Drakensberg Hiking Guide Philip Grant regularly sets off into the mountains for long stretches of time and he’s got the packing of his backpack down to a fine art. If you’re new to hiking and you can’t decide what to pack and whether your sleeping bag should go at the top or the bottom, inside or outside, this is his advice.
You will need the following for a multi-day Drakensberg High Traverse in winter. Downscale this list for lower altitude hikes and / or according to the seasons.
• Comfortable good quality rucksack – at least 70 – 75 litres capacity. For general backpacking I prefer packs with plenty of large accessible outside pockets. My first internal frame pack was a Backpacker Boulder and I found it ideal. The North Ridge Route 75 is a very good newer alternative, as are the new Backpacker series. I now have one of each.
• Tent – For Drakensberg hiking regard a two person tent as a one person tent and a three person tent as a two person tent. This gives you room to bring all your kit inside at night or in wet weather and still have room to cook in the bell(s) if necessary. When sleeping solo and for single clients I use a K-Way Treklite II. It has a good sized bell and is very rigid in strong wind. If sharing I use a trusted 30 year old three person Backpacker Kestrel, it has a separate entrance and bell at each end which means that each person can have their own entrance, exit and cooking space – avoiding the irritation of having to climb over your tent buddy and their cooking arrangements! For clients sharing, I supply Bushtec North Wind tents for the same reasons. They are a bit on the heavy side, but are robust and strong in wind. Weight can be shared by splitting the poles and pegs from the remainder of the tent.
• Sleeping Bag – I use three different sleeping bags depending on the season and the expected weather. On top of the Drakensberg in all weathers – I use a First Ascent Fusion 900 goose down -15C. For Caves – a Bergmaster Iceline hollow fill -10C. For warmer low altitude and coastal trips – a trustworthy 30 year old Cederberg down fill bag.
• Polartec Inner Liner – This keeps your sleeping bag clean. It is light, easy to wash, increases the bag’s thermal rating by as much as -5C and can double as a sleeping bag on its own in very hot weather. Made by First Ascent.
• Closed cell sleeping mat – or self-inflating mattress. Buy the best, lightest and most robust you can afford!
• Light plastic groundsheet – Buy a strong reinforced ‘space blanket’, or make your own from a piece of heavy duty plastic sheeting. Alternatively use a plastic survival bag made by Camp Trails (very useful to get inside on very cold nights if your sleeping bag does not live up to its thermal rating as promised by that over-eager salesperson (you can catch up with him or her later!).
• Backpack splash cover – makes such as Karrimor are easily obtainable from any hiking shop. It must be big enough to cover your pack and any items strapped onto the outside.
• Good quality raingear – jacket and pants (doubles as windproof gear) – mine is made by Red Mountain. If I was expecting heavy rain or snow I would pack an extra outer waterproof jacket layer. Wearing two waterproof layers also cuts down on condensation.
• Whistle – small and loud!
• Personal medication and toiletries – I take a small folding toothbrush (free on most international flights!), a very small tube of toothpaste, roll-on deodorant (for the sake of my hiking companions!) comb and a small synthetic towel. Using soap (even so called bio-degradable soap) in wilderness areas is controversial. If you must use soap, carry water away from streams and wash there. Shampoo is an unnecessary extra weight. Use toothpaste away from streams and remember to leave no trace!
• Sun bloc
• Plasters – roll plaster works best for blisters – apply straight over the ‘hot-spot’.
Clothing
• Your favourite hiking boots
• Sun hat
• Beanie or balaclava
• Waterproof gloves or mittens – large enough to go over your fleece gloves.
• Good quality fleece jacket – In my experience a down jacket is too warm for almost all our SA hiking conditions. Better to purchase a really good quality thick fleece jacket – try First Ascent – then use a rain suit top to cut wind if necessary. Down does not hold heat when wet…
• Gaiters – snow or ankle.
• 2 x hiking shorts – these double as swimming costumes (if you must)! – First Ascent makes a good product with inbuilt underwear. They are very light, quick drying and hard wearing.
• 2 x hiking shirts – preferably wic-dri. Try First Ascent again. Look for ones with long sleeves and collars for protection against the sun.
• Light Fleece top – I find this a very useful extra layer for when it is too warm for the thick fleece, or in addition to the thick fleece when it is very cold. First Ascent again.
• Fleece tracksuit pants – First Ascent make a good product with reinforced bum pad and knee pads.
• Woollen Hiking socks
• Fleece gloves
• Neck scarf or Buff – good for sun protection and when it is cold.
• FOOD!!
• Small stove – A very personal choice, but I have been using the basic Camping Gaz Bluet range, at all altitudes in the Drakensberg since I started hiking some 35 years ago. The cylinders are cheap and are obtainable almost anywhere. A stainless steel mug can be placed directly on top of the stove for that quick cuppa.
• Spare fuel – in my case one or two spare Camping Gaz cylinders.
• Cooking pots – I use my original pair of rectangular interlocking army issue dixie’s. They are still available from hiking shops.
• Spork – what a great invention!
• Stainless steel mug – this also serves as an extra pot.
• Swiss Army Knife – choose the lightest model which includes a tin opener!
• Head Torch – Another great invention! For many years I used an inexpensive Energiser head torch available from most hardware shops. I have since upgraded to a Petzl.
