Training Camp - 2

20 - 22 May 2022

White Mountain Lodge, Giant’s Castle, Central Drakensberg, Kwazulu-Natal

Camp Schedule

Friday, 20 May

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

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

Saturday, 21 May

  • 06h00 – 07h00 – Breakfast

  • 07h00 – 08h30 - Transfer to trail head at Monks Cowl Campsite

  • 09h00 - Start run

Sunday, 22 May

  • 09h00 - Finish at Giant’s Castle Camp / Transfer back to White Mountain

  • 10h00 - 12h00 - Showers / Brunch / Debrief

Accommodation

Each person will be provided with a bed in a self catering chalet. You will be required to bring your own sleeping bag and 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 Monks Cowl Campsite, heading up Grays pass via Keith’s bush camp, to Champagne Castle (DGT peak 3) where we join the DGT route. From there we will spend 40km along the DGT route passing Mafadi (DGT peak 4) and Giant’s Castle (DGT peak 5) before heading down Giant’s Castle pass to Giant’s Castle Campsite.

Approximately 72km with 3700m 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 amount of experience in the Drakensberg and on hand to share 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 is a South African company producing great Freeze Dried meals for the adventure market. Perfect for fastpacking, can be rehydrated with either cold or hot water, mixed and eaten straight from the bags - so no need to carry an additional bowl. Just remember your spoon!
Forever Fresh have offered DGT entrants a 10% discount on meals. Order through us and it 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.
RADBAG is giving 15% discount off their bags for 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)