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Peak High Mountaineering gave a Basic Mountain Walking Leader course to 12 students from Rhodes University Mountain Club over the August 8 long weekend. The course was held at Hogsback on part of the stunning Amatola hiking trail. The group spent one night in a nearby backpackers and then were in the mountains for the next 3 days and 2 nights. The first night was spent in tents followed by a night in a log cabin. Hogsback turned out to be an ideal place for this level of course, which is aimed at being able to lead groups at low altitude on well marked trails.  There was also lots of time for some good hiking and swimming in the rivers. On the final night, light snow fell on the Amatola Mountains making for an exciting final day while climbing the main mountain of Hogsback.

Gavin Raubenheimer

For more information on guided hiking and climbing and other courses please visit our website on:  http://www.peakhigh.co.za/ or contact Gavin on: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

I have just got back from guiding a hike up Rhino Peak in the southern Drakensberg. The party consisted of a husband and wife from Pretoria, their adult son and his girlfriend. The party had originally booked on a snow course, but due to the complete lack of snow this winter (so far) the trip was converted to a hike to the summit of Rhino Peak.

We set off in perfect weather from Garden Castle road-head and took the easy walk up to Pillar Cave Annex.  That night the wind came up, and it howled all night long and was still blowing at 8am the next morning. We set off up Mashia Pass and luckily the wind ebbed away during the next 3 or so hours. The two younger members found the going a bit tough and turned back after a short while. I then carried on with the parents and we arrived at the top of the pass and later the summit in perfect, windless conditions.

Rhino Peak stands at 3056 meters and is the most popular hike in the southern Drakensberg.  It can be climbed in one day from the road-head or the trip can be split by a night in the cave. From the road-head to the summit and back is about an 8 hour round trip. Most of the walking is on a good path. The only place where it is rough going is in the last kilometer at the top of the Mashai Pass. Here the path is steep and loose in places and some care needs to be taken.

Rhino Peak from the little Berg.

Gavin Raubenheimer

For more information on guided hikes in the Drakensberg, please visit our website on:http://www.peakhigh.co.za/trek.php or email me on: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

I did the re-supply of the Grand Traverse group on Wednesday night. I met up with them at Sani Top Chalet and all were in good spirits! Colin had got the group there dead on time and without making single navigation error in nine days.

There were hot showers and even hotter meals in the chalet. We all dined together than night. Many beers were also had!  In the morning they had their breakfast at the chalet again and then set off for the final 3 days and two nights. Good luck!!

Gavin Raubenheimer

For more info on guided hiking in the Drakensberg, or anywhere in South Africa, visit our website on: http://www.peakhigh.co.za/trek.php or contact Gavin on: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

The Grand Traverse group is doing well and is on schedule.

They got to the top of Bannersman’s Pass at 5.30 on Saturday afternoon where they met up with the resupply group. Colin phoned me and said the weather has been good except for Saturday which was misty most of the day. The rest has been in perfect sunshine.

So last night (Sunday) they slept behind the “Tent” just south of Giant’s Castle. The “Tent” is a small peak on the escarpment edge. Their next re-supply is Sani Pass on Tuesday night.

Gavin Raubenheimer

For more info on guided hiking in the Drakensberg, or anywhere in South Africa, visit our website on: http://www.peakhigh.co.za/trek.php or contact Gavin on: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

For more info on guided hiking in the Drakensberg, or anywhere in South Africa, visit our website on: http://www.peakhigh.co.za/trek.php

Or contact Gavin on: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

Scottish client, Adam Mortimer joined me for a 3 day hike to the summit of Cathedral Peak in the northern Drakensberg. It was Adam’s first trip to the Drakensberg, but he had long had an ambition to summit Cathedral Peak. We set off on a very hot April afternoon and walked the 5 kilometers to Sherman’s Cave.

Then day two we summitted the main peak just before one o’clock via the Standard Route. This is a grade “C” scramble route which which we used a rope on just for a little extra safety. That night we spent in Bell Cave and woke up to a fantastic sunrise over a sea of clouds.

