THE EXPLORERS - REINHOLDT MESSNER

Quathlamba

“A mass of Spears. Named thus by the Zulu warriors before the white man came. Today called the Drakensberg, Mountains of the Dragon. Evocative names, both equally applicable to South Africa’s mightiest mountain range with its spear-like peaks – reminiscent of the saw-toothed spine of a gigantic dragon.”

“Listen to the streams as they gurgle from their cradles and you will hear the story of the mountains. You will hear fascinating tales if only you listen! Lie next to a stream and listen to the song of the mountains. The smiling faces of the flowers, dancing in the wind. Venture into the remote valleys or stand on a peak at sunrise or sunset, after snow has fallen, and you will hear a song that you will never forget - the Song of the High Mountain".

DRAKENSBERG WILDERNESS PHOTOS © WILLEM PELSER

“FAR BETTER IT IS TO DARE MIGHTY THINGS EVEN THOUGH CHEQUERED BY FAILURE, THAN TO DWELL IN THAT PERPETUAL TWILIGHT THAT KNOWS NOT VICTORY OR DEFEAT.”

T ROOSEVELDT

THE EXPLORERS

REINHOLDT MESSNER

When one surveys the history of 20^th century mountaineering, one man bestrides the scene with equal dominance: Messner. His surname alone evokes pioneering epics of survival at the highest altitude, images of a smiling man whose face, almost entirely hidden by hair, is more 1970,s rock star than mountaineering legend. First to climb Everest without oxygen in 1978 with Peter Habeler, he went on to become the first man to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks. And, as is inevitable with such extraordinary success, there have always been critics who have made all sorts of sniping comments, from accusing him of having brain damage after prolonged exposure to extreme altitude, to leaving other mountaineers to die on mountains in his overriding bid to reach the top, come what may. Yet the criticisms fail to remove him from his legitimate throne at the very pinnacle of mountaineering greatness. There is no one quite like him. And now, because he has achieved what he has, there never can be.

Messner was born among the mountains in 1944 in Vilnoss in the South Tyrol. Climbing, therefore, was always an entirely natural pursuit. “For me it was quite logical. I was brought up in the Dolomites – the most beautiful rock areas of the world – and we had no swimming pool, no football pitch, so there wasn’t the opportunity to do much else and so we went off and climbed these rocks. The children in the valley did not do this as they had other activities to follow, the cows and doing things in the fields with other small children. We being one daughter and eight sons of a teacher, we went climbing and a few of us became extreme climbers and when I was five I did my first 3,000-metre climb with the parents and mostly later ascents with my brother and when I was 20 I did my first ascent on the Dolomites and all over the Alps.”

By his early twenties Messner was well down the path that would mark him out as a true original in his field. In an era of ‘siege’ mountaineering in which climbers on the tallest peaks ferried equipment up and down to fixed camps to prepare their way to the top on fixed ropes, Messner forged his own very different route. His approach was far simpler and purer, in a sense less antagonistic to the mountain. It involved translating the alpine style to the Himalayas and other great ranges, in short lightweight expeditions and lightning ascents. It was a rejection of oxygen apparatus, fixed high camps, and high-altitude porters. It was self-sufficiency.

His first eight-thousander, Nanga Parbat, came in 1970, but brought tragedy with it in the death of his climbing partner and younger brother Gunther, killed in an avalanche. The others followed steadily over the next two decades, their names familiar to anyone with an interest in this higher world. Manaslu, Hidden Peak, the landmark Everest climb, where he described himself summiting as “nothing more than a single gasp lung”, followed by the supremely difficult K2, and the Shisha Pangma. A ‘hat-trick’ of eight-thousanders in 1982 gave birth to his dream of climbing all fourteen, though he rejects the idea he was ever ‘collecting’ them. There followed Cho Oyu, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Makalu. In 1986, 16 years after his first ascent of Nanga Parbat, he descended safely from Lhotse and the record was his, whether he liked it or not.

“Luckily, climbing is not capable of being expressed either in terms of records or by numbers,” he wrote in All 14 Eight-Thousanders. “It certainly cannot be measured in seconds, metres of height or grades.”

“I was lucky; the Gods were kind to me…… We all need luck, for the mountains are infinitely bigger than us. Mere men can never ‘vanquish’ them. ‘Lhagyelo’, the Tibetans say whenever they venture up a mountain or a high pass, and I say it too: ‘The Gods have won’.”

