Mini Hike Reports

My full hike report:
jonathantheghaznavid.wordpress.com/2018/09/24/giants-and-dragons-the-double-giants-cup/

Hi Ghaz, thanks for the trip report!

I'm planning on doing the Giants Cup Trail again in December, but would like to combine day 1&2 (sleeping at Mzimkulwana hut), and then combining day 3&4 (sleeping at Swiman hut), finishing the hike at Bushmans Nek on the third day. Because my first time doing this trail, the daily distances felt too short…

So I was just wondering if you know whether they allow you to only book specific huts, on the day that it’s required. Or do you have to book your permit for all five days / five huts? (still waiting for This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reply to my email)

I guess for your double Giants Cup trip you did not book any huts, and only payed for a permit covering 2 days hiking?

The guys at Ezemvelo don't really care why you are booking the huts. If you send them a list of dates, huts and number of people - that is generally sufficient. I often use a single hut for purposes that have nothing to do with the Giants Cup Trail, and am yet to have a complaint from their side. I have used 4 out of 5 of the huts like that before - all except Wintershoek (which doesn't serve much of a purpose outside of the trail).

Thank you, that's good news... I will give them a call and arrange for the huts required with their corresponding dates. 

]A quick report of a hike we did over the September long weekend in the Cathedral Peak area:

Our 3-man team consisted of myself, Trish (my fiancee) and Frederick (experienced trail runner with his 1st visit to our beloved Drakensberg). We set of at around 19H00 from the Hotel Hikers parking area for a short night hike to Barker's Chalet. 

Saturday morning saw us leave the cave at 07:30 with the plan of ascending the Bell Traverse and overnight at Easter Cave. Half an hour into the day we unexpectedly bumped into a photographer appearing out of nowhere. After quick introductions and a look back over our shoulders it immediately dawned on us that it must the Cathedral Peak Challenge. 2 minutes later the race winner and FKT holder, Teboho Noosi came flying up the ridge with only a 500ml Sports Drink bottle in his one hand. Needless to say but it was an amazing sight to experience 1st hand how swiftly these guys can ascend (being a middle of the pack trail runner myself) . It wasn't long until we were frequently being passed by the runners with friendly greetings being exchanged with each passing 



We ascended the Bell Traverse without incident with the most awe-inspiring views all around 

The approach to Cathedral Peak









The Chessmen looking over us


Look-out spot just before the Twins Cave approach



Escarpment summit celebration (Mlambonja pass)



Final approach to Easter Cave



Our timing was spot-on as we reached the cave at 16H00 and were met by a raging thunderstorm within 1 minute of arrival. Life was perfect and we spent our very 1st  (and windless) night in Easter Cave
  

Continued:



Picture perfect sunrise



On Sunday we made our way to the Elephant, descended the gully and mayde our way down Tseketseke Pass (never stop being surprised by how convincing False Tseketseke looks)




Frederick descending his 1st Berg pass


Chilling in the riverbed




Looking back at where we came from

Continued (3/3)




The most majestic skyline


Our initial plan was to spend the last night in Ribbon Falls Cave but after seeing the majestic views we promptly changed plans and decided to rather pitch tents (having carried it with us all this time). 



On Monday we had a short walk out back to Hotel. The Berg never disappoints and we truly had an amazing time. Already planning the next hike... 

Excellent photos

I'm suffering from SERIOUS berg withdrawel syndrome right now! 

At the end of September I did a four day (Saturday to Tuesday) solo hike at Mnweni, doing some of the less frequently done passes in the area. On Saturday morning I left Mnweni Cultural Centre, going back over the bridge over the Ntonjelana River and started ascending the ridge up to Scramble Kop, my intention being to do the Scramble Kop Ridge route to the base of Cathedral Peak. The photo below shows the approach to Scramble Kop, with the ridge towards the Puddings and Cathedral Peak at the left of the photo. 

 

The route goes through the saddle between Scramble Kop and the ridge to the south, and leaving my pack near the saddle, I ascended Scramble
Kop (which didn’t require any scrambling, it was just an easy grass slope) before continuing on southwards along the ridge.  Walking was quite easy, with a massive path to follow, before the path deviated away and the massive ridge up to the base of the Puddings had to be ascended, without a path. I had lunch in the saddle below the North Pudding, and the photo below shows the steep ascent up from Scramble Kop Ridge to the base of the Puddings, with Scramble Kop itself at the centre of the photo. 

