Cowl Pass

03 Sep 2014 19:35 #61689 by Smurfatefrog

Replied by Smurfatefrog on topic Cowl Pass

I'm not sure novice inexperienced hikers and Ships Prow should be in the same sentence
If you are keen to do a loop of two different passes then rather try Cathedral or Giants Castle areas

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09 Feb 2016 15:58 #66975 by john mark 1

Replied by john mark 1 on topic Cowl Pass

Is it possible to access the escarpment from Cowl cave? Like if I went up the Cathkin gulley (the route from the Injisuthi side, not Cowl pass from Keith Bush camp), could I then get to the escarpment and come down via Ship's prowl or Leslies or Grey's or whatever?

I can't seem to find any indication regarding this on the forum.

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09 Feb 2016 16:03 #66976 by ghaznavid

Replied by ghaznavid on topic Cowl Pass

You will have to do some technical climbing if you want to link those up - not sure if there is even an established climbing route for that though.

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09 Feb 2016 16:07 #66977 by Stijn

Replied by Stijn on topic Cowl Pass

Nope - it would require a committing climbing route to access the escarpment from Cowl Cave. Unless there's an obscure traversing scramble that still needs to be discovered..

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09 Feb 2016 16:08 #66978 by Biomech

Replied by Biomech on topic Cowl Pass

Agree with Ghaz. That sounds like a proper epic if it was to be done!

As I understand it, the only known routes (technical or non-technical) to the main escarpment in the area are the Mhlawazini gulley and Ship's Prow pass. I'm not sure if there are any other climbing routes in the area, though, so I could be wrong.

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09 Feb 2016 16:47 #66979 by john mark 1

Replied by john mark 1 on topic Cowl Pass

Hmmm, okay, thanks guys.

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09 Feb 2016 18:45 #66982 by Papa Dragon

Replied by Papa Dragon on topic Cowl Pass

Interesting..... I wonder if this is what you are thinking of?

Don't know it at all, would be ineresting to find out..

kzn.mcsa.org.za/climbing/route-guides/drakensberg-rds/cathkin#TOC-CHAMPAGNE-CASTLE:-Frontal-Route-C-

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09 Feb 2016 19:59 #66983 by AndrewP

Replied by AndrewP on topic Cowl Pass

Papa Dragon, that would indeed be the best way to link the top of Cowl Gully to the escarpment. A few pointers:
- you first need to get from Cowl Gully across to the saddle between Monks Cowl and the escarpment i.e. to Cowl Cave
- the route finding is NOT obvious. I have looked at it several times from below and cannot piece all of it together.

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09 Feb 2016 20:02 - 09 Feb 2016 20:04 #66984 by intrepid

Replied by intrepid on topic Cowl Pass

The original Champagne Frontal is approached from KBC and the route finding is difficult. I've had a serious look for routes from Cowl Cave neck to get up to the escarpment, from the best possible view up on Monks Cowl itself, and I had trouble finding something really obvious. It has been done before though. You would have to be very confident with scrambling and some exposure, and should have a rope to retreat should you take the wrong route and get stuck.

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

Last edit: 09 Feb 2016 20:04 by intrepid.

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10 Feb 2016 08:44 #66987 by john mark 1

Replied by john mark 1 on topic Cowl Pass

Okay, I had in mind a trip with another guy who hasn't been to the berg before and is not a climber. Guess, I'll have to give this route a skip for now then

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