Corner pass - Injasuthi (Drakensberg) Apr 2009

I drove to Nicola’s parents’ place at 15:00; Shaun and Bianca were already there when I arrived so we quickly packed my stuff in. Nicola was stuck in traffic and showed up shortly before 4pm. We quickly packed her bags as well and were off in Shaun’s dad’s Pajero. We decided on the R21/R24 route which was surprisingly fast and we got through Johannesburg easy enough. I packed sandwiches for us so we ate while driving, only stopping for petrol outside Harrsimith. In Bergville we discovered the tennis court verandah where we always sleep was converted to a coffee shop with a nursery next door – we were still allowed to sleep there though. It was cool when we arrived and it looked like it might rain so I decided not to pitch the tents. We regretted this decision as the mozzies came pounding in as soon as we settled down.

Day 1 (10 Apr): At 6am we were up and having breakfast. It cleared completely during the night and the ‘Berg was visible in the early morning sun. Shortly after 7am we left Bergville and drove to Injasuthi, arriving and signing in to start the hike before 9am. We decided to go the shorter route through the river and soon we waded through the chilly waters. The climb from there was easy, as the workers in the area had cleared the paths nicely to Battle cave except for a short section in the middle. Gordon spotted some Ground woodpeckers that we admired before moving on. We stopped for a snack at the junction that split off through the dense grass towards Centenary hut. The grass and ferns were as unpleasant as ever but we reached the other side without problem. We ventured once again onto the faint track leading up the spur prior to the one the hut is on so we contoured a little on the ridge before picking up the path again that led to the next spur. Then the climb started in earnest. However, we only climbed until just over 1800m before we sat down for lunch. By now, the usual morning clarity have given way to heavy cloud all round and it was cold. Luckily it wasn’t raining yet and we still had hopes of reaching the hut before it did. After lunch we each set our own pace with Gordon leading. Nicola and I stuck together as the mist gathered. Shaun and Bianca were not far behind but Gordon was far ahead of us. Reaching the hut I was shocked to see the bad state in which it was in. Ceiling boards were torn down and used to make a fire inside the hut. Debris and broken glass was scattered everywhere and almost no unbroken panes remained. Still, it was dry, and as it had started to drizzle lightly, it was a welcome rest stop. Gordon fetched water and soon we had some soup going. By 17.30 we started dinner and by 7pm we were ready for bed. It rained harder during the night and we were curious how the next day will be.

Day 2 (11 Apr): It stopped raining early in the morning but heavy mist was still around when I stuck my head out just before 6am. A little later I noticed though that the mist was clearing and I could see the escarpment. Quickly I roused everyone and we packed up for the summit. We left the hut at 07:30 and made reasonably good time on the contour path, reaching the bottom of Corner pass at 9am. After a short breather we started up the grass slopes on the left but crossing two steep gullies was unpleasant and we headed back into the main river bed. It was slow going but the two girls made steady progress. Gordon was up ahead again but I spotted him waiting for us a little higher up. When we joined him we took a decent break – we were at 2700m and it was 11:00. Bianca was suffering from sinusitis and tonsillitis and was not having a good time on the uphill. I then took the lead and climbed until 12:00 to have lunch at just over 2800m. After lunch we climbed into the narrow final gully of the pass. Gordon, Shaun and I took over some of Bianca’s pack so that she was only carrying about 5kg. Gordon was climbing ahead when he ran into the waterfall with a ramp on the right side that I completely forgot about. Reaching him it looked really nasty – wet and slippery with sloping holds. Gordon managed to get up but was shaking at the top. When Shaun and Nicola reached us we debated a little and then decided it was not worth the risk – I didn’t have any rope with me and if someone would fall on this spot, chances of a fracture were really good. We turned around. While Bianca and Nicola took the lead down, Shaun and I helped Gordon to get down the ramp before we joined the girls. We were disappointed but soon we realized we now had to climb down all the way and back to the hut – and it was 2pm already. Due to the terrain we couldn’t move too fast and time slipped away as we descended slowly. As we reached the grassy slopes about 150m above the contour path, it turned 4pm. Down on the contour path, the sun was now long since behind the mountains and we only had about an hour of light left. Gordon pushed on to go and collect water at the hut, while Shaun and I stuck with our partners. Nicola was starting to suffer badly from sore knees and exhaustion and I helped to carry her pack for a while. The middle section of the contour path she was able to carry it herself again but at the stream before the hut I took over again, gave her her headlamp and marched off to the hut in the gathering dusk. I reached the hut in the failing light and the others struggled in a few minutes later. Bianca was exhausted and nauseous. Gordon and I prepared dinner while the girls rested and we fed everyone tea and Game. Finally we settled down for the night at 8pm.

