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I have just got back from guiding a hike up Rhino Peak in the southern Drakensberg. The party consisted of a husband and wife from Pretoria, their adult son and his girlfriend. The party had originally booked on a snow course, but due to the complete lack of snow this winter (so far) the trip was converted to a hike to the summit of Rhino Peak.

We set off in perfect weather from Garden Castle road-head and took the easy walk up to Pillar Cave Annex.  That night the wind came up, and it howled all night long and was still blowing at 8am the next morning. We set off up Mashia Pass and luckily the wind ebbed away during the next 3 or so hours. The two younger members found the going a bit tough and turned back after a short while. I then carried on with the parents and we arrived at the top of the pass and later the summit in perfect, windless conditions.

Rhino Peak stands at 3056 meters and is the most popular hike in the southern Drakensberg.  It can be climbed in one day from the road-head or the trip can be split by a night in the cave. From the road-head to the summit and back is about an 8 hour round trip. Most of the walking is on a good path. The only place where it is rough going is in the last kilometer at the top of the Mashai Pass. Here the path is steep and loose in places and some care needs to be taken.

Rhino Peak from the little Berg.

Gavin Raubenheimer

For more information on guided hikes in the Drakensberg, please visit our website on:http://www.peakhigh.co.za/trek.php or email me on: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

I did the re-supply of the Grand Traverse group on Wednesday night. I met up with them at Sani Top Chalet and all were in good spirits! Colin had got the group there dead on time and without making single navigation error in nine days.

There were hot showers and even hotter meals in the chalet. We all dined together than night. Many beers were also had!  In the morning they had their breakfast at the chalet again and then set off for the final 3 days and two nights. Good luck!!

Gavin Raubenheimer

For more info on guided hiking in the Drakensberg, or anywhere in South Africa, visit our website on: http://www.peakhigh.co.za/trek.php or contact Gavin on: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

The Grand Traverse group is doing well and is on schedule.

They got to the top of Bannersman’s Pass at 5.30 on Saturday afternoon where they met up with the resupply group. Colin phoned me and said the weather has been good except for Saturday which was misty most of the day. The rest has been in perfect sunshine.

So last night (Sunday) they slept behind the “Tent” just south of Giant’s Castle. The “Tent” is a small peak on the escarpment edge. Their next re-supply is Sani Pass on Tuesday night.

Gavin Raubenheimer

For more info on guided hiking in the Drakensberg, or anywhere in South Africa, visit our website on: http://www.peakhigh.co.za/trek.php or contact Gavin on: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

For more info on guided hiking in the Drakensberg, or anywhere in South Africa, visit our website on: http://www.peakhigh.co.za/trek.php

Or contact Gavin on: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

Scottish client, Adam Mortimer joined me for a 3 day hike to the summit of Cathedral Peak in the northern Drakensberg. It was Adam’s first trip to the Drakensberg, but he had long had an ambition to summit Cathedral Peak. We set off on a very hot April afternoon and walked the 5 kilometers to Sherman’s Cave.

Then day two we summitted the main peak just before one o’clock via the Standard Route. This is a grade “C” scramble route which which we used a rope on just for a little extra safety. That night we spent in Bell Cave and woke up to a fantastic sunrise over a sea of clouds.

The third day was a simple walk back the way we came the days before. However for me it was going to be a day to remember! After hiking most of the way back and with just over an hour to go before getting to the car, I was bitten on left leg by a Puff Adder snake. A sure way to put a damper on things!! After phoning a colleague in Mountain Club SA Search and Rescue team, I was quickly airlifted to a private hospital where I underwent treatment and was released 3 days later. Adam was also brought down to the trail head by helicopter and Colin McCoy drove him back to Durban.

Gavin Raubenheimer

For more information on guided hikes in the Drakensberg, please visit our website on: http://www.peakhigh.co.za/trek.php or email me on: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

I took 2 clients, Lars from Denmark and Aires from Portugal (although both work in Germany)  climbing in the Cederberg Mountains.  We drove from Cape Town to Driehoek. After a leasurely lunch, we wasted some time taking crazy photos.

The walk to Spout Cave took us nearly 4 hours, with heavy backpacks carrying food for 3 days, 2 ropes and an extensive Traditional Climbing Rack.

We took some great photos from the Spout Cave veranda where we watched the sun set.

Climbing the Spout was great fun. We changed the 2 pitch route into a 4 pitch route, but even then I decided that the final pitch is way too hard – from when is a grade 10 climb overhanging…? We decided to rather get to the top via the Pedestal route, which was really superb climbing on the final pitch!

The weather was coming in and after a quick photo on top we abseiled down! Lots of wind and clouds arrived  and Lars and Aires spent the afternoon learning all about placing gear and setting up belays etc. right by the cave – close to a cup of tea!

