanatic I hope you are carrying the wine and beers

My husband and I have done Keartlands Pass both up and down, and we now refer to it as 'The Stair-master'. It really isn't tougher or steeper than The Sphinx route in my opinion, but there are a lot of steps formed by the erosion barriers and this can be tough on your knees. We have also found less water on Keartlands Pass than on the Sphinx route, so take enough with you just in case!

Right at the bottom of the route there is a section of large rock blocks that you have to scramble up. They are very easy, but could be interesting with a heavy pack/a baby. There is a bit of exposure on them, and there is a bit of slippery sand on top of it.

The route is definitely steeper than the Sphinx, but is more scenic. There is also less water on this route.

Also remember that the route has a lot of up and down, so it is more tiring than the Sphinx route.

Personally I have done it twice - took my mother down it once (she hated the bottom bit) and I came down it on the Easter weekend. I think I can dig out some photos of the rocky bit for you.

Thanks to all for the replies!

A bit of up and down is no worry, and a little scrambling is also not an issue. I think the comments puts it into perspective, its not flat as a track, but not dangerous either.

In terms of the stair master comments, I'll be sure to take the knee brace along for some extras support (also in part answering the other questions why my wife is carrying the boy, I'm still not up to full strength om my right knee after ACL surgery last year August, it takes an awful long time to get up to original agility after such a knee repair. Going up is easy nowadays, going down still puts strain on the knee joint).

@ Selous, yip I'll be carrying everything else, still not the same weight as her though.

@ Ghaz, thanks, please do add some photos if you can. I may not need it, but it sure makes the thread worth something to someone searching for info.

Don't think Keartland or the likes will be an issue after what I saw this weekend...we went up this little one on Saturday for a day outing:



Ok Ok, not quite from this angle, but still 400m vertical over 1km mapmeters, and the SO with baby on the back was fine.

I was impressed.

Nice!

I'm assuming Free State Berg? What is that peak called?

Thanks man.

Free State: yes, Berg: no. It is in Goldengate, a very well known peak yet not officially named as yet would you believe it. It is very commonly called Little Caledon Peak, since it features above the main headwaters catchment of the little Caledon River. Yet this very sentence is disputed by some, with them claiming that the primary source of the little Caledon is situated in a nook on the Eastern Side of Wodehouse mountain. Apparently the definition of primary headwaters is interpreted differently by different people.

OK sorry that was a long winded answer to a short question. It is the peak most well known by this angle:



Also peak nr 1 of my three-peaks-in-one-day challenge as posted last year. 2520m ASL