NEWCASTLE HARRIERS RUNNING CLUB

PRESENTS

Donkeys' Pass Mountain Challenge

ONLY FOR THE RUGGED!!!

ENTER ON LINE: www.greygoose.co.za or www.dunblane.co.za

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Donkey's Pass Mountain Challenge was held for the first time in October 2004.

Both the 24km or 12km races start at Dumblane Farm the foot (1450m) of the Drakensberg Mountains 20 km from Newcastle. From here competitors are faced with a 650m high escarpment, and if that is not enough, half way up the trail swings to the right and leaves you fighting your way along the face of the escarpment until it finally turns left again and you scramble your way up Baboons’ Pass (7km, elev.1980m) to emerge on the top. From here there is some respite as you run over the top of the mountain past “Honeymoon Bush” before plunging into the deep river beds and gorges like “Waterfall Gorge” and “Reverse Falls” on the western side of the mountain.Here you will find some welcome “watering holes” as the streams are clear and fresh.

The trail then works its way round in a right hand curve until you once again emerges on top of the escarpment at “Baboons’ Cave”. The views over Newcastle and the rest of KwaZulu Natal are breathtaking but time and tide waits for no one and you must pit yourself against the hair raising scramble down “Trek Pass” to the foot of the mountain. Once at the bottom your trials are not over as you must turn back across the foot of the escarpment which is cut by deep gulleys and streams, before reaching the starting point.

All survivors are awarded a very unique medal!!

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