Escarpment Vistas 2019

Seeing as you are short of entries - here's 3 from me. None of these entries are 2019 photos - I didn't see a year criteria in the rules, but if they have to be 2019 photos, please go ahead and delete my entries.

The Mighty Elephant

It isn't exactly a secret that this is my favourite spot in the Berg is the Elephant Gully/Cockade Pass. The only spot in the range I have seen that can compete with it, in my opinion, is around the top of Hilton Pass ("the magic valley", as I call it). This photo was taken in December 2014 - my first time doing the pass. It was a few weeks after having been rescued off Bollard Pass, so my headspace was terrible - not helped by my brother's comment (he was getting married the next weekend) "what must we do if you die, do we cancel the wedding?" - which I replied "obviously not"

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Good Morning Dragon

The Injisuthi Triplets are spectacular at the worst of times, so it is always special in the fiery glow of the morning. This was taken in 2016 when we hiked the Injiusthi Buttresses going up Bannerman Pass and down Around the Corner Pass - in my defense, Mafadi via Langalibalele Pass is only about 5km further than via Leslies, so this was an entirely logical route


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The Vast Vastness

Seeing as everyone keeps posting Mnweni photos, here's mine. Ifidi Peak in the early morning light is one of my favourite sights in the Drakensberg. With spiky peaks everywhere, it is a hard view to beat! This was taken on a hike in July 2016 on which I did my 150th khulu coinciding with my teammate's 100th khulu (specifically timed so his 100th was also my 150th). It was a bit of a strange line in the end, including Mount Amery and Namahadi - but was a memorable hike indeed!


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Ps. before someone remarks "you say that's one of your favourite views about every second peak in the range", I would like to remind said critic that the Drakensberg is awesome and thus this is a defensible statement...

Let me also throw in a few more photos.
Like Ghaz, I will start off with a photo at the top of Cockade pass, looking over the Xeni cutback. My photo was taken in afternoon light, which created a shadowy silhouette of a large part of the Cathedral range.

Valley of mysteries
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The following photo was taken earlier that day, from the well-known viewpoint on the south side of Cleft peak. I now fully understand the word uKhahlamba!

Barrier of Spears
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My final photo is a classic black and white, and was taken in a March trip to Mafadi. Rain caught me in the afternoon of the second day hiking, which meant that I camped on a small and flat grassy spot on the back of the Trojan. The next day, I awoke to a sea of clouds over the lower Drakensberg. A sight we are greeted with só very often. At the top of the Trojan wall, I stood in awe!

A sea of clouds
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This was the moment that led to my significant other to fall in-love with the Drakensberg. The sunrise over Cathkin , taken on a 4-day traverse from Cathedral Peak to Monks Cowl.

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"Best Seat In The House"

Just had to sit and enjoy the view of the Trojan Wall and Triplets for a moment, on a 2-day fast-packing mission to summit Mafadi. Going fast and light means I rarely take pictures, but I always have a personal photographer at hand. Posted with the permission of all parties involved.

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"Cathedral Candles"

The last rays of daylight lighting up the peaks of the Cathedral range, it made me think of candles in the chandeliers of a vast Cathedral. Taken during a witch-hunt for a "snow" weekend and spending a windy night in Easter Cave. Posted with permission of parties involved. 

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A Clear Promise

As with any moment in the Berg..it comes and goes without Notice or Flair. You cant wait for it nor can you plan it. We shoot what we get and either record it on camera or in our visionary eye. Sharing these moments humbles us all in to appreciating the Berg so much more as though we cant be there all the time...at least here we can Tap in to every other avid Hikers own experience of the berg and be reminded of the Beauty of the berg.

Jislaaik guys,

You are making it basically impossible to focus on work today with posting such awesome pictures!!!

The mountains are calling, I need to get there soon