Title: Drakensberg Select
Subtitle: Rock climbing, Ice climbing, Trekking, Day hikes
Author: Gavin Raubenheimer
Editor: Tony Lourens
Publisher: Blue Mountain Design & Publishing
Cape Town, South Africa 2019
ISBN 9780994712400 / ISBN 978-0-9947124-0-0
Softcover, 15 x 21 cm, 352 pages, throughout colour photos
Gavin Raubenheimer and Tony Lourens' book, Drakensberg Select: Rock climbing, Ice climbing, Trekking, Day Hikes reminds of how much more there is to explore and enjoy: The Drakensberg, South Africa's greatest mountain range, has been the subject of several excellent books over the past 50 years, and this one is a worthy successor. Its unique contribution is the comprehensive cover it gives of the many facets of these mountains, and the activities that can be undertaken in them. These include rock and ice climbing, hiking, caves and bivouac shelters, flora and fauna, access details, maps and navigation, safety, weather, and many others.
Then there are the interesting stories told by various mountaineers, and the historical anecdotes that add colour to the Drakensberg experience wever, the main thrust of the book is the route descriptions. For each of the major Drakensberg ks and minor ones as well, a selection of the best (in many cases the only) routes are described Pe eacn route, in addition to the technical description, including the approach and descent, the climbing e aspect (sunny/shade), best time of year to climb the route, and the gear requirements (including pitons and hammer where necessary) are provided.
But the most valuable feature is the excellent photographs on which the routes are dotted in and indicating the stances and abseil points. Following the comprehensive Introduction section, with its useful and interesting information, the 17 chapters cover the major mountain areas of the Drakensberg, from Sentinel Peak in the North to Bushman's Nek in the South Most of the chapters focus on hiking and rock climbing, but two are focused on ice climbing - the Giant's Castle area and the Bokong area in northern Lesotho.
There is also a chapter on the Drakensberg Grand and Mini Traverse, and the final chapter gives descriptions, including GPS co-ordinates, of the caves, bivvies and shelters used by mountaineers The list of Drakensberg passes, with GPS coordinates, will be very valuable for those lost in the mist on top of the escarpment. Drakensberg Select: Rock climbing, Ice climbing, Trekking, Day hikes is more than a guide book. It is the mountaineer's companion, providing interesting reading and inspiration for planning future Drakensberg trips.
Introduction
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Human history
Using this guidebook
Best time to visit
Nature of climbing and protection
Abseiling
Bolting
Accommodation and Camping
Shelters
Fauna
Snakes
Conservation and ethics
Water
Human waste
Security on the Lesotho border
Rescue
What to do in an emergency
Grading system
Guides and porters
General information
References and bibliography Map of the Drakensberg
Interesting Reading
Paradigm Shift
Angus-Leppan 50th Anniversary Ascent
Here be Dragons - First ascent
The Berg is for Baboons and Vultures
South-East Arete - First free ascent
The Devil's Tyrolean
Tooth in a day
Teales Climbing in the 'Berg Lion Heart - First ascent
Inner Mnweni Pinnacle
Cathedral Peak - Three decades later
Not so Auto - Hardest route in the 'Berg
Epic on the Western Injisuthi Triplet
Lämmergeier - A solo ascent
Main Lotheni Couloir Sani Pass on Skis
Jack and the Beanstalk - First ascent
Historical Anecdotes
Tragedy on the Sentinel
First Ascent of Mponjwane Mponjwane and Cathedral Peak
Names
Tragedy on the Bell Organ Pipes
Historical Fact
Barry's Death on Monk's Cowl
Chief Langalibalele
Dodgy Conservation in Giant's Castle
The Start of Ice Climbing in South Africa
Tragedy on Sani Ice
The Story of the Sani Pass
Sculduggery and Tragedy in the Berg
Old Cave Dwellings and Irish Cave