Much of that is true, of course, but mountaineering can be sufficiently recorded and measured to enable us to acknowledge Messner as its greatest ever practitioner. He does not consider himself an explorer. His challenge has always been personal, a question of survival rather than science. “I would like to use the word adventure for my activities, but not exploration,” he states. “Adventuring for me is nothing but the path for surviving. I have exposed myself to high places, cold places, windy places, to dangerous places generally and I try to survive. The whole energy I put in is only to survive in these difficult places and the more dangerous and difficult they are the more difficult it is to survive. So the best adventurer is a women or a man who is accepting all risks and is surviving. The person who is dying in the first or second expedition is not a good adventurer.”

The personal challenges have continued beyond the mountains. In 1990, he made the first crossing of Antarctica on foot, via the South Pole, covering 1,750 miles in 92 days. In 1995, he stated publicly that he had stopped high-altitude climbing, turning his attentions to the Arctic, which he attempted to cross from Siberia to Canada. He has written more than 40 books about his adventures, including his quest for the yeti, which he said he discovered in the form of a Tibetan bear. He went into politics in 1999, serving one term as a member of the European Parliament for the Italian Green Party.

“I am an explorer of my own fear, of my own hopes, of my own dreams, my own possibilities, and in reality my activity is nothing but a passion for limits.”

He has helped define them on the summits of the world.

The End.

Safe Hiking.

References and Acknowledgements

From the book – Faces of Exploration – Joanna Vestey

Photos:  ©Willem Pelser

Compiled by:  Willem Pelser

BEFORE SETTING OUT ON A WILDERNESS HIKE…….

Quathlamba

“A mass of Spears. Named thus by the Zulu warriors before the white man came. Today called the Drakensberg, Mountains of the Dragon. Evocative names, both equally applicable to South Africa’s mightiest mountain range with its spear-like peaks – reminiscent of the saw-toothed spine of a gigantic dragon.”

“Listen to the streams as they gurgle from their cradles and you will hear the story of the mountains. You will hear fascinating tales if only you listen! Lie next to a stream and listen to the song of the mountains. The smiling faces of the flowers, dancing in the wind. Venture into the remote valleys or stand on a peak at sunrise or sunset, after snow has fallen, and you will hear a song that you will never forget - the Song of the High Mountain".

DRAKENSBERG WILDERNESS PHOTOS © WILLEM PELSER

“TRIALS ARE NOT DUST AND PEBBLES ON A HILL. NOR EVEN GRASS AND WILD BUDS BY A LAKE;

TRAILS ARE ADVENTURE AND A HAND TO STILL THE RESTLESS PULSE OF LIFE, WHEN MEN WOULD BREAK THEIR MINDS WITH WEIGHT OF THINKING. TRAILS ARE PEACE, THE CALL TO DREAMS, THE CHALLENGE TO ASCENT; TRAILS ARE THE BRISK UNFOLDING OF RELEASE FROM BITTERNESS AND DISCOURAGEMENT.”

UNKNOWN

BEFORE SETTING OUT ON A WILDERNESS HIKE…….

It will be idyllic to venture onto the trail clad in t-shirts and shorts, with no goodies on our backs or hanging from our necks or shoulders. Idyllic - but impractical - and also impossible, for this would imply ‘living of the land’ to survive. Not only are we ill-equipped for such adventuring, but also destroying wild plants and animals both for food and shelter are ‘luxuries” that modern man can no longer afford. Whether we like it or not we are products of 20th century society – seeking recreation on a shrinking planet. When we leave the security of our homes to go trailing, whether on foot, horseback, in a canoe or on a mountain bike, we must cater constantly for our needs – hunger, thirst, protection from heat or cold, sleep, cleanliness and safety – and, of course, our curiosity. Since we can no longer live off the land, or interfere with it, we must prepare ourselves like an astronaut does for a space mission. We must venture into the wild carrying all our creature comforts in a backpack, taking care to leave as little trace of our passage as possible. This is the new wilderness ethic. The technology of our space probing era has produced an array of food, equipment, clothing, and first aid items that are very compact, lightweight, efficient and simple to use.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FITNESS………

A basic fact is that the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy trailing and hiking. Fitness is twofold: fitness of the heart (especially important for backpacking, in the legs and knees, lower back and arms, and the upper body.) Cardiovascular fitness is simply how efficiently your heart-lung machine can use oxygen to supply energy to the working muscles. You inherit 90% of your fitness potential, while the remainder can be developed by endurance exercises such as jogging, cycling, and swimming. However, the best sport to get your heart tuned for hiking is hiking. The best way to strengthen muscles used to carry packs is backpacking. Another type of fitness develops from trail use – mental fitness. A hike should both be a mental and physical challenge – you ought to feel a sense of achievement, a “Wow, I made it!” To many hikers the feeling of complete independence, self-reliance and solitude is as ex-hilarating as the breathtaking scenic beauty experienced on most trails.