 

After lunch I continued up the slopes of the North Pudding, before contouring around towards Cathedral Peak. As I rounded the base of the
peak, I got a view of the route to the summit, and couldn’t resist going up, of course leaving my pack behind. The photo below shows the summit of the North Pudding with Cathedral Peak dominating the background. 

 

There was a faint trail on the slopes around the Puddings, and the Middle and South Pudding didn’t show an obvious route to ascend either of
them, so I continued past to join the trail from Orange Peel Gap below Cathedral Peak. There was no water in the stream, so I headed downstream,
hoping to find water and a flat spot for my tent, after chatting to a large group returning from summiting Cathedral Peak. Water was available not too far down, and a small flattish spot, so I tented in the Nxwaye valley for the night. Taking enough water to get me to Twins Cave, I departed the next morning up the steep valley, and to the top of Buggers Gully, where I met a group returning from Bell Cave. After a short chat, I continued on my way, and stopped on the slopes of the Mitre for a tea break to avoid carrying the water I had up the ascent to Twins Cave. This spot also gave a good view of two of the passes I intended doing during the next two days. 

 

Hiding a lot of my gear near Twins Cave, I headed up to the top of Mlambonja Pass with a light pack, before descending down to the Kwakwatsi
River for lunch. After lunch it was a short trek upstream to the top of Xeni Pass, which I descended down to the base of the steep gully, where Mlambonja Buttress South Pass gully joins Xeni Pass. I ascended Mlambonja Buttress South Pass, admiring the view to the Elephant. 



After reaching the top of Mlambonja Buttress South Pass, which has three significant obstacles, I returned to Twins Cave to overnight, washing
and collecting water on the way. The third day I descended Twins Pass, the gully going directly down from Twins Cave. This would prove to be the easiest pass of the hike, with nothing too complicated, and gravity on my side. The photo below shows the view down Twins Pass from near the top just below Twins Cave, with the interesting gorge in the middle section of the pass, and the flattish lower section (in shadow). 

 

I found the path at the bottom of Twins Pass, which I knew about from when I did Christmas Pass in 2015, and followed it to the bottom of
Ntonjelane Pass, where I took a tea break and filled up water for the ascent of Ntonjelane North Pass, where I didn’t expect to have any water. After following the path of Ntonjelane Pass upwards for a while, I found there was water at the drip a short way off the path, so had a few cups of water there before continuing upwards. At the point where I left the path to traverse into Ntonjelane North Pass, there was also a stream to cross, so I was a bit annoyed that I had carried water up all the way, but I guess no harm done. After taking lunch above a waterfall at the stream, I traversed into the pass on a steep grassy sideslope, and then started up the pass, which was quite steep. Once at the top, I hid my pack a short way down, and headed into Lesotho with a small day pack, first for water at the stream nearby, then 3 km along the ridge to summit the 3231 m peak from which the nearby khulus get their prominence. There was a neatly constructed Basotho cairn on the peak summit. 

 

Returning to the escarpment, I retrieved my pack, and found a nice spot next to the stream near the top of South Saddle Pass to set up my
tent. It was a windy night. Tuesday morning I packed up, and descended South Saddle Pass,glad to get out of the wind. The top section was quite standard, but lower down the pass has a lot of bush.  

 

Descending lower, I was in the valley below the ridge with the Ntonjelane Pass path on it, so angled up the slope and joined the path. Just
past Waterfall Cave I crossed the Ntonjelane River, and followed the path all the way on the true right of the river back to the road up the valley from the Cultural Centre. There was no traffic on the road, and I walked all the way back, finishing in the early afternoon.  

It was an awesome four days, and I only realised afterwards that I have never done more than four passes on a hike before. I will post some write ups on the passes in due course. 

Special thanks to:        AndrewP for providing navigational assistance on the Scramble Kop ridge route;                                   
   Riaang for doing Mlambonja Buttress South Pass and proving it was doable;              
    ghaznavid for providing navigational assistance on the route on the true right of the Ntonjelane River.