Another Mountain Pass
11-20-2020, 10:04 AM
#1
Another Mountain Pass
Another attempt to show some of the beautiful passes we have in this little corner of the World! This time I drove very slowly and leisurely to avoid any negative criticism. I shall have to buy a better dashcam, if you compare the footage from dashcam to the iPhone video I shot at the top of the pass!
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Wrtflyr (11-20-2020)
11-21-2020, 02:56 AM
#3
Not sure of temp difference (as I was looking at my tyre pressures more than ambient temps! But the elevation is around 800m (2 650’ ish). I think it speaks volumes for the comfort and excitement of even this base C2 991.2 that I used to drive 1000miles non stop home from Jo’burg (only stopping to refuel and sometimes not even getting out of the car!) I would arrive on the other side of these mountains and be faced with the choice of tunnel (home quicker), or this pass (more fun!), the pass would always win!!
This is what Wikipedia says about it:Originally 48km long, the pass climbed to 820 metres (2,690ft). The Huguenot Tunnel, opened in 1988, is the largest curved structure in South Africa and shortens the road by 11 kilometres (6.8mi). It is operated as a toll road. There is an impressive viaduct on the Paarl approach side.
The surrounding peaks often sport a covering of snow and the Mountain Club of South Africa has huts in the area. Du Toits Peak is the highest mountain at 1,995 metres (6,545ft).
This is what Wikipedia says about it:Originally 48km long, the pass climbed to 820 metres (2,690ft). The Huguenot Tunnel, opened in 1988, is the largest curved structure in South Africa and shortens the road by 11 kilometres (6.8mi). It is operated as a toll road. There is an impressive viaduct on the Paarl approach side.
The surrounding peaks often sport a covering of snow and the Mountain Club of South Africa has huts in the area. Du Toits Peak is the highest mountain at 1,995 metres (6,545ft).
History
The pass was named after Francois Du Toit, a 17th-century Huguenot pioneer who settled in the foothills. Prior to 1825, farmers used the pass to get to the interior beyond.:24 At that time, Lieutenant Schonfelt of the farm Du Toitskloof asked the Cape Colony government for money for a road through the pass but no funds were provided.:24 Another pass became the better route and in 1845, the route over the Bainskloof Pass was constructed, named after engineer Andrew Geddes Bain.:24 In 1930, engineer P.A. de Villiers explored the idea of a road over the pass and in 1938 it was investigated further by the National Roads Board with the route finalised in 1940.:24 The project was started in the summer of 1941/42.:25 It cost R1.25 million and was 40km long with the road opened in March 1949 by Prime Minister DF Malan.
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redbaron01 (11-22-2020)