Tag Archives: gear
Leqooa Ridge
Only three ridges in Southern Africa rise above 3400m. The northern two of these both contain country high points and are hiked more frequently as a result. If measured from the escarpment edge, in a reasonably straight line, to the point where the drainage basins these ridges separate finally combine, the Mafadi/Makheka Ridge and the […]
Everest Basecamp Part 6: Gokyo to Lukla
After enjoying a good lunch in Gokyo, I went to my room and lay down for a bit. Gokyo Ri was one of my main objectives for the trip, and having ticked every to-do list item so far, I wasn’t going to miss the last peak – but my legs were really feeling the strain […]
Gear review: Hi-Tec Trail Pants
Finding a good pair of trail pants is a surprisingly difficult task. Having personally tried many different types over the years and being disappointed with most – I was interested to try out Hi-Tec’s Trail Pants. Hi-Tec sent me a pair to test, which I used on my recent trip to Nepal, they were one […]
Gear review: Hi-Tec Altitude V Ultra I WP Wide
Over the years I have tested many different Hi-Tec hiking boots. To date I am yet to try a pair I didn’t like. When I booked my November 2022 trip to Nepal, I asked Hi-Tec if they would like me to test a boot for them on this route, and they sent me a pair […]
Simonsberg
At 1399m, Simonsberg may not be one of South Africa’s higher mountains – but it is one of only 24 in the country with 1000m topographic prominence. It is also a definite contender for SA’s most beautiful mountain. It is also one of very few mountains that I consider to be genuinely freestanding. I had […]
Gear review: Hi-Tec Geo-Trail Pro shoes
As someone who goes hiking multiple times a month, I tend to destroy trail shoes fairly quickly. The most distance I have ever managed to get out of a trail shoe was my first pair of Hi-Tec Flash Forces back in 2015 – which I got 753km Drakensberg distance out of before having to retire […]
Camel/Organ Pipes day hike
There are seven Drakensberg passes that I have rated five stars in terms of quality – four of which are at Didima. So when I am asked what my favourite Drakensberg region is, I don’t think it comes as a surprise to anyone when I respond Didima. With work sending me to Pietermaritzburg for a […]
Cape Trip day 12: Simonsberg
When I booked my Cape trip, I had considered flying home on the Monday. When I saw the price of tickets for that day, I opted to stay an additional day and have a go at one of the easiest peaks on the 1km prominence list – Simonsberg. I first noticed Simonsberg as I came […]
The Crack and the Mudslide
My first trip to the Drakensberg was a hike up to Tiger Falls when I was 6 years old. I remember it being so steep and difficult, I remember a super scary bridge over the river that looked like a slide and had no protection on the side, I remember a sketchy traverse above a […]
Sani Supertraverse
I have always considered Vergelegen to be very appropriately named. A region of the Drakensberg tucked between Lotheni and Sani Pass – with no campsite and a poor quality jeep track as the most common access, it is most certainly not the most inviting region of the Drakensberg. I first visited Vergelegen in 2017 and […]
Ghaznavid Hiking 
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