BERGFREE ADVENTURES NEWSLETTER NUMBER 78 14 April 2009 Giant’s Contour Hike Giant’s Castle Central Drakensberg uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park 6 – 8 April 2009 MHC Hikers We had planned a long 7 day hike for the Easter holiday period. However due to unforeseen circumstances , our numbers were reduced to just 3 hikers, so we changed plans and did a 3 day hike along the Giants contour path from Giants Hut to Bannerman’s Hut and back. Teresa, Hettie and I set off from Giant’s Camp in the Central Drakensberg, and headed up the old Oribi Ridge trail towards Giant’s Hut. On the way up the weather was cool, clear with a hint of rain clouds hanging over the Giant. The tarn on the way up was clear and still, and we had lunch in the old vulture hide. This was one of the early vulture feeding places built in the berg, however it was built far from the Giant’s camp, and getting there was a long hard hike. So later, a new vulture feeding restaurant and viewing hide was built much closer to the main camp at Giant’s Castle. After lunch the weather changed, distant thunder rumblings were heard, and a light rain fell, which only for a short while, then cleared. Just before we got to our camping place for the night, we filled or overnight water containers, and moved on to the camping area. Giant’s Hut is a sad tale. Many years ago this hut’s roof burnt down with the limited infrastructure of the hut. Much talk , with little action resulted in the hut not being rebuilt, and probably never will be. So this part of the Drakensberg will only be visited by the hardy hikers with tents, or day hikers from Giants Camp. It is a pity, as the walk from Giants Hut to Bannerman’s hut is a great walk if the weather is good. Sadly now the only ones who use this old contour track are the Eland of the berg. With thunder again rumbling closer to us, we rushed our tents up, and scrambled into them as the 1st rain fell. Tea was had in the tents , then later as the rain stopped, we were able to cook an early supper out of the tents. We had hardly finished eating and washing up , when the rain and mist came back with a vengeance. Early to bed, 17h30 – one just hopes that your bed is in a comfortable spot on the ground, the night would be long – until 06h30 next morning It rained during the night, and a heavy mist settled in . The next morning it looked as if it might clear , but that was not to be. We left the old sad remains of the hut in thickening mist. The hike to Bannerman’s Hut was uneventful as due to the thick mist, there was nothing to see. In places just to make out the old feint path was a feat in itself. All that keeps the path visible now are the Eland who traverse along this path. We were lucky enough to experience 4 eland thundering just past us in the mist. Probably they were just astonished as anyone to have strangers wondering through their territory. With good weather, the views along this walk are really astonishing , as one hikes along the base of the high escarpment of the berg. The high berg reaches a thousand meters up above you on your left, the valleys run away to your right for as far as you can see. Lunch was a very quick cold wet affair amidst the wet grass and mountain scrub of the area. Later as we approached Bannerman’s hut area, the mist lifted a little The sunrise next morning was again quite stunning. A great blanket of white cloud covered the whole of the region below us. When you are high up , looking down a cloud covered land below gives one the feeling of being in another world of beauty and sunshine, whilst those below are in the normal everyday rut of life, going about like moles in the sand. This is one of the great beauties of the mountains. Weather changes are quick , and can be very beautiful , or ???!!!! After a slow breakfast, new plans were made , we headed straight for the car instead of cruising the open mountain grass valleys below us. The grass was long and wet, and we had decided to give our boots a chance to dry out a bit. On arriving at the camp we changed into dry clothes, had lunch at the camp restaurant, then headed home. We all agreed that the hike had been worth it, despite the bad weather. There is something that sort of catches ones imagination when hiking in poor weather in a new part of the berg. This was especially so for Teresa and Hettie as this was their first hike in this area. I had done the hike several times in 2002/2003, but not since. Hiking in the mist has advantages and disadvantages – some are good and some are bad, Bergfree Adventures www.bergfree.co.za ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~