• Spare batteries – for head torch, GPS and camera. Try to select models that all take the same light AAA batteries.
• Small synthetic towel
• Toilet paper – in double Ziploc bag with its own matches and Bic lighter!
• Bic lighter(s) – and / or matches. Please do not leave used matchsticks (or horror of horrors – cigarette ends!) anywhere – this constitutes rubbish – please remember leave no trace!
• Digging tool for ablutions – one or two can be shared between the group. I have made a light one from a cut down window putty knife. ‘Download’ well away from watercourses and paths. After burning your toilet paper – but only if you are absolutely sure it is safe to do so – if in doubt DON’T! – cover your deposit and then place a large rock over it. Once again – leave no trace!
• Passport – if hiking on to the ‘High ‘Berg’ and into Lesotho.
• Maps, compass and (GPS) – Most of my hiking experience was before the advent of GPS’s so we had to rely on map-reading and compass skills. As a professional guide, I carry a small Garmin Geko 201 which has proved more than adequate. I work with waypoints to confirm my position if necessary, either lifting them from a map in advance, or recording them along the way. This is accurate enough for hiking purposes. In my opinion, a GPS should always be used in conjunction with a good map and compass. Mine stays switched off until needed, so conserving batteries.
• Notebook and pencil
• Light waterproof sandals – such as Crocs, are great for evenings as well as swimming and crossing rivers and streams.
• Bags for your all your rubbish!!
• Camera
• Light binoculars
• Swimming costume – very optional – quote: ‘the most pointless thing to carry in your pack is a wet swimming costume!’
• Sunglasses – very important if there is a possibility of snow around.
• Cellphone – for emergency use only!
• Trekking poles or hiking stick – I use two poles if carrying a full pack. In long grass they can become a liability, in that case, strap them to the back of your pack.
How to pack the rucksack!
There is no such thing as a waterproof rucksack! Wrap all items that need to be kept dry in plastic bags and / or preferably Ziploc bags!
I pack for practicality first and foremost, so I can find things quickly, make a cup of tea and have a snack along the way without unpacking everything, and pack quickly in the morning to avoid the embarrassment of having my already packed hiking companions itching to move and smugly standing around watching me…!!
• Open up the rucksack to its full capacity by unzipping the horizontal partition. In my experience you will eventually remove all the items from your pack every evening looking for that pesky ‘lost’ item anyway, and I find it is quicker to repack from scratch each morning!
• Pack your tent and sleeping bag first. Wrap your sleeping bag up well in black plastic garbage bags. The last thing you want when you crawl exhausted into your sleeping bag at the end of the day is a wet bed! In my experience it is better to have the tent inside your pack as this avoids any possibility of a ‘lost pole’ or ‘lost peg’ which can happen if your tent is attached to the outside of the rucksack. The comparatively heavy tent is then close to your back.
• Pack your First Aid kit at the back and bottom of the rucksack in the space left between the sleeping bag and tent. This enables you to reach it quickly if necessary through the zippered flap that you would normally have used to reach the bottom compartment.
• Next add your spare clothes – again wrapped in garbage bags.
• Slide flat items such as your folded groundsheet (useful for caves) and maps (that you are not using at the time), down the space between these items and the front of the rucksack. Keep your passport, wilderness permits, cell phone, car keys, money, GPS, and compass (when you are not using them) with your maps – once again protected in a large Ziploc bag.
• Pack your cooking pots next and use them as secure and safe protection for fragile items such as spectacles, sunglasses and head torch.
• Next pack your food. After carefully working out a menu and what you will consume each day, in my experience, you will find it easier to place all the food items for the hike in one large transparent bag and fish out what you actually feel like eating at any particular time. Put your Swiss Army knife, salt, pepper Parmesan cheese and spices (in old 35mm film containers if you can still find some) with the food.
• On top of the food bag, pack your fleece or down jacket as this will insulate your precious melt-able items! Your jacket will then be easy to get at when the weather changes. Place your fleece gloves and beanie in the pockets of your jacket.
• Bottom left hand pocket. Pack your spare Gaz cylinder(s). Possibly add your toiletries here if you are short of space (see below).
• Bottom right hand pocket. Pack your toilet paper, small digging tool, (spare) matches and (spare) lighter to burn used toilet paper (but only when safe to do so!) placed in two (one inside the other) Ziploc bags! In this pocket also add your toiletries (if possible) so that all are together for your morning ablutions!
• Top left hand pocket. Stove, and one of two 500ml water-bottles, ‘Game’ sachets and sugar container.
• Top right hand pocket. Second 500ml water-bottle, stainless steel mug, Bic lighter, Spork, tea, coffee and powdered milk containers and your (small?) stash of ‘sun-downers’…In my opinion a good whisky is the only thing that can improve our Drakensberg water!
• Top pocket, rucksack splash cover, rain suit (with your waterproof gloves in its pockets), gaiters, hat (when you are not wearing it) plus your binoculars, and camera in Ziploc bags.
• Attach your Crocs and closed cell sleeping mat (wrapped in plastic) to the outside of the rucksack. Attach your whistle to one of the shoulder straps. Avoid attaching anything else except your hiking poles (when you are not using them) to the outside of your rucksack, especially mugs or other items that will drive you and your fellow hikers mad with their flapping and rattling with your every step!
And that’s it!
Southern Secrets Hiking 