DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS FIRES

“THE ABSOLUTE SIMPLICITY, THAT’S WHAT I LOVE. WHEN YOU’RE HIKING THE WILDERNESS YOUR MIND IS CLEAR AND FREE FROM ALL CONFUSIONS. YOU HAVE FOCUS. AND SUDDENLY THE LIGHT BECOMES SHARPER, THE SOUNDS ARE RICHER AND YOU’RE FILLED WITH THE DEEP, POWERFUL PRESENCE OF LIFE.”

UNKNOWN

DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS FIRES

Plant life in the Drakensberg is affected not only by altitude, vegetation regions, and climate, but also by fire. Grass fires are common in the Drakensberg, especially in the winter and early spring months and they have a profound effect on the vegetation.

   It must be remembered, first of all, that although grass fires are much more common today than in the early days, they are not entirely man-made, and have undoubtedly been known in the Drakensberg for thousands, if not millions, of years. Fires are often started by lightning and by sparks from rocks rolling down the mountain side. The vegetation has had to learn to adapt itself to these periodic fires.

At the same time it must be admitted that with the advent of man fires are much more frequent today than they were in the olden days. Undoubtedly some of our mountain species are threatened by these raging fires which sweep down, year after year, from the heights.

On a sloping piece of ground there was not a single Erica to be seen. It would seem that the plant literally disappears with frequent burning. When not burned for a number of years, the slope will be covered with masses of Erica woodii flowers, a great sheet of magenta-pink.

Erica cerinthoides provides another interesting example. It is found sparsely throughout the Drakensberg, but the plants never reach a height of more than 0,25 metres. In the Wild Flower Garden in the Giant’s Castle Reserve, however, where the plants are protected from fires, there are two bushes of this Erica which flower profusely every year, and which have reached a height of over a metre. But you will notice one interesting phenomenon. Those plants in the wild, which are subject to periodic burning, bear larger flowers, and of a brighter red, than those which are never burned.

Proteas, too, are adversely affected by fires. Protea roupelliae grows in grasslands on the slopes of the Little Berg, but it also grows in rocky outcrops and on the cave sandstone plateau. Its thick bark protects it to some extent from the damage caused by fires, but you will find that those trees growing in rocky outcrops, where the grass cover is thin, are far finer specimens than those growing in the grasslands, where the heat from the fire is so much more intense. Magnificent stands of Protea roupelliae can be found growing on massive outcrops of cave sandstone, where few fires could ever reach them.

Protea multibracteata, with its thick, corky bark, is able to withstand the effect of fires, but if the fire comes late in the season, when the sap is flowing freely, the trees often have burst stems, due to the fact that the sap vaporizes and, being confined, bursts the stem.

This is not the full story, however. Occasional fires do act as a regenerating factor, and you will notice that in those areas of the Drakensberg which are subject to occasional fires, the flush of early spring flowers is far finer than on unburnt areas, where the grasses have grown coarser and the veld flowers are smothered. The brave show of new flowers in the blackened veld of early spring, after a fire, is a well-known sight in the Drakensberg.

Unquestionably, too, the germination of some seeds is stimulated by fire. The silver wattle is a well-known example of this. Protea subvestita is another. The two other Protea tree-species, Protea roupelliae and  Protea multibracteata, protect themselves partly against fire by means of their thick bark. Protea subvestita lacks this, and the trees protect themselves partly by growing much more thickly together than in the case of the other two species. But the tree also ensures its survival in much the same way that the wattle does. You will often see a lone Protea subvestita blackened and killed by the fire, but around it are literally hundreds of young plants growing from seed stimulated by the very fire which killed the parent plant. The heat of the fire causes the hard epidermis of the seed to crack, in this way allowing moisture to reach the embryo and so start germination.

In the Drakensberg plants have adopted many methods which enable them to survive fires. That is why you will so often find Ericas growing in south-facing rock gullies, where the fires rage less fiercely than on north-facing slopes. Bulbous plants are more easily able to survive a fire than plants equipped with roots, especially shallow roots. This is undoubtedly one reason why the Drakensberg is so rich in flowers from the Liliaceae, Iridaceae, and Amaryllidaceae families, most of which have bulbs or corms.

We may conclude then, that many plant species in the Drakensberg are gravely endangered by mountain fires, that many have adapted themselves to withstand the effects of fires, but that occasional fires are beneficial, acting as a regenerating factor, clearing out the thickly-matted old grasses and dead undergrowth, and stimulating seed germination.

Never, but never, start a fire anywhere in the Drakensberg Wilderness when on a hiking trip!

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 – Mountain Splendour – RO Pearce

Photos:  ©Willem Pelser

Compiled by:  Willem Pelser

THE CULTURE OF WALKING

"ON FOOT, THE PULSE OF THE DRAKENSBERG WILDERNESS COMES THROUGH YOUR BOOTS”

THE CULTURE OF WALKING

Our ability to walk upright is thought to date back to the Early Stone Age, a period more than one and a half million years ago. It was then that our ancestors stood upright and gingerly took their first steps. These small steps would prove to be a proverbial giant leap, allowing humankind to fast-track its development along evolution’s long and winding road. Walking on two legs allowed our forebears to develop and use sophisticated tools, quickly turning them into a dominant hunter-gatherer society.

