Double Crossing the Dragon

When I stayed in the Transvaal I used to get blisters on any hike longer than 3 days. Since moving down to the coast I now walk barefoot much more at home and can walk for weeks at a time without blisters so hardening the soles of the feet on a continual basis seems to make a big difference with regard to getting blisters. Taking off shoes at lunch stop and swopping socks daily at lunch time helps with having driest possible socks using 2 pair.

One thing with doing a GT in summer - having dry feet will never happen! Marshes, rain, high rivers, even just sweating on a hot day.

Anyone who wants to hear this story as told by Hobbit and myself - we are presenting it at Old Main Brewery in Hilton tonight, starting at 7:30. The MCSA PMB slide show has been moved from the original day of Wednesday to Tuesday, hence the change in date.

For those in Durban, we will be sharing the story at Sherwood Bowling Club on 23 March - the Mountain Backpackers Slideshow, which will be a joint event for MBC and MCSA KZN.

It has enough space to sleep 5 or 6, but it has a gentle slope that renders it a 2 man, or 3 man at a push. It is very deep and well sheltered, but slopes just enough that you wake up closer to the entrance than when you went to sleep.

It was dry on the way north, but quite wet when we used it a few days later on the way south. There was a decent stream flowing about 30m from the cave.

Here's a shot of it:


Finding it is simple:
1) Go to the saddle at the top of Nguza Pass, all directions given assuming you are looking down into SA
2) Go right and climb about 10m vertically. Walk below the main cliff band for about 60m
3) The cave faces down the pass, so you won't see it till you are basically at it. It is in the back of a little recess

GPS co-ord is available on Intrepid's caves GPS in the downloads section.

The view is exceptional:

Ratings using the berg.co.za cave rating system:
Shelter: 3/5 (out of the weather, but can get wet after a lot of rain)
Comfort: 2/5 (sloping floor)
Water: 5/5 in summer (stream 30m away)
Pools: 2/5 (nearest pools are on the river in Lesotho, quite far from the cave)
Outlook: 5/5
Overall: 17/25

Cave 1. I haven't been to cave 2.

Nguza Cave 2 is at the bottom of the summit gully of Nguza Pass, just above the waterfall, near the junction of the summit gully and grass ledge traverse (and ghaz has been within 10 m of it!). Cave 2 is quite narrow, and overgrown with grass, and is not as good as Cave 1, besides being quite a hassle to get to and from with packs if you are not using Nguza Pass.

Perhaps my memory isn't as good as I thought

tonymarshall wrote: ghaz has been within 10 m of it!

And even took a photo of it

For those of you around the Durban area:

Joint MCSA and Mountain Backpackers Club talk THIS THURSDAY

Please join us at the Mountain Backpackers Club venue this Thursday evening for a slide-show presentation.

Thursday, 23.03.2017

Topic: Double-crossing the Dragon

A Drakenserg Grand Traverse is a once-in-a-lifetime hike for most. Now imagine doing it TWICE in 16 days. Come and listen to the story of the Double Traverse by Jonathan Newman (MCSA) and Mike van Wyngaard (age 15).

Time: 7 for 7.30pm

Venue: Sherwood Bowling Club (see directions below)

Cash bar available.

Visitors are most welcome. As this is a joint MCSA/MBC talk, there is no charge for visitors this evening.

If you are a new member to the MBC and need some advice, or are visiting and would like to find out more about the Mountain Backpackers Club, please visit the ‘welcome table’ at the venue and chat to our committee members.

Directions to the MBC’s Socials Venue: The Sherwood Bowling Club - 860 Jan Smuts Highway

From Durban - Take N3 out towards PMB, after Tollgate take the Sherwood off-ramp and turn right under the freeway in to Jan Smuts Highway, up the hill, past under the pedestrian bridge and at the first traffic lights take a right U-turn to join the opposite lane, drive down and turn left just before the pedestrian bridge, up this narrow lane for about 200m and then turn left through the gate into the Bowling Club parking.
From Westville - take the M13 towards Durban, past Westwood Shopping centre, through 45th Cutting traffic lights, down Jan Smuts Highway, turn left just before the pedestrian bridge, up this narrow lane for about 200m and then turn left through the gate into the Bowling Club parking.
From PMB, from Hillcrest take the N3 past the Pavilion and four-level interchange, take the Sherwood glide-off, keep left in to Jan Smuts Highway, past under the pedestrian bridge and at the first traffic lights take a right U-turn to join the opposite lane, drive down and turn left just before the pedestrian bridge, up this narrow lane for about 200m and then turn left through the gate into the Bowling Club parking.

Had been meaning to upload this to Youtube for a while - here's a video of Baaaa'd Cave complete with narration. You may note that we are not sounding overly happy about the situation...