Drakensberg Wilderness Hiking South Africa - Mountain of the Dragons - Where Adventure beckons.....: CHAPTER 8 - From day walker to multi-day hiking

“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 STRAYEDER

CHAPTER 8

From day walker to multi-day hiking

Total immersion in the wilderness

A very, very long time 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.