To those who have never hiked the trail can be many things – wonderful, pleasant, unpleasant, harrowing or disastrous. Some hikers emerge from the mountains with the scent of bushes and ferns on their clothing and dust on their boots – enriched physically and mentally. Others stumble out exhausted, footsore, sunburnt, dehydrated, or soaked to the skin – sadder but wiser for their ordeal. Others are even less fortunate, but basically the outcome of these ventures depends largely on the hiker: proper preparation, clothing and equipment, good physical condition and common sense.

How far can I walk? Here are some guidelines:

33 km a day if you are in top shape and want to see everything in a blur.

25 km a day if you are in pretty good shape and do not dawdle.

20 km a day if you are in poor shape and are intend on suffering.

10 to 15 km a day if you are in fair shape and want to enjoy yourself.

5 km a day if your companion is an attractive person and you both enjoy flowers!

Remember that the trail is not a suitable place for anyone who considers it a loss of face should he decide to turn back when conditions require it; and it is no place for backbiting or sensitivity over small slights. Most of the fun you have from backpacking depends on mental attitude.

From the American Harold Allen:

‘A trial is remote for detachment, narrow for chosen company, winding for leisure, lonely for contemplation.

The trail leads not merely North or South, but upwards to the body, mind and soul of man.’

This is the beauty of the trail and what backpacking is all about.

Trails……..

Hiking trails – The main difference between nature rambles, day walks and hiking or backpacking is one of degree – hikers go further, stay out for one or more nights and carry more need-satisfying items. The hiker must be familiar with various skills such as basic first-aid, recognizing the signs of hypo and hyperthermia, altitude sickness, using maps and a compass, using equipment and knowing its limitations and – most important of all – being environmentally ‘literate”. When hiking you should be able to use all your senses to “read” nature – wind direction, vegetation, wildlife, insects, sounds and smells all provide clues for understanding your surroundings.

Environmental literacy and hiking skills develop slowly and with experience; by starting to hike with qualified and reputable members of mountain clubs or organized clubs, you will be pointed in the right direction.

Guided wilderness trails – The novice will begin trailing on a guided wilderness trail, led by an experienced guide. The degree of fitness required is that of any healthy, keen individual and distances covered every day are relatively short. Because the trail is being led by an experienced person, he will modify the route, taking into consideration the weather and his party. You carry a minimum of items, as most of your essentials are being transported by porters, mules or jeeps. Much time is taken up with discussions and observations in the veld – a most important aspect. The trail officer will help you achieve orientation towards trailing – to become aware of what you are ‘looking at’ – by imparting his knowledge of the region, animals plants as well as the archaeology and bush lore.

Wilderness trekking – Unlike the hiker, the wilderness trekker must carry everything he needs - including his shelter – into an environment in which he must be able to navigate and survive.

Self-guided nature trails – These trials lead to an awareness of nature which we have lost because we have become city orientated. The self-guided nature trial is where you can start learning about your environment as, unburdened by sleeping bags and tents, you can walk slowly and explore, observe and record, using binoculars and field guides to aid your senses and expand their potential. For many people, rambling, bird-watching, taking photos of nature or just reaching a point and taking in sounds, scents and movements is an incomparable high. Try it, but be beware …. Self-guided nature trials are addictive and lead you towards the longer and more challenging hiking trials.

Equipment………..

Boots – Boots are the foundation of a comfortable hike. Buy carefully. Trail boots are always recommended.

Synthetic hiking boots: In recent years several new kind of boot have been developed. Improving on all the features of the classic hiking boot, the synthetic boots weigh little more than a pair of running shoes. Although they seldom last as long as the classic boots and cost the same, they are recommended for any trial. They are painless to break in, thus eliminating the discouraging blister period. They also reduce damage to ground cover, the first stage of the erosion process.