Unfortunately we woke up to really bad weather and we walked down a day early in some mist and rain.

So we went climbing on Table Mountain in Cape Town in stead…

For more information on guided mountainering, hiking, rock climbing etc. please have a look at the Peak High Website on www.peakhigh.co.za

Hannelie Morris

Photos by Hannelie, Lars and Aires – Thank you for the permission to use your photos!

I took 3 European clients hiking in the Kromriver mountains in the Western Cape, South Africa. We did a 3 day hike and slept in tents the two nights.

We started out from Bain’s Kloof where we were dropped off and hiked past Junction Pool to a pitch our tents high in the Witrivier Kloof. After a game of Hackey Sack we drank numerous cups of tea and greatfully collapsed into bed not TOO early.

The second day was very long. With our backpacks we hiked past  the famous Slanghoek “afgronde” (Cliffs) and had a great time listening to our echoes.

Climbing Slanghoek peak was a long slow trek, but luckily there was water along the way. After lunch on top of the peak we started a slow decent of the peak, a traverse around Grassy Dome and looking down all the Kloofs – beautiful.

Late afternoon we got to the overnight spot between Kromrivier Peak and Kromrivier Dome. We were only to happy to cool down in the beautiful pools and then to go and heat up again on the cliffs in the sun!

The last day we walked down a steep kloof, the last bit through an indigenous forest and exiting to a waterfall falling into a magical pool. The clients learned to boulder-hop down the river until we eventually found the path next to the river (luckily I knew where to look for it!).

From there it was downhill to the beautiful Mountain club Kromriver hut where we had a quick lunch and a cup of tea before the last 40 minutes to our lift waiting on the Du Toit’s Kloof side of the mountains.

For  more information on guided hiking, please visit our website: http://www.peakhigh.co.za/trek.php or email us: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

Hannelie Morris

At the end of February 2010  Gavin and I took a long time Peak High client Steve on a three day hike/climb in the Northern Drakensberg.

Knowing the weather forecast Steve wanted to climb Angus Leppan (the North Face route on the Sentinel) on the way to the amazing Ifidi cave. “Then at least we get some climbing in.” This worked quite well, and although it started raining while we were climbing the 4th pitch (there are 6 pitches), the rock was sticky enough for us to keep going – Super Drakensberg Rock!

Saturday we hoped to climb both the North and the South Ifidi pinicles. After a night of mist and drizzle,the morning dawned in typicle Drakensberg style – the clouds below us and the sun-rays shining into the cave to dry us all.  After bacon and eggs we abseiled down and traversed around to the South Pinicle, but the route was dripping wet and we decided to rather be safe and not take the risk. That meant that we still had to Jumar up the 50 meter rope that we had abseiled down earlier. This provided more than enough exercise for us all!

We walked out on Sunday, mostly along  the edge of the Escarpment – breathtaking as always!

Hannelie Morris

View the Peak High Website for more information on Guided Mountaineering: http://www.peakhigh.co.za/guided.php continue reading…

Gavin Raubenheimer guided Patrick and Caroline McGuirk and Belinda van der Riet from 15 – 18 November 2009. They hiked from Monte Aux Sources to Cathedral Peak. The  mist and rain and sub zero temperatures made the trek quite a different experience…

On the way to Tseki Hut (Column and Pyramid in the foreground).

We hiked from Cathedral Peak Hotel, past Ribbon Falls, to the contour path and from there on to Tseke-Tseke Hut. We has a beautiful campsite near the stream, under the trees, next to the hut, while some hikers who had an epic day going down the “wrong” Tseke valley were camping inside the hut!

The early morning sun touching the peaks.

The alarm waking me at 4:30 was a bit crazy, but I was very glad later that we did get up then… It was a long day. Walking up Tseke pass as the sun rose was quite beautiful, but that trek is long!

Gavin on the first pitch.

There is not a rock climbing move I can think of that I did not use: Gavin lead the first pitch with a few friction moves on a traverse, on the second pitch I aided unashamedly! I remember straddling an enormous rock, doing lay back moves, mantel shelves etc…

Column Summit Book.

We did not spend a lot of time on the top! Just quick photos and then we abseiled the way down. The abseils left a lot to be desired!

Gavin, Hannelie and Andre.

We managed to scramble down into Tseki pass before it got dark, but we had to walk down the pass to Tseki hut with our headlamps! The way felt much longer than on the way up.

Column, Escarpment Arete Route

Got back to the hut at 9! I was very grateful not having to cook dinner! Thanks guys! And even more so when there was no reason to get up the next morning… I could just lie and watch the mist moving past the mountains.

For more information on guided mountaineering in the Drakensberg, please have a look on our website:

http://www.peakhigh.co.za/guided.php

The mist over the Drakensberg on our way out.