Drakensberg Wilderness Hiking South Africa - Mountain of the Dragons - Where Adventure beckons.....: Drakensberg

DRAKENSBERG

KwaZulu-Natal South Africa

Mountain of the Dragons

South Africa’s mightiest mountain range with its spear-like peaks – reminiscent of the saw-toothed spine of a gigantic dragon.

Where Adventure beckons..........

DRAKENSBERG WILDERNESS PHOTOS © WILLEM PELSER

“But risk we must, for the greatest risk of all is to risk nothing at all. he who risks nothing, has nothing, is nothing.”

unknown

Drakensberg

The Bell

Immediately southwest of Cathedral Peak, forming the next dominant structure on the Cathedral Peak ridge, stands the petit summit of the Bell. This gem of a peak perches on steep slopes that fall dramatically away north and south into deep and wild mountainous ravines. From many angles, whether viewed from the iNtonyelana Valley in the north, the Mlambonja area to the south, or indeed from above when climbing on any of her surrounding companions, this symmetrical peak is one of the most aesthetically beautiful mountains to gaze upon in the entire Drakensberg mountain range.

At only 2 930 metres high, Bell may be likened to the Arkenstone of the Lonely Mountain. The Arkenstone was the gem that the dwarves considered the ‘heart of the mountain’ and the treasure the Hobbit could not resist thieving. With the imposing Outer Horn towering up on one side, and Cathedral Peak standing guard on the other, it is as if the ‘Dragon’ surrounds Bell as it would a valuable and treasured possession, the jewel of its haunt.

Although the summits that surround Bell surpasses it both in height and size, forbidding as they may seem, access to their highest points present lesser challenges to the mountaineer than their smaller counterpart. The obstacles that need to be overcome in ascending Bell are not size and height, but rather line and difficulty.

Bell has two major cliff structures of similar height, separated roughly by a steeply angled grass slope. The first precipice, forming the base of the peak is sheer and broad and can be missed by scrambling up mixed grass and rock from the nek between the peak and Cathedral Peak. Climbing has subsequently focused on the higher face, which is more fragmented, with small grass ledges breaking the final obstacles to the summit. Two popular climbs ascend the southern faces, while a longer and more challenging route ascends on the northern side.

Climbers Hans and Else Wongtschowski, known as Hans and Else Wong, were the first to climb Bell in 1944. Early climbers wondered if the peak was climbable, most saying ‘it is quite out of the question as a climbing proposition.’ Bell’s seemingly impossible steep slopes were in fact deceptive when seen from a distance, and in the end the peak proved less of a challenge than predicted.

Hans Wong had made two earlier attempts on the peak, in 1942 and 1943, both curtailed by snow and extreme winter conditions. Changing tactics, he and his wife found the key to Bell when they climbed it in the summer of 1944, pioneering a route up the southern reaches. They named their climb the ‘Gladiolus Route’, after the Gladiolus cruenyus flower, commonly known as the ‘Suicide Lily’, which may sometimes be found on the mountain’s slopes in the summer months.

Within three months Tony Hooper, Howard Fish, and Jacky Botha pioneered a second route, to the right of the Wong’s line. The route has become extremely popular, despite being more difficult than the original line. The only other established route on the peak ascends the committing north face and was completed in 1962.

As with so many other peaks and areas in the Drakensberg, Bell offers a wealth of new and innovative climbing for the stout mountaineer. In particular an initiative for climbing parties looking to open and develop new and more challenging lines on the peak must be a direct route from base to summit, starting on the unclimbed base cliffs and finishing off by breaking the higher reaches without deviating from a specific line.

Stunning to gaze upon and challenging to climb, Bell is one of the more revered peaks in the Drakensberg Mountains.

As with Cathedral Peak, Bell is most commonly approached fro the Cathedral Peak Hotel, on good paths via Orange Peel Gap and Bugger Gully. Bell Cave (5 persons) is the most popular starting point, being only a short distance from the nek between Bell and Cathedral Peak. A good but exposed path traverses below the eastern face and provides access to the southern extremes of the peak.

To reach the Bell Cave from the top of Bugger Gully, continue over the top of the gully and down a loose gully on the other side for about a hundred metres. The path veers off to the right on steep and expose grass slopes. Drip Cave (6 persons), further down the valley below Bell Cave, makes for a less practical alternative.

The peak may also be approached from the escarpment by a long but spectacular traverse of the Cathedral Peak ridge. The traverse begins at the top of the Mlambonja Pass where the Twins Cave (12 persons) allows for stop over bivouacs. There is no water on the traverse or at the cave.

Approach from the iNtonyelana Valley is possible, although seldom used. Waterfall Cave (12 persons), en route to the iNtonyelana Pass, is a practical bivouac near to the main gully leading to the nek between the Horn and the Bell and may make a good alternative base camp for new lines on the northern and western faces.

We as hikers, explorers, and adventurers have the absolute duty to respect and protect our Wildernesses. Nobody else will do it for us. Take ownership!

The End.

Safe Hiking.