Volstruiskloof: 15 abseils later
Duiwelskloof (Devil's Ravine), Duiwelstand (Devil's Tooth), Groot Drakenstein (Great Dragonstone), Helshoogte (Hell's Heights), Banghoek (something like Scary Corner) - these mountain feature names suggest something about the nature of the mountainscape in which this...
read moreBainskloof rock-hopper
The Bainskloof Rock-hopper is an annual, fun, MCSA outing involving bouldering and swimming up or down the Witte River in Bainskloof, between Tweede Tol and Eerste Tol (Second Toll and First Toll). Yes folks, tolling is as old as road-building despite what the current...
read moreAlexandria Trail, Woody Cape
A round-trip drive of 1700 km is a long way to go for a weekend hike. It would have to be really special to justify the travel I argued, especially in the face of Marion's barely-concealed disapproval. Doubts loomed when Chris reported that his tendonitis could...
read moreA change of pace: fast fun at KBay
[HTML1] Time to get back on the water and try out the Mastehero mast mount for the GoPro that I ordered online from Slovenia. I was pretty impressed with it, although I think it is intended for more modern masts of a smaller diameter. Consequently, I had to mount it...
read moreEscaping to the Cederberg: Wolfberg and Tafelberg
It has been years since I last walked in the Cederberg. At one time we were regular visitors, not only hiking and spending weekends in CapeNature's Herberg cottages, but also participating in the Botanical Society's annual cedar rehabilitation efforts in the Driehoek...
read moreVictoria Peak in the snow
The best experiences are always born of spur-of-the-moment decisions. Kevin Koorzen and I were both suffering from cabin fever after weeks of winter had gripped the Cape spring but as the first sunny day revealed white peaks, we were "on". An early setback was being...
read moreBoesmanskloof: Hiking from Greyton to McGregor and back
There have been a few attempts over the last 150 or so years to build a road through Boesmanskloof between the towns of Greyton and McGregor (formerly Lady Grey). The road would link the Little Karoo with Cape Town via Robertson, McGregor, Houwhoek and Somerset West....
read moreSomerset-Sneeukop – a birthday surprise
This hike will long be remembered for the sweet surprise of a birthday cake at 1105 m ASL. Yolanda and Kevin hatched the plot and Kevin carried it up in his already very full pack. He even played dumb when I happened to mention that it was my birthday as we took...
read moreArangieskop hike – take two
Arangieskop Hiking Trail is a very fine trail, well laid out by somebody who was determined to show the diversity of views and flora to be found on a single mountainside. Make sure that your knees are in good nick and that your pack is light, because the climb is...
read moreSweni Wilderness Trail, Kruger NP
Almost 10 years to the day after the last occasion at Sweni with my wife and daughters, and late father-in-law, Marion and I returned to immerse ourselves in wild nature once more, with friends Paul and Debbie. As I have written many times elsewhere on this blog about...
read moreTable Mountain the easy way: Orange Kloof
The route up the jeep track that skirts Orange Kloof and the path up Disa Gorge is probably the easiest route up to the "back table" on Table Mountain, where the reservoirs are located. It passes through a restricted area and you will need a permit from SANParks or...
read moreHarkerville Coastal Hiking Trail
Harkerville Coastal Hiking Trail is variously described as "more spectacular than the Otter Trail" and "the best two-day trail in the country". I have always been somewhat sceptical about these claims, but I have to admit that after doing it, there is some substance...
read moreVideo: Botmaskop to Saaltjie hike
Kevin led an MCSA hike from Botmaskop along the watershed to Saaltjie, the north-eastern rim of the Jonkershoek valley. It was the reverse of a route previously hiked. A pleasant morning that left me with stiff flanks. It must be because of all the cycling ... [HTML1]...
read moreKaroo MTB Tour
This is not a race; it is a tour! Disclaimer: I am not a cyclist nor MTB rider, so take the following from whence it comes: from a hiker who found himself riding a bicycle for 7 days over 611 kms on dirt roads and tracks. The first hint that this was not the leisurely...
read moreBoegoekloof Circuit Boland Trail
Some of the benefits of being a mountain club member are that you get to go to places that you would not normally be able to explore - and camp out there - and share the mountains with like-minded people who also know what they are doing in these lofty places....
read moreFull moon at Dwarsberg
So there I was in bed, sleepily easing into a lazy Saturday morning with no particular plans or obligations when an SMS pinged in on my 'phone: would I like to join the mountain club party that was heading up that morning to the Dwarsberg plateau to overnight under...
read moreThe Otter Trail
19 to 23 January 2013 I last hiked the Otter Trail, perhaps South Africa's most famous hiking trail, circa 1994 with some friends. It was mid-winter, fairly cold and mostly cloudy. Nevertheless, I remember that it was spectacular and never really expected to walk it...
read moreHell on wheels: Seweweekspoort-Anysberg
It sounded like a good idea: an unsupported bicycle tour through the Swartberge and Anysberg for me and Gaucho Pedro (Peter Groves) who was visiting from the UK. It is a good idea, except when the Karoo decides to visit a heatwave on you. Three successive 40+°C days...
read moreSquare Tower Peak: where nobody goes
Square Tower Peak has attained a degree of notoriety in the Stellenbosch Section of the Mountain Club. When a club trail leader from Cape Town called Stellenbosch's Paul Verhoeven asking for directions down from the peak, the helpful reply went something like this:...
read moreAdventures at the end of the world
After Torres del Paine the mission was to sea kayak in the Chilean fjords. We (there were now only four) hadn't done our homework very well, but had a vague plan to hook up with a kayak outfitter in Ushuaia, Argentina's southernmost city on Tierra del Fuego. Shaun...
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