Excellent advice that applies equally to all remote and mountainous regions. Please please please tell me you carry a PLB and/or sat phone? BTW altitude sickness is not related to fitness - slow acclimitiation helps. As you said everybody should research this and know what to do. Love your passion for this wonderful and uber challenging part of the world:) First aid courses should be updated (even if it's online) since the techniques keep changing. Well done, thanks.
@RoughingItWithRuth5 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Yes, you are correct about altitude sickness; I'll pin your comment to help people take note of this. I admit that I do not currently carry a PLB nor a sat phone. The subscriptions work out to be quite expensive in South Africa, but I have recently been discussing the possibility of sharing the costs between several hiking friends and co-owning the PLB as we so often hike together anyway. If we ever needed it, the cost would totally be justified...
@princesswearshikingboots44795 жыл бұрын
@@RoughingItWithRuth I'm so glad you're considering getting a PLB. Priceless if needed. We used to hire one and now own one since we often hike in remote areas where you see nobody at all. Do you discuss emergency plans on your trips - so responses are automatic when it counts ? We discuss what to do in an earthquake as we're crossing major fault boundaries - probably pray, lol!!! Ciao
@zamanokhwe83395 жыл бұрын
As a new KZbinr who wants to do hiking vlogs...I needed this video...I've only done easy hiking so far...
@RoughingItWithRuth5 жыл бұрын
@@zamanokhwe8339 Congrats on joining the KZbin hiking family! Easy is different for everyone; I would LOVE to see your hikes!
@zamanokhwe83395 жыл бұрын
@@RoughingItWithRuth I only have two so far...nothing compare to yours...you're a pro...
@lilo3571 Жыл бұрын
I am new to hiking. Your video is so incredibly helpful. Thanks Ruth 😊
@RoughingItWithRuth Жыл бұрын
I'm glad it helped!
@leratomonyatsi-skirtgirlhi86006 жыл бұрын
You forgot to mention how ADDICTIVE the DrakensbergMountains are... I've been twice in 4 months and going back again in June... I want to go back every two months. So much to do there. You've covered a lot thank you
@RoughingItWithRuth6 жыл бұрын
You're absolutely right! Maybe the addiction is the most dangerous part ;)
@GregorySingleton-r8i Жыл бұрын
Thanks Ruth. Although this is an old video. Always good to be reminded x
@RoughingItWithRuth Жыл бұрын
Thanks! Good to know it is still helpful 😊
@awksedgreep6 жыл бұрын
We have a couple of terms we use in the US to separate the two. Hiking for long walks with minor peaks. Mountaineering for technical scrambling and extreme peaks. Based on your videos it seems like much of the range is closer to the latter. It’s a very different set of gear and skills than just long walks. Beautiful area, but it should be respected. Great video. I spent the better part of my 20s and 30s looking at doing the Colorado 14ers(peaks over 14k feet). Seems similar to your beautiful range there.
@RoughingItWithRuth6 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mark! Great distinction in terms :) I really hope one day I can see some of those beautiful American mountains myself!
@ItsAStephanieB3 жыл бұрын
Thank you Ruth. This is such good advice.
@RoughingItWithRuth3 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@markussteinmann28903 жыл бұрын
Ruth I totally agree with you about hiking alone. It's never a good idea to hike alone especially in a rough area like the drakensberg.
@RoughingItWithRuth3 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@richardjones9906 жыл бұрын
That area makes for a very uncomfortable place, beautiful but still uncomfortable. I can see how someone could be drawn to an adventure like that but it certainly isn’t for everyone. I’m sure this video will serve as a great source for someone considering such a trip. I would say you covered almost every issue one might experience in that location. All the words in the world can’t replace actual experience so it definitely makes perfect sense to go with someone that’s been there before. On a side note, how long were you there? The size and bulk of the packs shown in this video really struck me. I’m sure everything in those packs were absolutely necessary to make such a trip. Another informative video. I really appreciate your enthusiasm and encouragement to your fellow backpackers.
@RoughingItWithRuth6 жыл бұрын
Thank you Richard! The footage in this video actually comes from 2 different trips (both 4 days and 3 nights long). It does always amaze me how differently different people approach backpacking. Some people really take the bare minimum, and then others take a huge amount of luxuries. I quite enjoy the contrast between the 2 styles :D
@metaspencer6 жыл бұрын
awesome footage! looks like a rough but fun trip
@RoughingItWithRuth6 жыл бұрын
Thank you! It was definitely fun :)
@Dizzyish4 жыл бұрын
Awesome video, thx heaps!!
@RoughingItWithRuth4 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@Steven_nevetS4 жыл бұрын
Love the berg. you made some good points.
@RoughingItWithRuth4 жыл бұрын
Thanks Steven!
