Snow Watch 2012
15 Jul 2012 14:49 - 15 Jul 2012 14:54 #54645
by anthony
Replied by anthony on topic Re: Snow Watch 2012
There was a fair snowfall over the Tugela area this weekend, but last night there was extream weather on the high berg, a blizard with gale force winds.
We were camping near Bilanji falls and also got ready to ditch our tents at around 2am, and head for the hut,I am sure there was more snow in the tent than outside.
The wind chill factor was ridiculous,i was wearing a thermal layer, a light polar fleece a extream glacier down jacket,and a hard shell over all of that, plus power stretch polar fleece pants a soft shell pants and a hard shell pants and inside a fusion 900 sleeping bag rated -15 and i was just comfortable and only just.
But thats why we go to the berg now and then for some extream weather.But dont be unprepared, it could easely cost you your life.
It was also the first time i decided to take
our isodome tent instead of our 2man tents for snow conditions,what a dissapointment the isodome has always been great in strong wind but the combination of wind and snow was not good.The snow flaps dont work well and the top vents let two much snow in.
We were camping near Bilanji falls and also got ready to ditch our tents at around 2am, and head for the hut,I am sure there was more snow in the tent than outside.
The wind chill factor was ridiculous,i was wearing a thermal layer, a light polar fleece a extream glacier down jacket,and a hard shell over all of that, plus power stretch polar fleece pants a soft shell pants and a hard shell pants and inside a fusion 900 sleeping bag rated -15 and i was just comfortable and only just.
But thats why we go to the berg now and then for some extream weather.But dont be unprepared, it could easely cost you your life.
It was also the first time i decided to take
our isodome tent instead of our 2man tents for snow conditions,what a dissapointment the isodome has always been great in strong wind but the combination of wind and snow was not good.The snow flaps dont work well and the top vents let two much snow in.
Last edit: 15 Jul 2012 14:54 by anthony.
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15 Jul 2012 15:39 - 15 Jul 2012 15:40 #54646
by Smurfatefrog
Jon obviously knew the weather better than the rest of us and gave in at 19:30, the 3rd bunch of campers stayed in their tent & said they hardly got any sleep.
You can be very glad you didn't choose to camp out there somewhere by yourself at altitude
Replied by Smurfatefrog on topic Re: Snow Watch 2012
We slept in the car. It started about 18:30, at 22:00 we finally gave up, took down the tent & was at least able to get some sleep in the car.Fitness wrote: @smurfatefrog, where did you and your family take shelter from the wind?
I don't think that low pressure hit the Berg like it did EC and WC.
Jon obviously knew the weather better than the rest of us and gave in at 19:30, the 3rd bunch of campers stayed in their tent & said they hardly got any sleep.
You can be very glad you didn't choose to camp out there somewhere by yourself at altitude
Last edit: 15 Jul 2012 15:40 by Smurfatefrog.
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16 Jul 2012 06:54 - 16 Jul 2012 07:00 #54654
by plouw
Replied by plouw on topic Re: Snow Watch 2012
Kompasberg on Sunday afternoon:
Road to Nieu Bethesda on Saturday
Road to Nieu Bethesda on Saturday
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Last edit: 16 Jul 2012 07:00 by plouw.
The following user(s) said Thank You: intrepid, diverian, Stijn, JonWells, Bigsnake, ghaznavid, brio, Smurfatefrog, tonymarshall
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16 Jul 2012 07:09 #54655
by JonWells
Replied by JonWells on topic Re: Snow Watch 2012
Yea that was one heck of a night hey Smurfatefrog!
With winds gusting at about 80km/h in the campsite, the windchill factor would have been around -7°C. I would put it at about -18°C on the escarpment that night!
Thank goodness for Swiman hut! Although it was a little disconcerting when 20 Underberg locals arrived in the hut with a huge sound system for an all night full volume Kwaito party
Luckily an off duty ranger came and offered us the smaller neighbouring hut, where we at least could get some sleep.
The tent I left up was largely destroyed during the night, with snapped guide ropes and splintered poles! Time for a new one!
With winds gusting at about 80km/h in the campsite, the windchill factor would have been around -7°C. I would put it at about -18°C on the escarpment that night!
Thank goodness for Swiman hut! Although it was a little disconcerting when 20 Underberg locals arrived in the hut with a huge sound system for an all night full volume Kwaito party
Luckily an off duty ranger came and offered us the smaller neighbouring hut, where we at least could get some sleep.
The tent I left up was largely destroyed during the night, with snapped guide ropes and splintered poles! Time for a new one!
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16 Jul 2012 10:50 #54660
by Tray
Replied by Tray on topic Re: Snow Watch 2012
We were up Cockade Pass on Saturday morning just after the first snows on Friday evening. On the escarpment it only snowed about 10cm. We ended up abandoning staying on the top at about 14:00 as we could not see a thing, heavy mist and repetitive gusts of wind, and so headed for the hut down Tsektseke Pass following the gps. Saturday evening we were very glad we used the hut. The wind was quite something and I don't think my tent would have survived the night.
Will post a few pictures tonight.
Will post a few pictures tonight.
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16 Jul 2012 18:17 - 16 Jul 2012 18:26 #54665
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Re: Snow Watch 2012
No. 7, 13-14 July: widespread snowfall over the Maloti-Drakensberg region and the Eastern and Western Cape. Probably the biggest snowfall of the season so far. Heavy snow on the Eastern Cape Drakensberg and the Witteberg. High ranges of Lesotho enjoyed heavy snow too. Cars were stuck on the road in the Afriski and Moteng Pass area -
Media coverage in the Witness
. Fair snowfall on the KZN Drakensberg escarpment, but not as heavy in comparison, and the snow did not go below ~2500m there. More snow in the Southern Berg than the Northern Berg (where not much fell below the escarpment). This front was characterised by very strong winds.
Sat image from yesterday showing the extent of the snow in South Africa:
Close-up of Maloti-Drakensberg area:
Webcam shot from Cathedral Peak on the 15th showing a thin sprinking on the slopes of the Northern Berg:
Sat image from yesterday showing the extent of the snow in South Africa:
Close-up of Maloti-Drakensberg area:
Webcam shot from Cathedral Peak on the 15th showing a thin sprinking on the slopes of the Northern Berg:
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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Last edit: 16 Jul 2012 18:26 by intrepid.
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22 Jul 2012 20:30 - 22 Jul 2012 20:32 #54695
by HFc
Replied by HFc on topic Re: Snow Watch 2012
Snowfall was experienced in Golden Gate as low as 1920m ASL (Glen Reenen) on 15 July, although light but as mentioned already, with strong winds.
Southern slopes of the higher peaks still had snow Thursday morning (26 July) in some recesses. Photo was taken at 2710m ASL, Southern slopes of Generaalskop just above the Caledon valley.
Southern slopes of the higher peaks still had snow Thursday morning (26 July) in some recesses. Photo was taken at 2710m ASL, Southern slopes of Generaalskop just above the Caledon valley.
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Last edit: 22 Jul 2012 20:32 by HFc.
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26 Jul 2012 10:24 #54707
by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Re: Snow Watch 2012
Looks like most of the snow is already melted. I see more is supposed to be falling tomorrow...
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30 Jul 2012 08:28 #54717
by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Re: Snow Watch 2012
An update of the southern berg snow situation:
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30 Jul 2012 10:07 #54723
by Trev
Replied by Trev on topic Re: Snow Watch 2012
Thanks Ghaz, where were these shots taken and how far was the hike in?
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