DRAKENSBERG
KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
Mountain of the Dragons
South
Africa’s mightiest mountain range with its spear-like peaks – reminiscent of
the saw-toothed spine of a gigantic dragon.
Where Adventure beckons..........
DRAKENSBERG WILDERNESS PHOTOS © WILLEM PELSER
“Will there be Bright lights of noon,
that leap on running water and laugh back the sun, lush green grass too?”
Unknown
CHAPTER
8
The
transmission from day walker to multi-day hiking
Total
immersion in the wilderness
“I
WAS AMAZED THAT WHAT I NEEDED TO SURVIVE COULD BE CARRIED ON MY BACK. AND, MOST
SURPRISING OF ALL, THAT I COULD CARRY IT”.
CHERYL STRAYED
A story from long ago...........
I was never going to be satisfied with
doing day walk and trips only. I often found myself in a position where I had
to turn around and go back to camp in order to make it back before nightfall.
This would normally always happen when I am in an area which begs for further
exploration. I also always wanted to go ever forward, round the next corner, up
the next hill or cliff; see what is waiting to be discovered.
The only solution to my dilemma was to
engage in multi-day hiking. Wherever you ended up at the end of the day did not
matter, you simply pitch your tent and the next morning you are up and moving
forward again. This really appealed to me because now I could actually live in
the wilderness. It was an absolute joy to enter the wilderness on the first day
and disappear out of sight deep into the wilderness with boots and backpack. My
backpack would be my home, kitchen, pharmacy, clothes cupboard and equipment
garage for the next 5 to 7 days!
Going deeper and deeper into the wilderness
with every passing day was an ever beckoning call. All of a sudden I now had
the opportunity to live like a Wild man and explore to my heart’s content.
As I was always walking alone and because
multi-day hiking was going to take place in a similar fashion, it obviously
meant that I had to be well prepared and self-sufficient. The only person
around in the wilderness who was going to be able to assist me in the event of
an emergency was me. I could also not rely on a cellphone as the areas which I
hike into and explore do not have any coverage at all.
I had to make very sure that all the
equipment I carry with me were reliable and would suit all of my needs on a daily
basis as well as in case of an emergency.
I can still remember the very first time
that I slept out in the wilderness. I was on a visit to Lotheni – yet again, middle
July – and one of my plans was to hike to Ash cave and Lotheni Pass and spent
the night in the Wilderness – my birthday. So on the morning of my birthday I
was packed and ready to go. Swinging that backpack onto my back nearly buckled
my knees. I could not believe how heavy it was, and it was packed for only 2
days with 1 overnight stay! I was absolutely huffing and puffing by the time I
reached the 8 km mark. Lotheni also does not have very leg friendly terrain!
Today, when I think back to this hike, I can
only smile in remembrance. Now, I think absolutely nothing of lugging a 20 kg
backpack around for up to 20 km a day, 7 days at a time, with no effort. Make
no mistake, as the day carries on, so the backpack will become heavier!
It is an established fact that if you want
to get fit for hiking, you have to hike. If you want to get used to carrying a
heavy backpack, then go backpacking.
I entered the Lotheni River Valley, went up
to Ash cave and later that day I came upon this magnificent yellowwood forest.
By then I was dead tired and it was the ideal place to sleep over at. The
biggest problem now was to find a spot level and big enough, close to water to
pitch my tent on. Searching on the outskirts of the forest I found a spot where
eland had been sleeping the previous night. It was well protected and a tiny
little stream chattered 15 meters away. In no time at all I had camp pitched
for the night. All of my equipment with me was brand new and being used and
tested for the first time. Food was on an experimental basis and I have to say
that half of that experiment went seriously belly up! Sleep that night came
quickly and easily. Insomnia does not exist in the wilderness. The next morning
I woke up in a tent iced over. Had a good cup of coffee, admired the view,
packed up and off I went back to camp. It was an amazing experience. I saw so
much more than on a day walk and I had hundreds of photo opportunities.
I do have to mention that all of the
equipment I had with me that day, is still being used by me today. They have
become trusted and cherished friends.
The new hiker will find that with regular
hiking trips changes to the equipment and the way they get packed takes place
until one day there is a settled manner in which everything happens. Equipment
after a while will end up being the same stuff getting packed every time and
nothing else is needed. Trial and error is the buzz word. You will learn very
quickly.
It would take a while before my next
overnight hiking trip. Once the second trip happened, that would be what I was
all about most of the time.
There is nothing in life which I love more than
being able to disappear into the wild, rugged wilderness all by myself for 5 to
7 days at a time. Why maximum 7 days? Packing for more than 7 days will not be
an option as the backpack will become too heavy, and the extra weight is all
related to food. You do not need extra equipment, but you will definitely need
extra food. Remember that you also need to carry at least 3 days’ worth of
emergency food with you. (Never eat your emergency food other than during an
emergency. Doing differently might end up being a serious problem when you do
end up in an emergency i.e. get snowed in). Once you are done hiking your
emergency food must go home with you. Stretching a hike to 8/9 days is feasible,
but anything longer is going to end in misery. Also remember that the
Drakensberg is not leg friendly terrain.
It is a magical feeling to become part of
the Drakensberg Wilderness and to be the only human around. The entire
wilderness is yours.
That morning after my first night out in
the wilderness I made a solemn promise to myself that I am going to do a 5 day
hiking trip. It took a while but it eventually happened, and then again, and
again, and again!
When I left the wilderness after my visits
there, my heart and soul stayed behind. My link with the Drakensberg Wilderness
was firmly established.
We as hikers, explorers, and
adventurers have the absolute duty to respect and protect our Wildernesses.
Nobody else will do it for us. Take ownership!
The End.
Safe Hiking.
References and
Acknowledgements
From the book: “Drakensberg Wilderness - A Journey Through Paradise"
Photos: Willem Pelser
Compiled by: Willem Pelser