The third day was a simple walk back the way we came the days before. However for me it was going to be a day to remember! After hiking most of the way back and with just over an hour to go before getting to the car, I was bitten on left leg by a Puff Adder snake. A sure way to put a damper on things!! After phoning a colleague in Mountain Club SA Search and Rescue team, I was quickly airlifted to a private hospital where I underwent treatment and was released 3 days later. Adam was also brought down to the trail head by helicopter and Colin McCoy drove him back to Durban.

Gavin Raubenheimer

For more information on guided hikes in the Drakensberg, please visit our website on: http://www.peakhigh.co.za/trek.php or email me on: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

Guide: Hannelie Morris

From Lars Nielson:

Thanks a lot for the pictures! I had a blast of time in SA, especially because of you. Thanks so much for taking us (safely) around to so many beautiful and amazing places and taking care of all the planning and logistics.

Everything was superb and I really enjoyed your company! I’m definitely planning to come back to SA (when I come, I’ll definitely let you know).

From Aires Marques:

Lars and you already pretty much said everything I’d also like to say. SA definitely ranks on one of my top life experiences, even the memory of that second cold night in the cave is a good memory

I took 2 clients, Lars from Denmark and Aires from Portugal (although both work in Germany)  climbing in the Cederberg Mountains.  We drove from Cape Town to Driehoek. After a leasurely lunch, we wasted some time taking crazy photos.

The walk to Spout Cave took us nearly 4 hours, with heavy backpacks carrying food for 3 days, 2 ropes and an extensive Traditional Climbing Rack.

We took some great photos from the Spout Cave veranda where we watched the sun set.

Climbing the Spout was great fun. We changed the 2 pitch route into a 4 pitch route, but even then I decided that the final pitch is way too hard – from when is a grade 10 climb overhanging…? We decided to rather get to the top via the Pedestal route, which was really superb climbing on the final pitch!

The weather was coming in and after a quick photo on top we abseiled down! Lots of wind and clouds arrived  and Lars and Aires spent the afternoon learning all about placing gear and setting up belays etc. right by the cave – close to a cup of tea!

Unfortunately we woke up to really bad weather and we walked down a day early in some mist and rain.

So we went climbing on Table Mountain in Cape Town in stead…

For more information on guided mountainering, hiking, rock climbing etc. please have a look at the Peak High Website on www.peakhigh.co.za

Hannelie Morris

Photos by Hannelie, Lars and Aires – Thank you for the permission to use your photos!

I took 3 European clients hiking in the Kromriver mountains in the Western Cape, South Africa. We did a 3 day hike and slept in tents the two nights.

We started out from Bain’s Kloof where we were dropped off and hiked past Junction Pool to a pitch our tents high in the Witrivier Kloof. After a game of Hackey Sack we drank numerous cups of tea and greatfully collapsed into bed not TOO early.

The second day was very long. With our backpacks we hiked past  the famous Slanghoek “afgronde” (Cliffs) and had a great time listening to our echoes.

Climbing Slanghoek peak was a long slow trek, but luckily there was water along the way. After lunch on top of the peak we started a slow decent of the peak, a traverse around Grassy Dome and looking down all the Kloofs – beautiful.

Late afternoon we got to the overnight spot between Kromrivier Peak and Kromrivier Dome. We were only to happy to cool down in the beautiful pools and then to go and heat up again on the cliffs in the sun!

The last day we walked down a steep kloof, the last bit through an indigenous forest and exiting to a waterfall falling into a magical pool. The clients learned to boulder-hop down the river until we eventually found the path next to the river (luckily I knew where to look for it!).

From there it was downhill to the beautiful Mountain club Kromriver hut where we had a quick lunch and a cup of tea before the last 40 minutes to our lift waiting on the Du Toit’s Kloof side of the mountains.

For  more information on guided hiking, please visit our website: http://www.peakhigh.co.za/trek.php or email us: gavin@peakhigh.co.za

Hannelie Morris