Leather boots: Look for full grain-uppers that are foam-padded at the ankles and have a padded ‘scree guard’ around the top for comfort. The toe and heel should be hard. The tongue should be sewn to the uppers to keep out dirt and water. Before using the leather boots on the trial, treat the leather parts with boot polish, Neatsfoot oil or a similar product. Wear them at home, in town and on short walks to break them in, so that the leather moulds to your feet. A good pair of leather boots needs at least 75 kilometers of walking to wear them in properly.

If you participate in a variety of trails, you will find it worthwhile to own more than one pair of boots, each of different mass and quality, saving the best boots for the more rugged trials.

The midsoles determines the stiffness of the boot. Climbers need very rigid boots for support, whereas those for walkers and hikers need not be so heavy. A kilogram of boot when worn is equal to four kilograms carried on your back! The most popular sole now is the Vibram sole.

The fit of the boot is critical. A poorly made or badly fitting boot not only leads to painful blisters, but also causes the feet to tire much more quickly than a well-fitting boot. A heavy wool outer sock should be fitted over a light cotton or woolen sock. Push your foot forward in the unlaced boot until your toes touch the front. There should be room to insert your index finger between the back of the boot and your heel. Your toes should never reach the end of the boot, as this will cause discomfort on any downhill stretches. Even when hiking boots get very wet – which happens frequently – never dry them next to a fire or in direct heat. It cooks the life out of the leather. Rather allow them to air dry, stuffed with newspaper to aid drying and to retain their shape.

Backpacks – Today most backpacks have internal frames, although external frame packs still have their devotees amongst experienced hikers. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

External frame packs are stable, able to carry heavy weights or odd-shaped loads, and are cool – the frame allows some air to flow between the back and the pack. Internal frame packs are firm, flex to allow freedom of movement, and the better models can be finely adjusted to fit the shape of your body perfectly.

Whether you choose a soft pack or an external frame model, buy one which has a firm, foam padded hip belt and adjustable shoulder straps. The hip belt takes much of the load from your shoulders and the padding is essential to prevent sore, bruised muscles and bones.

To keep the top of the pack from falling over backwards, look for the suspension system type which uses the shoulder harness. Better packs have ‘load-lifter’ straps that can be adjusted to lift the top of the shoulder straps right off your shoulders. The only contact then is against the front of your upper chest.

As with boots, fit your backpack in the store before buying it. Make sure the hip belt wraps around your hips and not your waist or torso. Do not buy a pack that rides more than 5 centimeters above your head.

Women should be aware that most packs are designed for longer bodied men, although ‘women only’ packs are being manufactured. These take into consideration a women’s lower center of gravity, broader hips, narrower shoulders and shorter torso.

The bag itself comprises a number of compartments, often with two to four pockets. Be sure these zipped or buckled pockets are large enough for items you want handy – water bottle, bird book, first-aid kit, camera, etc. A top loading bag is best for over-sized and protruding loads – make certain that the storm flap that covers the top is large enough to cover the bulkiest load that you will carry. Front loading bags with large, zipped flaps are most accessible and easiest for keeping your gear organized. No matter how waterproof your pack is supposed to be, always wrap everything in plastic.

Check nylon coil and plastic-toothed zips for clean stitching, reinforced at stress points. Also look for quick release buckles which are not only more convenient, but safer in some situations, such as when crossing streams. Lift tabs are also useful as they make tightening or loosening your shoulder straps easier, which in turn makes it easier to get a proper adjustment. This lessons back strain, prevents blisters and gives the legs more freedom.

When loading your bag, pack the densest items closest to your center of gravity. In other words, place the heaviest items on top and to the back of your pack, with the smaller items in the lower side pockets; the water bottle should be placed in an upper side pocket.

Women should realize that they often suffer from weight pack too high because they do not have the upper body strength of men. This weight can interfere with arm movement and breathing. Therefore, a good suspension system and hip belt are essential. A ‘moonbag’ worn around the waist is handy for small items you are likely to need along the way – lip salve, tissues, snacks, camera, permit and the like – and avoid unnecessary stops to offload and open your backpack along the trail.

Although color is a personal choice, remember that bright colors aid identification in dense bush, heavy mist or snow and low light intensities.

SLEEPING GEAR – The major consideration when buying a sleeping bag should be warmth. If you plan to hike during winter or in regions with sharp nocturnal drops in temperature, a natural down filling is highly recommended. Down is not only light and warm but also soft, easily compressible and capable of being stuffed into a carrying sack for long periods. Duck (as opposed to goose) down is slightly less efficient, but cheaper. Some manufacturers combine the two to produce a more economical bag. The biggest drawback of any down is that it will not keep you warm if it gets soaked. It is also allergenic and is becoming increasing expensive.

