Drakensberg - Basic GPS Navigation

 “AND ALL WHO FIND ME WILL KNOW THE TUNE

TO THE LONELY MOUNTAIN BORNE

I LAY UNDER THE MISTY MOUNTAINS COLD

IN SLUMBERS DEEP AND DREAMS OF GOLD”

UNKNOWN

Drakensberg  

Basic GPS Navigation

Advances In electronic technology have sparked of a flood of hi-tech navigational tools onto the outdoors adventure scene. Global positioning is a truly groundbreaking development and incorporates a triangulation system utilizing a series of orbiting satellites to plot your exact position on earth. Technological advances in cellular technology have seen many phones incorporating global positioning capability, a feature that makes this powerful navigation tool available to the masses.

The Basic Theory

   What exactly is GPS receiver? Originally developed by the US Defense Department as a global navigation system for the military, a number of satellites were launched into orbit in such a way that a sighting may be taken on at least four of them from a specific point on earth at any time.

   A 2-D fix (on three satellites) can be used to determine position, while a 3-D fix (on four satellites) enables you to determine altitude as well.

   Try to lock on to the signal in a relatively open environment, because the high frequencies utilized need a clear line of view and can therefore be blocked by trees, buildings and even your body. Although, in the wilderness such problems do not exist.

   It is very important to have a basic knowledge of orienteering and to have alternative methods of navigation as a back-up, as electronic gadgets can fail. Always make sure you keep spare batteries handy.

   Some GPS receivers have an option to download and store electronic maps in their memories, while others simply supply you with the necessary coordinates, enabling you to pinpoint yourself to within about 100m on a topographical map. Extra features or additional memory incorporated into the unit may mean an increase in size and weight, so decide which features you need before you buy. Consider the power source; number and weight of batteries, are they rechargeable and does the unit incorporate a backup power to protect your data?

   Go for rugged waterproof construction that can handle anything the outdoors throws at it. Make sure you know how to use the unit before you set off.

Practical Usage

   Being able to accurately pinpoint your location to within a few metres brings with it the obvious advantage of always knowing exactly where you are. That is, if you remembered to pack your topographical map. In addition to this, you can use the navigation screen on your GPS as you would an electronic compass (following a bearing or similar). You can also plot way points along the trail by saving coordinates as you progress, thus allowing you to retrace your steps.

   Most GPS units will calculate your current speed of advance, extrapolating this information with regard to the distance to your destination, and forecast an estimated time of arrival.

   Maps and routes can also be downloaded from the internet, enabling you to programme a route before you set off. This allows you to correctly identify points beforehand. And once you are in the wilderness, all you need to do is follow the indications beamed onto the information screen on your receiver. Interfacing the unit with your personal computer at home will allow you to download your route upon your return and print out maps of your journey or save it for future analysis.

The Next Step

   Move beyond the hand-held GPS receiver into the domain of a latter day ’007’ and you will discover a selection of wearable computers loaded with an awesome array of features. Suuntu offers a chunky, watch-sized instrument incorporating a watch, stopwatch, barometer, altimeter, thermometer, electronic compass, and GPS receiver.

Bionic implants and brain chips cannot be far off……..

Never, but never leave on a hiking trip without a map and compass. They weigh nothing and will still work long after your GPS failed to do so.

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.

References and Acknowledgements

From the book – “Hiking” – J Marais

Photos:  ©W Pelser

Compiled by:  Willem Pelser

Drakensberg - Walking in Cobham - Pholela Cave and Amakehla Pass

 WE SIMPLY NEED THOSE WILD WILDERNESSES AVAILABLE TO US, EVEN IF WE NEVER DO MORE THAN DRIVE TO ITS EDGE AND LOOK IN.

UNKNOWN

Drakensberg

Walking in Cobham

Pholela Cave and Amakehla
Pass

Ask any farmer in the Mzimkhulu Wilderness area what the major issue here is and he or she will say stock theft. It’s an old ‘custom’ invented by the Bushmen when white settlers moved into their hunting grounds, and later adopted by the Basotho as their national sport. But, whereas the Bushmen had just cause, the modern Basotho cattle and horse thieves are brazen criminals pillaging the rich pickings of a foreign country. The two points to the south of Sani Pass are the major landmarks of the Southern Drakensberg: Hodgson’s Peaks are named after a farmer who, in 1862, joined a posse to follow Bushmen cattle thieves into the mountains. While chasing a mounted Bushman along the summit near Mzimkhulu Pas, Thomas Hodgson was severely wounded in the thigh. He died the following day and is buried somewhere up there. Robert Speirs, who was among the commando, was lost without horse or food for about two weeks after the incident. He spent some time in a cave, which must still have been used by Bushmen after this because scenes depicting the incident were painted on the walls. It was named Speir’s Cave and hikers who are persistent will locate it along the Mzimkhulu Pass route. The gateway to this area is the town of Underberg.

Pholela Cave and Amakehla Pass

Route: From Cobham up the Pholela River to the cave, then up the pass to the head of a southerly tributary

Distance: 17.5 km one way

Duration: 2 Days

Grade: Extreme

General: Most first-time summiteers in this area head straight up the Pholela River to its head in the bowl of Giant’s Cup and up Masubasuba Pass. However, this route is in a shocking state and should be avoided. By far the better route is up Amakehla Pass, following the southerly tributary. The route at the top of the pass poses not technical difficulties, but it does wind through rock bands and will give vertigo sufferers something to cling on to.

   From Cobham head up the Pholela Valley, with the Giant’s Cup looming dead ahead, to reach the river after 1 km. Thereafter the path follows the left-hand bank for about 1 km before taking the direct course where the river loops away to the right. You regain the river after another 1.5 km and follow it for 3 km below the Little Berg formation of the Whale Back, on your left – a number of paths lead up the Whale Back.

   At the confluence of the iNhlabeni, cross this tributary and continue round a headland following the course of the Pholela. After 1 km you cross the river, then cross it again three times in succession a few hundred meters on.

   Back on the left-hand bank; continue up the valley for 3 km to where three gorge-like valleys meet. Gorge Cave, the smallest of the area, is reached up the northerly, right-hand valley; much larger Spectacle Cave up the southerly, left-hand stream; and Pholela Cave up the middle, that is, straight on. However, the Pholela River actually turns sharp right here up the northerly of the three gorges. This route will take you up Masubasuba Pass. Pholela Cave is 700 m ahead after crossing the stream leading to Spectacle Cave, but it’s on the right-hand side of the valley.

   Amakehla Pass continues up the left-hand side of the stream, for 2 km, into a huge bowl at the base of the mountain wall. Where you reach the base of the near-vertical cliffs, the path leaves the stream gully and goes up the slope to the left, making its way around the twin spires of Amakehla Amabili (meaning ‘the fingers’), winding its way along and up a secluded gully on the southern side of the ‘amabilis’.

   Another pass just to the south of this, going more directly up the ridge to the south from Lakes Cave, is Minaret Pass, used by dagga smugglers. However, this one is even steeper and more sinuous than Amakehla. Both lead into the upper Pitsaneng Valley. This large river can be followed to a curved horseshoe bend near the top of Stones Pass, 5.5 km to the south-south-west.

   You can return via either Giant’s Cup or Masubasuba Pass, past Gorge Cave and down the Pholela, if you don’t mind trailing through knee-deep erosion gullies.

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.

References and Acknowledgements

From the book: “Best Walks of the Drakensberg” – David Bristow

Photos:  ©Willem Pelser

Compiled by:  Willem Pelser