   So it was that mankind became walkers, striding proudly upright across the vast plains of ancient continents. As hunter-gatherers, they walked out of a necessity to support their nomadic lifestyle rather than for pleasure, searching the wilderness for food and shelter. Slowly this natural landscape changed as evolution marched on, with first agriculture and then industrialization taking its toll. Vast cities of concrete and steel mushroomed throughout the developed world, replacing trees, rivers, grasslands and forests with tarmac roads and soaring skyscrapers. Green belts and park-lands all but disappeared in some places and soon many city dwellers found themselves captives of an unnatural environment of their own making.

   Which brings us to where we are now at the beginning of the 21^st century and, some would say, with civilization at its technological peak. Many of us find ourselves in a position where we have more income, resources and free time at our disposal than any previous generation. And in order to escape the pressure and stress of our urban environment, we buy ourselves some time in the great outdoors, because it is here that we are able to rediscover the instinctive simplicity that came so easily to our cavemen ancestors. And what better way to get in touch with our earthy side than by exploring the many natural splendors of our planet on foot?

STEPPING OUT

   In essence, walking is about undertaking small journeys of discovery. It might not be exploration on a grand scale discovering the far-flung corners of the globe, but it still captures the sensation of travelling into the unknown. You might well be on a well-trodden track, a route that you have walked many times before, but such is the beauty of nature that it will show you a new face every time.

   A glimpse of scarlet in the undergrowth might uncover a previously unnoticed flower, or a flash of feathery blue will reveal a kingfisher flitting along a stream bed.  Over the years, a hiking route will become like and old friend, ageing with you and mellowing as you get to know it better. Seasons will herald joyful changes along a regular trail, dressing it in splashes of colour in spring, or shades of green in summer, while winter will bring with it the return of stark and simple lines. Over time, trees will shake off their spindly adolescence, spreading gnarly branches in greeting when you again encounter them after a decade or two. It does not matter how many times you travel a certain way – every walk will bring with it new discoveries, allowing you to explore to your heart’s content.

ON GOOD TERMS

   Over the generation, as we tramped along our bridle-ways, country lanes and mountain paths, some walkers donned rucksacks, dressed in technical clothing and took to using specially designed equipment. Walking was no longer just a stroll in the wilds, and a host of new terms and expressions was born. Nowadays, people go hiking, trailing and backpacking all over the world. High on ridged peaks, mountaineers traverse; in canyons or gorges, individuals dabble in canyoneering or kloofing; clamber on all fours up a steep scree slope and you are elevated into the realm of scrambling; follow a route hugging the coastline and you’ll be pleased to know that you are coasteering. Many related terms exist and, it is impossible to cover all of them.

   Before we boot up though, it is useful to define two universally accepted terms associated with walking: hiking and backpacking. Although the word backpacking was originally coined to describe the process of walking in the outdoors with a pack on your back, and is a term widely used in the USA, in other parts of the world backpacking is usually associated with budget travel, and hiking has replaced it as the term used to describe a walk in nature, along a well-marked, defined pathway or route. Therefore, depending o which country you are in, you will find both hikers and backpackers walking along a trail in a conservancy or a state forest, across a public common, or in a national park, following a route, possibly with the assistance of a map, a trail-guide, or both.

   Hikes can either be single-day or short routes, or long trails that require a number of days, even weeks, to complete. Many multi-day hikes traverse wilderness areas with the aid of marked trails, with hikers having to move from Point A to Point B, possibly along a compass bearing, or with the aid of map coordinates, and usually encountering a wide variety of terrain. These expeditionary, or wilderness, hikes are usually more rigorous than hiking along marked trails and require detailed planning and preparation, as well as a higher level of experience from participants.They are frequently in remote locations, and may involve a group of people with a range of specialist skills.

   So far, so good, but the small matter of terminology does not quite end here either. Travel beyond the borders of your home country and you’ll find people talking a different walk. In New Zealand, the outdoor tribe go tramping; and Australians venture into the outback for a bush walk. A ramble across the moors might be the norm in England, but many South Africans prefer hiking, while Americans and Canadians stick to either bushwacking or backpacking.

   Venture beyond the comfortable cocoon of the first world and you will encounter a further culture shift, discovering that most people in developing countries rarely walk for pleasure. To them, walking is often an economic reality, but this does not mean that they take no pleasure from it. On the contrary, walking is often an integral part of courtship rituals and other traditional rites, allowing individuals or groups time to get to know each other.

THE NEXT STEP

   A final observation: venturing into the great outdoors for a walk is often not about reaching a destination. For most of us, a walk is about the enjoyment of a journey on foot between two points, allowing us to take pleasure from a heady blend of fresh air, scenic views and simple exercise. Sweeping panoramas, the emerald glow of a deep forest at noon, or the invigorating scent of a mountainside alive with heater are sure to put a spring in your step.

   Soon you will feel the blood cursing through your body as you leave the daily grind behind and relish the freedom of the great outdoors. Along the way, take time out to lie beneath a spreading canopy of ancient trees, or admire the majesty of the mountains, soaking up the enchantment of nature. As our planet revolves under its wide blue sky, bask in the beauty of your surroundings. After all, unlike our cavemen ancestors, you are walking because you choose to, not because you have to.

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 – Hiking – The Essential Guide to Equipment and                                                       Techniques  – J Marais

Photos:  ©W Pelser

Compiled by:  Willem Pelser