100 Summits around the world
July 2019 - Arangieskop - 1700 top, 300m lower end.
We did the Arangieskop hike many years ago during and adventure race with Zirk Botha. It was an amazing trip, with lot of mist, and we nearly missed the checkpoint at the top due to the misty conditions. However, just at the right time, the mist cleared and we could see the hut and thus make the checkpoint.
We dont have pictures of the climb, but I do have a picture where Elize and I had a meal immediately after climbing down via the cement track. Elize is giving a TV interview at the time. We race with Don Lange and Franco Oosthuizen, with Mariette and Deon Pretorius providing the back-up.
Second time around we were ticking one of Ruanda's bucket list items. The team included Werner Ruanda, Ronald, Sherene, Brian, Patsy, Dewald, Dalene, Deon en Elize.
The weekend started perfectly with a SPUR breakfast, the Springboks drawing against the All Blacks in New Zealand and a late arrival at the departure point. It is recommended to start very early, we got away after 12h30 as we watched the rugby game first. The farmer warned us about the possible dark ascending, but we applied some gas and reached the overnight hut comfortably in the late afternoon. About 5 hours of climbing.
We also saw Tommy, out wine-merchant-friend who is still at the age of 89 selling Bon Courage wines out of his route 62 shop. As always, he had a ready supply of naartjies, water and wine to share. This time the naartjies came from Morokko.
We bought a bottle of red sweet wine that was later used for penalties.
Above - A favourite photo of some team members staring into the void......
Western Cape hiking guru, Mike Lundy, wrote, “The 9.5 km of the first day must be the longest 9.5 km in the Western Cape, but worth every grueling step of the way… Like all things difficult to achieve, this one has its exceptional rewards, not least of which are two of the finest overnight huts in the Western Cape.”The hike starts off nice and gentle, but as soon you hit the single track, you gaze up at the mountain and realise that the general nature of day 1 is UP.
Mike Lundy quotes the first 3 km after the waterpoint as “what will separate the men from the boys”. From here you do just under 5 km of climbing and gain 740 m in elevation. After walking along the river, the path takes a turn to the left where the ascent starts. Most of this section you walk along a switchback path. It was as tough as he quoted, and eventually Dewald went ahead, and came back to assist his Dad with some of the load.
This stone, rooftop gem of a mountain retreat is by no means a hut. It was built by the farmer who owns this land and was made available to the public because they felt they needed to share the magic of this beautiful setting. On a sign in the kitchen, they call it their “slice of heaven.” With hot water, an inside fireplace, flush toilets, solar-powered lights, a supply of firewood, 23 beds and that wonderful view, it’s easy to agree.
After reaching the summit, the tough descent begins. The going is slow over the first section. After about 4 km into the hike, the trails leads down into a forest area. This sections of the hike is far more overgrown than the preceding kilometers of days 1 and 2. Well, the descent on day two – full of dramatic cliffs, hidden valleys and secret forests – is worthy of the comparison to that fabled land of Bilbo and Frodo. Much of this section is along the river. Lots of ladders, chain ladders and dabgeous little cliffs around to keep everybody focused.
At approximately 4.5 km, there is another short climb, which requires some basic scrambling at some parts. The hike continues for another 500 m on a relatively flat gradient. The path is falling away in some sections and is loose along the edges in others.
Ruanda sprained her ankle and the last four kms were painstakingly slow....pun intended. Total descending time = about 6 hours.
At approximately 4.5 km, there is another short climb, which requires some basic scrambling at some parts. The hike continues for another 500 m on a relatively flat gradient. The path is falling away in some sections and is loose along the edges in others.
Ruanda sprained her ankle and the last four kms were painstakingly slow....pun intended. Total descending time = about 6 hours.
Everybody complained about the stiffness three days after the event. Sherene had to give a spinning class on Tuesday morning, and she could barely get onto the bike.
Although not a video of our group, it gives a wonderful summary of what this hike was all about.
August 2018 - Whale trail 611m
Day 1 of the Whale Trail is the longest day, and by far the most difficult day of a (relatively easy) multi-day hike. It starts with a roughly 3-4km incline to the highest point of the trail (611m), and we were delighted to have many sightings of the gliding Cape Vultures overhead as we ascended. Sadly, the mist and rain came in thick and fast just as we reached the high point and we were unable to see the spectacular views across the reserve in the south-east, nor the Breede River to the North. However, although late in the season, the fynbos put on a stunning show – Ericas and Proteas were flowering in abundance and the pink, red, yellow and orange hues offered bursts of colour across the grey landscape.
Die Hel - Groot Winterhoekberge
Dewald was two years old when we did the route with Bertus and June, Peirre de Wet and his wife, and some other friends that I cannot remember the names of.
The area is 33 km beyond Porterville. Take the N7 from Cape Town to Piketberg. Take a right at the petrol stop and head to Porterville. At the T-junction turn left to Cardouw — you are now on a good dirt road. Take a right up Dasklip Pass at the sign reading Groot Winterhoek, the pass is tarred on the way up. Just after you have crested the pass you will see the large sign for Beaverlac on the left. Pass this and continue south for 12km on the dirt road, following the sign boards to the office and parking area.
Groot Winterhoek is CapeNature wilderness area like the Cederberg Wilderness Area.
The trail is well constructed and maintained,. Whilst superbly signposted, unfortunately one or two key signs were missing from their posts. Neither the map in Mike Lundy’s book nor the map supplied by CapeNature really give you much detail, and they are inadequate for any kind of navigating should you become uncertain of your way.
Upon leaving I had a look at the info-board and was not surprised to see the hottest month of the year listed as February.
Day 1
19km (6hrs) Leave your car in the parking lot. Don’t forget to pick up a key if you have rented for one of the huts. The first swim of the day was in a pool on a beautiful stream crystal clear stream: Disa Pool. And sure enough, hiding in the fynbos on the banks was one lone Red disa. Classic rock formations which make the Cederberg instantly recognisable, but the vegetation far denser. Loads of Wabooms, restios and ericas. The river was tantalisingly close but it was some distance before we came to the water’s edge and stopped for tea and a swim. The cheeky little fish that will come and nibble at you are Cape kurpers (Sandelia capensis).
Die Hel - This is truly the most breathtaking pool. The water was warm and crystal clear. The deep kloof is dramatic and the cliffs around you add the splendour of the setting.
Set off from De Tronk in a southerly direction, continuing along the jeep track on which you arrived the previous day. You will soon reach a clearing from which a single track disappears into some small trees which are actually along the banks of a stream. If you have chosen to avoid the water in the hut tanks, or if there was non, this is a perfect opportunity to fill up (remembering that there is abundant water at your destination). The first kilometres are easy-going, the final few drop down slightly, and only the very end of the trail drops steeply down into Die Hel itself. The descent in to hell and the climb back out is on a very steep trail which has rock and concrete steps built on it making it a bit safer on the way down and a lot easier on the way up.
Day 2 - 11km (3hrs) The profile show the route starts at 643m and climbs to 950m in a pretty steady fashion, with maybe a bit of extra hill toward the end. We visited Die Hel in the morning, getting back to the Huts at lunchtime. Back north up jeep track, over concrete bridge. Pass junction from previous day. Cross shallow stream – railway sleeper. Immediately after this crossing turn right onto a single track with the river now on your right. Moss Waterfall Pool was the last pool we got to enjoy: a broad moss-covered rock ledge up to 2 meters high with a deep pool for swimming.
Comments
Post a Comment