Training Camp - 1

4 - 6 March 2022

Silver-Streams Cottages, Bushman’s Nek, Kwazulu-Natal

Camp Schedule

Friday, 4 March

  • 17h00-19h00 - Check in / Registration at Camp Venue

  • 19h00-21h00 - Dinner / Briefing / DGT discussion

Saturday, 5 March

  • 06h00 – 07h00 – Breakfast

  • 07h00 – 08h30 - Transfer to trail head

  • 09h00 - Start run

Sunday, 6 March

  • 10h00 - Finish back at Camp Venue

  • 11h00-12h00 - Lunch / Debrief

Accommodation

Each person will be provided with a four-man tent with a mattress for Friday night accommodation. You will be required to bring your own sleeping bag / pillow (expect temperatures of anyway between 0 – 15 °C). Saturday night will be spent in the mountains, and we will sleep for a few hours out on the trail (practice for DGT).

Route

Start will be at the trail head to the Gxalingenwa Gorge. The route will follow the paths through the Gxalingenwa Valley to the hub, before climbing Masubasuba Pass to reach the top of the escarpment in the bowl of The Giant’s Cup. From there we will traverse along the cliff edge of the escapement to link up with the DGT route at the Sandleni Pinnacle. We will then follow the final 35km of the DGT route to finish back at Silver-Streams Cottages.

Approximately 67km with 3000m of climbing.

Kit list (to be carried on the run)

  • Valid Passport

  • Backpack

  • Head torch (waterproof)

  • Spare batteries for head torch - no rechargeable batteries - sufficient for 1 night

  • GPS unit (watches allowed) - sufficient for 30 hours use

  • Base layer top and bottom - must be made of either synthetic or merino wool. No cotton base layers allowed

  • Mid layer top - minimum weight 150g (recommend carrying at least two mid layer tops)

  • Waterproof top - with sealed seams and hood - Waterproof Rating must be > 10,000mm

  • Waterproof bottoms - with sealed seams - Waterproof Rating must be > 5,000mm

  • Sun hat

  • Gloves - recommend two pairs - inner layer and water/wind proof outer

  • Beanie or buff for head warmth

  • 2 x buff (excluding buff for head)

  • Water carrying capacity - minimum 2 litres

  • Space blanket - not older than 6 months

  • Bivvy Bag (at least 150g total weight) or sleeping bag

  • Food for duration of the run (30 hrs)

  • Phone with roaming activated

  • Compass - standalone - not part of watches

  • Any individual / personal medication / first aid required

GPS

We will send the track for the camp to all runners in the week leading up to the camp for loading to their GPS units. We will also be bringing along a few Garmin units to instruct runners on GPS navigation and how to follow tracks from GPS units.

Guides

DGT race organisers, Spurgeon Flemington and Graham Bird, will be joined on the camp team by the very knowledgeable and experienced Pierre Jordaan from Mountain Abandon. Pierre has a vast about of experience in the Drakensberg and will be on hand to pass along a huge wealth of knowledge of how to prepare for the DGT or any high mountain run.

Trail Food & Bivvy Bag

We will be spending approximately 25-28 hours out on the trail, so please ensure you bring sufficient food along for this amount of time.

Forever Fresh Foods are a locally based company producing great Freeze Dry meals. We recommend getting a few of these to try out. They great for fastpacking, can be rehydrated with either cold or hot water, mixed and eaten straight from the bags - No need to carry additional bowl. We have arranged a 10% discount with Forever Fresh and if you order – the product will be at the camp registration ready for your collection.

RADBAG (Bivvy Bag) - As part of the compulsory kit, each person is required to carry a sleeping bag or enclosed bivvy bag. During Saturday night of the training camp, we will stop for a few hours of sleep. We recommend bringing the bivvy bag or sleeping bag you intend using for DGT Run to test. We have arranged a 15% discount from RADBAG for all DGT Runners.

Please email us at info@dgtrun.co.za if you would like to purchase any Forever Fresh Meals or a Rad Bag

Interested runners can sign up to join one of the Training Camps to get involved and get inspired and gain a better understanding of what is required before taking the leap to enter the DGT-Run.

Cost for non-entrants to join the camps is R2800 per person. - APPLY TO ENTER button -

When you then decide to go for the full DGT-Run 2022, you will only pay R10 000 race entry fee. (Or the full amount and join us for another camp if you like)