The highest quality man-made fiber fills, however, have none of these drawbacks and, most importantly, will keep you warm even when wet. They dry quickly and are easily washed at home and, being less compressible, insulate you better from the ground. On the minus side, they are not as light or compact as down. However, new fillings have narrowed the gap between synthetics and down considerably in recent years.

Whichever you choose, make sure your zip fastener is nylon, backed by a ‘draught tube’ filled with down or fiber to keep out the cold. Unless your sleeping bag is used only in warm temperatures, you should avoid sewn through constructions, which cause cold spots along the stitch lines. If you buy a bag for cold weather but also plan to use it in warm weather, make sure that it has a double zipper so that you can vent the lower end to keep cool.

Never buy a bag made of waterproof material. When you sleep you perspire and the resultant condensation will soak you and your bag if it cannot evaporate. The ideal combination is a cotton inner lining with a water-repellent but breathable nylon material used for the outside.

The shape of the bag is also important. Mummy bags give maximum warmth, and are more compact than standard rectangular bags. If a mattress is required, a thin, closed-cell foam mattress is ideal, being both waterproof and very light.

A reasonably comfortable pillow can be made by stuffing clothes into the bag used to carry the sleeping bag during the day.

If you intent hiking in an area where malaria is prevalent you should invest In a lightweight mosquito net. With the current upsurge of multiple drug-resistant strains of malaria in African countries, it makes sense to avoid being bitten by mosquitos.

Tents - When selecting a tent, look for one with a waterproof floor and roof and a ‘breathing’ ceiling. All quality tents used to be double-skinned, with a ceiling of breathable nylon, having a few centimeters or more below a waterproof fly-sheet. Body moisture pass through the ceiling, condenses on the impermeable fly and drips of harmlessly on the outside.

There are waterproof materials available which let out body moisture yet repel rain. These materials are patented as Goretex, Ventex, etc. Single layer tents are constructed from these fabrics, the 1-person tent having proofed most successful. Today’s tents come in a multitude of shapes. Any of them is satisfactory if it has the specifications as mentioned. However, dome or half-dome tents will stand without pegs or guy-ropes, which make them particularly useful where staking is difficult. Dome designs have flexible poles which tense inside fabric sleeves, pushing outwards on the walls so as to support the tent.

Other features to look out for when buying a tent are tight, preferably double, and triple–row stitching; reinforced stress points, mosquito netting for doors, windows and vent openings; and nylon zips. A 2-person backpacker’s tent should weigh less than 3 kilogram.  Good tents are expensive but can last a lifetime, so don’t compromise on quality.

The End.

Safe Hiking.

References and Acknowledgements

From the book – ‘Walks and Trials in Southern Africa’– Jaynee Levi

Photos: Willem Pelser

Compiled by Willem Pelser

WHY BACKPACK AND MULTI-DAY HIKING?

Quathlamba

“A mass of Spears. Named thus by the Zulu warriors before the white man came. Today called the Drakensberg, Mountains of the Dragon. Evocative names, both equally applicable to South Africa’s mightiest mountain range with its spear-like peaks – reminiscent of the saw-toothed spine of a gigantic dragon.”

“Listen to the streams as they gurgle from their cradles and you will hear the story of the mountains. You will hear fascinating tales if only you listen! Lie next to a stream and listen to the song of the mountains. The smiling faces of the flowers, dancing in the wind. Venture into the remote valleys or stand on a peak at sunrise or sunset, after snow has fallen, and you will hear a song that you will never forget - the Song of the High Mountain".

DRAKENSBERG WILDERNESS PHOTOS © WILLEM PELSER

“NO DREAM IS TOO HIGH FOR THOSE WITH THEIR EYES IN THE SKY.”

UNKNOWN

WHY BACKPACK AND MULTI-DAY HIKING? 

   The KZN Drakensberg Mountains and Wilderness is a hiking paradise and exploration heaven. Hiking is the best way to explore this vast wilderness area. The term backpacking/hiking refers to the sport of walking with a backpack filled with everything one needs to survive a night or more in the wilderness, independent of anyone else.  Backpacking/hiking is not a competitive sport, although it forms the basis of serious mountaineering and adventure challenges.  It is more correct to refer to backpacking as a life-sport - an outdoor activity you can become good at and enjoy in any company, including that of your family and friends.