@paulcreux39294 жыл бұрын
Excellent video!
@RoughingItWithRuth4 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@pertelote45264 жыл бұрын
I have just discovered these mountains via a British gardening programme :-) The mountains might be remote but they look pretty crowded, to be honest. Here, in central Europe, you can hike in the less touristy mountains for hours on end without meeting a single soul. Strange, isn't it ? Cheers!
@RoughingItWithRuth4 жыл бұрын
Sounds amazing! Parts of the Drakensberg are very remote as well, where you are not likely to meet any people, but I tend to always go there with a group of people for safety reasons. I would LOVE to hike in Europe one day!
@pertelote45264 жыл бұрын
@@RoughingItWithRuth Please, do so :-) You might like the less obvious hiking destinations in Europe such as Romania, Ukraine, south-east Poland. The gardening programme presenter interviewed two British botanists looking for some native plants in the Drakensberg; sadly, the knowledgeable couple was later murdered in the oNgoye Forest, what a pity indeed. Cheers!
@RoughingItWithRuth4 жыл бұрын
@@pertelote4526 Oh my goodness, that is a very sad tale 😢
@drakensberghiker85656 жыл бұрын
Well said Ruth
@RoughingItWithRuth6 жыл бұрын
Thank you :D
@WillWildsOutdoorAdventures6 жыл бұрын
3:25 wow that's insane. Cheers for the video thumbs up & Subbed!
@RoughingItWithRuth6 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@samoscroft61572 ай бұрын
I may have gone to the top of the burg alone 4 times this year and I’m only 18. Sorry it’s just too fun
@michaelcrossey35322 ай бұрын
Keep enjoying the berg but be safe, maybe a gps communicator, and her point about rescue being potentially days away is very valid with rescue-chopper availability at the moment in this country. Love solo hikes myself as well, just saying bru, anything can happen.
@BackpackingWithJason6 жыл бұрын
That area looks beautiful. I really liked all your advice about backpacking that area. Thanks for sharing and I really like your channel. 😃😃👍
@RoughingItWithRuth6 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Jason!
@RobertvdSpoel2 жыл бұрын
What would you say about attacks in the drakensberg
@RoughingItWithRuth2 жыл бұрын
Attacks do happen sometimes, unfortunately. I also check the hiking forums (vertical-endeavour.com) for the latest news about problem areas. I also only use a red light when on the top of the mountain so that it cannot be seen from too far away. I carry mace with me, hike with a group of people, and try to setup camp out of sight of high traffic areas whenever possible.
@RobertvdSpoel2 жыл бұрын
Ok thanks you
@vaxxyourass34363 жыл бұрын
Escarpment is a mess, tents get cut up and shoes etc get stolen
@RoughingItWithRuth3 жыл бұрын
This has happened for sure, but I have never experienced it. I have spent numerous nights on the escarpment and have never had issues like that. I do always check online forums beforehand to see whether there have been any recent reports of that sort of thing.
@tracydippenaar95123 жыл бұрын
Have you ever used a guiding company? I'm looking for personal recommendations for a Mafadi summit.
@RoughingItWithRuth3 жыл бұрын
I have never used a guiding company; I've just planned the trips myself. I have seen some good reviews online of 'Drakensberg Hiker', but have not tried them personally.
@ax41783 жыл бұрын
Guess what. I went to mweni. First time. On my own. With equipment never tested. No gps.
@RoughingItWithRuth3 жыл бұрын
Glad you had a good time 😊
@vaxxyourass34363 жыл бұрын
Lucky you
@clintbarnes27554 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the great video. What is the safety like regarding the locals(shepherds etc) in the area? Warm regards
@RoughingItWithRuth4 жыл бұрын
Hi Clint. I haven't had any issues, but some areas are more prone to problems than others. Check out the Berg Alert thread on vertical-endeavour.com for the latest updates.
@clintbarnes27554 жыл бұрын
@@RoughingItWithRuth are there ways to avoid these areas as we drew up a map of all the problem areas and got the information from vertical endeavour and it shows many areas. Would you recommend that we do this journey with more than 2 people (safety in numbers)?
@leratomonyatsi-skirtgirlhi86006 жыл бұрын
Hahaha Ruth I love your energy. I look forward to your clips... I've done Drakensberg a couple of times and this clips is super true. Share your Insta page pls
@RoughingItWithRuth6 жыл бұрын
Thank you Lerato! I don't know if it's a good idea to admit this, but I actually don't have Instagram, ha ha ha ha ha!
@boredomtheadventure6 жыл бұрын
Great video! It's like being a foreign exchange student for a few mins! It looked like an amazing trip, even if it was difficult!
@RoughingItWithRuth6 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I feel the same way (about the exchange student thing) about your channel!