Tomorrow (Fri, 22 Jan) at 04h00, Nicholas Mulder and Ryno Griesel start their attempt at the 210km Drakensberg Grand Traverse. This high altitude trail takes in six of the Drakensberg’s highest summits. Starting at the Sentinal Car Park in the north, persons completing the unsupported Challenge visit the peaks of Mont-Aux-Sources, Cleft, Champagne Castle, Mafadi Summit, Giants Castle and Thabana Ntlenyana before descending down the escarpment at the Bushmans Nek border post.
Nicholas and Ryno will send regular updates on their progress to drakensberg.ning.com (Grand Traverse website), as well as www.ar.co.za and Cyanosis’ own site at www.teamcyanosis.co.za.
This fast-footed pair will attempt to break Andrew Porter’s Traverse record of 61 hours, 24 minutes, set in December 2009. The weather however is not playing along, with scattered showers and rain predicted in the Berg regions. If the weather worsens, the Nicholas and Ryno may be forced down to lower altitudes. In the Berg, conditions vary drastically and they could get lucky.
If conditions are unbearable and they are forced to abandon the route, then Nicholas and Ryno would have at least had good training and an opportunity to scout for a second attempt on the record later this year.
Team Cyanosis is proud to have the following sponsors supporting them:
– First Ascent outdoor apparel, Foodstate vitamins, Island Tribe sun lotion, Salomon and Crocs adventure, trail running and casual footwear, Petzl headlamps, Wiley X sunglasses, Mule Bar 100% natural energy bars.
– Form and Fitness sports supplements, Kreature.co.za outdoor and survival shop, O’Neill wetsuits, Specialized bikes and accessories, Summit Cycles in Midrand, Suunto field compasses and wristop computers.