  

The main attractions of backpacking:

   If you can walk, you can probably also backpack, although there is far more to it than just walking.  Carrying a backpack over rough, hilly country requires a considerable amount of mental fortitude and, unless you are already a seasoned athlete, it takes most people a minimum of 5 overnight hikes before they even begin to develop the mindset required for serious backpacking.

   Following on from the above, you don't have to be athletic to become a "good" backpacker.  A casual study of any group of experienced backpackers will reveal all sorts of shapes and sizes, few of which would resemble that of a typical Comrades Marathon runner, Midmar Mile swimmer, or Argus Tour cyclist!  If you could see inside their heads, though, you would find the same resolute purpose of mind!

   Once you have all your equipment, backpacking is a relatively cheap pastime, the most expensive part being the cost of getting to and from the Drakensberg.  Your food need not cost you much more than what you would spend at home over the same period of time, and the current overnight cost of R55.00 per person could probably cover luxury items, cell-phone calls, and entertainment that you would indulge in if you stayed at home instead.

   Unless you plan to lead hikes commercially, no qualifications are required.  Many folk are happier to follow and put their trust in the leader.  Leaders must possess at least a little common sense and the ability to read a map. Do not rely on electronic navigation devices only; pack a map of the area and a compass as well.  Map-reading is an acquired skill and cannot really be taught.  Rather, you learn over a period of many years and through several mistakes which you purposely hope to avoid repeating!  It is doubtful if any leader can say he / she is 100% competent in map-reading - even the most experienced still make mistakes on occasion. Even if you are not a leader, you should take navigation seriously and try to acquire the necessary skills and experience yourself. Most leaders will welcome intelligent and informed participation in decision-making.

   Backpacking is a non-competitive life-sport, and one of the easiest ways to get fit.  You only compete with yourself, especially if you are one of the weaker hikers in your group.  You set yourself small, attainable goals en route, you stretch and challenge yourself little by little, and if you do this regularly - at least once a month - you will develop the mental fortitude characteristic of any serious athlete!  This is what sets a "good" backpacker apart from a novice - not his / her speed or strength - but the ability to press on despite physical fatigue, discomfort, and nagging doubts about fitness.

   Backpacking allows you to "get away from it all". You exchange the phones, fax machine, computer, TV, VCR, DVD player, newspapers, noisy neighbor’s and crowded gyms and malls for the peace and tranquility of nature. You return to the rat-race feeling refreshed and renewed.

While the above may describe several other sports, backpacking/hiking has some draw cards which most others don't.  These are:

   The absolute beauty of a wilderness area like the KZN Drakensberg, appeals to our romantic side.  Accompanying this is the clean, fresh mountain air and unpolluted streams.

   There is this deep-seated need that most of us have to go where no man has gone before, to visit new territory, and explore new frontiers.  These may not be new to all men, but if they are new to you then they fulfill this need anyway!  When you do go far off the beaten track, the thought that always comes to mind is "Has any human being ever been here before?" The notion that the answer may be "No" is remarkably flattering - unless someone made a really bad decision about your route!

   There is a wonderful sense of self-sufficiency, tempered with a twinge of vulnerability that one experiences on long overnight hikes.  All the great explorers, the pioneers and the thousands of settlers of centuries past, would have been familiar with these emotions.  Backpacking helps perpetuate the mindset of all these people who left what was familiar and comfortable to forge a new life in a foreign land.  Perhaps backpacking will have helped keep the spirit of exploration alive for the time when mankind will make his first, tentative steps outside the solar system!

   Backpackers are survivors! Most experienced backpackers will agree that the best part of hiking is getting to their overnight destination. They may be physically tired, but they are satisfied with the day's work. If - through their planning and resourcefulness - they are also able to feel clean, comfortable, relaxed and at ease in their new surroundings without all the trappings of modern society, then they have the spirit of a survivor! Come war, natural disaster, or whatever crisis, these are the folk who will be numbered amongst the survivors!

   Whatever your reason for backpacking, it is bound to be slightly different to that of the other backpackers in your group.  For some the emphasis is on the exercise or the exploration, for others it’s the social side, and the romantic types will focus on the scenery.  But there is a little of everything for each of us!

Enjoy your hiking and look after the Wilderness. Protect, Defend, and Preserve! Leave nothing but your tracks behind.

The End.

Safe Hiking.

References and Acknowledgements

From the book – Unknown

Photos:  ©Willem Pelser

Compiled by:  Willem Pelser