The upside-down Dragon: GT2012

Time to answer some questions:

@everyone

It was a pleasure writing this article (especially with the amount of positive feedback), I enjoyed writing it, its almost like redoing the hike, but without the sore neck

@Clark ("Ghaz, you talk of your qualifying hikes for doing the GT. What does this entail?")

The GT was the Mountain Backpackers annual GT, the rule is that a hiker needs to qualify to be on the team. The qualifying hikes where in January (which I couldn't make due to my board exam - Tony Marshall wrote quite a bit on it under the Don't Look Down thread), the February one that did not go according to plan, we submitted Organ Pipes Pass instead of Thuthumi and we descended Thlanyako instead of Greys, Tony Marshall also had a pretty comprehensive write up on this one. The third one ended up being cancelled.

Basically it was supposed to be a pretty tough mini-traverse. The plan for the Feb one (which I was on) was up Thuthumi down Greys and back to the start in 3 days, it would have been a push of note if EKZN didn't make us wait for 2 hours to take us up Mikes Pass.

@Brio re pack adjustments

I couldn't see what Jo was doing when she adjusted my pack, but it was a not overly tight waist strap, a very loose across chest strap, and the pack was moved up on my hips.

@ anyone with questions, especially those planning to do a GT soon

Feel free to fire the questions at me, what I read about GT's before doing this one was a great help to me on the hike. If you know whats coming you can be better prepared.

Most importantly you must always remember that halfway through the hike you will want to pull out, you will be stiff/sore, but in two days time you will be so happy you kept with it...

WOW Ghaz,

I just joined the forum and I am so happy with the wealth of information available. I read your report and need to thank you for you well written experience. The pictures you took are amazing. Relieved that you survived the first day. Seemed really challenging. I cannot imagine the rewarding feeling of having finished.

vanhimself wrote: WOW Ghaz,

I just joined the forum and I am so happy with the wealth of information available. I read your report and need to thank you for you well written experience. The pictures you took are amazing. Relieved that you survived the first day. Seemed really challenging. I cannot imagine the rewarding feeling of having finished.

Welcome to VE

Its a great feeling walking into Sentinel car park - and everyone is looking at you thinking "those guys have a rather arrogant disposition after just doing the chain ladders"

Glad you enjoyed the writeup, I highly recommend doing a GT. Its a really worthwhile experience

Ok - old hike writeup, but I was looking over some old photos. Mavis sent me this one from day 1 of GT some time back:


The photo was taken above Isicutula Pass when I had been sitting for about half an hour. Apparently I only smile when I'm really sick not sure why someone is opening my backpack though

Wow

I am a newbie hiker and have only really done day trails in the berg. Cathedral Peak, Amphitheater etc.
I am in love with the berg and visit the berg 2 or 3 times a year.

One of my dreams is to do the GT and reading a story like this really fuels the fire!
I would only do so with a group who knows what they are doing and will book for one in the not so distant future.
Any recommendations or websites i could visit to get info on trips and what training or "qualifying hikes" one could do?

Well done.
Great story!!

Mr T wrote: One of my dreams is to do the GT and reading a story like this really fuels the fire!
I would only do so with a group who knows what they are doing and will book for one in the not so distant future.
Any recommendations or websites i could visit to get info on trips and what training or "qualifying hikes" one could do?

Do it

I agree, its best to do with a group, you could really get badly lost in some of those valleys!

Mountain Backpackers does a GT each year, usually around April. I don't get emails them from since I left the club earlier this year, but they post their fixtures at www.mountainbackpackers.co.za/fixtures-introduction.html

The best training would be as many long hikes as possible (at least 3 days), I would go with a format of hitting the escarpment on day 1, coming down on day 3 and try to cover 25-30km on day 2. A good one would be going to Garden Castle, up Mzimude or Walker's Pass, camp up there. Day 2 traverse to Sandleni Cave area. Day 3 drop down Sandleni Pass. A GT pack will never be much less than 12kg without food and water, at its heaviest you'll hit about 20kg if you go really minimal.

AWESOME

Thanks so much for the advice.
Planning starts tomorrow

Loving this site too.
Something for the beginner and the pro.

Cant wait to get cracking!!!

Enjoy! I find planning is almost as fun as hiking

I agree - it is a great site! I have learned a hang of a lot from it too. It takes a really Intrepid character to run such a great site

Whooa! In my humble opinion, anyone new to Berg hiking needs to take things one step at a time ( literally!) You cannot run before you walk and if you are keen to experience the GT, you will need to start off with slightly more achievable and realistic hikes. To hike from Drak Gardens to the top of Mzimude Pass on one day is doable but not for an absolute beginner - 25 -30 km in one day on the escarpment is also a huge ask for a newbie, let alone an experienced hiker. The best is to join a hiking club and do a couple of the weekend hikes that are on offer in the lower berg first, get used to carrying the additional weight of the backpack and then progress from there to the tougher hikes. There is much to learn in terms of equipment, food, fitness etc - this can only be gained from experience and getting out there as often as you can. From there you can think about the GT, which is a challenging endurance event, but totally worth it for the sense of achievement.

@Elinda: I agree with you completely. At the start of GT last year I had only done 285km in the Berg, slept 7 nights in the Berg (3 2 day hikes and 2 3 day hikes + 11 day hikes), done 2 khulus, done 5 passes. I think I wouldn't have been in the not great state for the first 4 days if I had done more beforehand.

@Mr T: just to clarify, when I say about these hard 3 day loops, naturally I mean you need to work toward that kind of thing. You won't just wake up 1 morning and suddenly be able to do that. But if you can do that, you should be able to manage a GT.