Day 3 (12 Apr): The day dawned beautifully clear and we were immediately sorry not to be in the cave on the summit. But now we had different plans to complete. We were all very tired and sore so we slept late and then had a good look at the map. It was eventually decided to head over past Cloudland Col on the management track and have a nice short walk. We started at 9pm and soon came upon the management track. Shaun, Gordon and I climbed to the top of Cloudland Col while the girls skirted below. We joined them and carried on on the track, stopping occasionally for a rest. The wind was blowing enough to make us chilly and when we started looking for a campsite, we were also looking for wind shelter. But there was precious little and our first concern was water. Then, as we approached the Field Ranger’s Outpost we saw a few possibilities in the shallow valley to our right. Gordon and I went exploring and finally decided upon a grassy spot where we could pitch 2 tents. We sauntered down, pitched the tents and then went to have lunch at the stream close by. After lunch we rested in the tent but between the baking sun and a remarkable number of flies, it went dragging on for a long time. Finally it started cooling down and we prepared dinner. High cirrus clouds pinked in the setting sun as we cooked. Gordon wanted to sleep under the stars and opened his mattress next to the tent. A few hours later I heard slight drizzle and soon Gordon was in the tent with us. During the night it rained harder but in the early hours it stopped again.

Day 4: (13 Apr): We woke to swirling mist and wet grass all round but at least it wasn’t raining. We had breakfast and packed up the wet tents before heading over to the management track. Soon we were looking down into Injasuthi. We followed the advice of some hikers Shaun and Bianca chatted to the previous day and when we descended towards a wooden ladder, I realized it’s the same route that Darrell, Liza and I did a few years ago. It was very slippery and wet and we had to take it slowly. But we made good progress and shortly after 9am, we walked into camp. We had wonderfully hot showers, signed out and left for home.

We are all very disappointed to not make it up to the summit, especially since the night we would have been on top it was so clear and open. However, it was decided rather to be safe than sorry.

Cycad hiking trail Apr 2009

Due to flight delays I could only leave the airport at about 18:40 on Friday evening. I drove through to Nicola’s at great speed, arriving there shortly after 8pm. Nicola already packed the car so all we had to do was dump my stuff in her car and then we were off. Nicola drove calmly while I still seethed in the passenger seat after the flight delay. We arrived at the basecamp shortly before 9pm, greeted the group who were mostly in bed already and set about making our beds for the night on the verandah of the one hut.

Day 1 (04 Apr): I was up before sunrise, looking for birds. When Nicola got up we boiled some water for tea and coffee and ate some of the pizza we had left over from dinner that Nicola bought for the previous night. We all got ready and left by 8am. Initially the path wound through boulders and grassy plains with the path itself being poorly maintained but well marked. We arrived at he lip of the Olifants river canyon and had nice views of Arendsnes hut we were aiming for. Then we turned away and wandered across more plains before descending to the Olifants river. We followed the path to almost directly below Arendsnes camp before starting the steep climb to the top. It took us about half an hour but still we reached the camp before lunch. Almost immediately we took a shower; it overlooked the entire Olifants river valley and is quite spectacular. The rest of the afternoon we rested, read and watched a pair of Verreaux's eagles soar first below, and soon above us. Before 5pm I started the fire and by 6pm we were braaing our sandwiches and cherry bacon sosaties. After dinner we had peaches and cream for desert and then ended with a cup of tea before going to bed.

Day 2 (05 Apr): We slept outside on the verandah again and got up just before sunrise to boil water for breakfast. We packed up fast and Nicola and I together left a few minutes before the rest so we could do some bird watching in peace. We made good time despite the path rambling unnecessarily through boulders and by 08:30 we were already back at the camp. We watched some birds at the basecamp while we waited for the others to arrive. When they did, I handed over a few pictures for George to frame before we left for home. On the way out I discovered that I left my bird book behind and we had to turn around to fetch it. Back on the tar road, just before Middelburg, we came upon a horrific accident that must have happened minutes before. We stopped to help. One person who seemed to be a paramedic was already helping a female passenger of a bakkie. I put on gloves and helped to keep pressure on a head wound to give the paramedic a rest. The ambulances arrived shortly after. It seemed that a motorcyclist hit the bakkie head-on at great speed. The bodies of the motorcyclist and the bakkie’s driver were in the grass next to the road, terribly mutilated. After giving our contact details to the police we left with the scenes and smells not to be forgotten soon.