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The Southern berg actually encompasses a huge area.
Unlike the Northern berg's commercialised and known resorts, this vast area is
comparatively unvisited. There are a huge collection of routes through the
basalts here, from well know routes like Sani pass, to many unnamed openings
to Lesotho. Daring and imagination are your only restrictions. When
the Northern regions crowd with people, there are still vast unpeopled areas
here, that can give you that explorers feel. And, despite the lack of people,
a lot of the routes are easy and gentle. The accesses can be long, but folks
out for a ramble rather than a adrenalin thrill will appreciate the region. I
myself have hardly started exploring the many routes here, having spent most
of my time in this area swimming in the bewildering selection of pools in the
little berg. But when I have shouldered the bag for a good honest climb, I've
done....
mkomazi
Access walk: The path is good for the entire walk from Vergelgen, and could well be followed in poor weather. There is only one obstacles to overcome, a large spur which you go over and down the other side. Other than that the long walk in is a comfortable days stroll to where things get steeper. We followed the river rather than the path, and often felt like the first people to be passing some pools and waterfalls (although I'm sure we weren't). From the summit the pass is more difficult to locate, although with common sense and a map no problems should be encountered
Pass Route: The pass itself is really just a steady climb. The path follows the south slopes of the valley, and never really gets steep. It winds a bit, but is obvious and should not be lost. There is no section that requires even a semblance of scrambling, and one should just idle to the low summit.
Water on pass and Summit: Although the path follows a river all the way. It is often some way above it, and the climb itself is actually dry. Water can also be a problem on the summit, with quite a walk in the winter months to find a good supply.
Caves and Campsites: If you are accessing the high berg, there is little shelter on top (and indeed in the valley) I can't remember any caves on the entire route in, so a tent will be essential. Camping is plentiful on the way in, if wild, and the right at the summit it is a little exposed to camp comfortably.
olesi
Access walk:It takes at least a day to establish yourself at the base of the pass. The start at Vergelegen has a bit of a frontier feel to it, and chances are you'll be the only party in the mountains. It's an easy stroll with the river for most of the way in. We kept to the river all the way to the base, ignoring what the map suggested was the route. No matter, it's an obvious main valley whose head you approach. The path disappears a kilometre or so before the fork that signals the start of the uphill trudge, if you decide to try to stick to it.
Pass Route:There is no evidence of a path on this seldom-used route. We attacked the northern slopes first, just above the valley floor, and crossed to the southern slopes just over a third of the way up. There is a deep side gully two thirds of the way up and this is best avoided by going high and close to the basalt's on the southern slopes. Despite the lack of a path, with a little forethought navigation is easy and not particularly dangerous. Its a relative easy walk if it wasn't for the access hike, but still remarkably scenic. The route is not actually steep, and requires only moderate fitness. To me only the remoteness of this path could explain Mr Bristow's cautionary statements.
Water on pass and Summit: Water runs out a third of the way up the pass. Until then you have some of the most pure water in the berg, almost unaffected by man's encroachment. However, once the trickle in the pass runs dry, there ain't no more until at least 3 hours later and 300m down the other side of the escarpment. The pass tops on a ridge that leads all the way to Southern Africa's highest point, but is thus a long way from water
Caves and Campsites:Camping is plentiful on the walk in, and two caves whose names I've forgotten straddle the path near the base. The summit is as open and windwept as always, and requires a sturdy tent to camp, although campsites are everywhere.