I’ve been struggling to articulate my thoughts on the next concept following the Wards of Sadness. It revolves around having an aim in life and how my aim of climbing changed mine. So to fill the space whilst i’m chewing on that I thought Id try something different and recount one of my past adventures. Something I would like to begin doing for future adventures as well.
Once upon an Easter in 2017, a group of four of us embarked on a four day hike around the Giants Castle in the Drakensberg. A stunning feast of pure awe awaited us.
This was roughly our route.
The Giants Castle is a section of rock that juts out from the more distinct line of the escarpment forming a small peak on a spine whose tail is a prominent feature in the valleys below. The area to the north of this point forms a bowl of large cliffs and converging valleys. The aim of this hike was to summit the giants castle point and the hike back along the edge of the escarment over a large ridge called Mt Durnford and come down Langalibalele Pass. It would give us views of the point and of the bowl of valleys below from two different sides.
We camped in a campsite close to the hotel from which we would start our first day. We were all quite fit and covered the hilly sections of the lower escarpment quickly.
It’s in these early slopes below the towering edges of the plateau where the Drakensberg really starts to come alive. The rolling green grass and magical slopes of the barrier of a thousand spear as it is known in its local Language name. The Giants Castle itself was veiled in cloud that first day but the views were no less impressive.
As we came closer to the mountains the clouds lifted briefly showing the cliffs of the Castle in their full splendor as we hiked passed them on the way to Giants Pass.
The pass was grueling and I was apparently the slowest of our group at ascents. But slow persistence paid off and the views from close to the cave where we would sleep our first night were worth the effort.
In the morning the clouds had closed in thicker, covering the valleys below. We were in our own mountain world now. We had breakfast in the cold and with the mountain air filling our lungs we were ready to explore this dream like world.
Further up the pass we saw just how cold the night had been with these impressive plant freezes a common sight.
We crossed over the bulk of the Giants Castle which was a longer hike than anticipated. The back side of the Castle slopes away from the valleys and we were walking in the pathless and more barren terrain of the plateaux. When we came up the last slope up to the point it seemed that we suddenly stepped out of an elevator and onto a viewing platform.
To our left were the cliffs we had walked passed the day before and the bowl of valleys covered in a magnificent white blanket.
To our right was the rock spine which stretched out into the ocean of cloud which mesmerised us as it rose and fell. Sometimes covering the spine and sometimes revealing it.
Lourens had brought with him the remainder of our friend Schalk’s ashes and we made a cairn of rocks to place them in. A fitting resting place for a dearly loved friend and adventurer. Despite him taking his own life, I will love him until I die. I miss you Bro.
We hiked back off the point and got some good distance in before rounding a ridge which ran along the edge of the plateaux. We camped on its slopes facing the escarpment eager to be shielded from the eyes of the local herders. We had had an encounter that day which left us feeling less than comfortable with their interactions
On day three we would conquer this ridge, Mt Durnford. It was a much bigger slog than I thought it would be. I was constantly lagging behind and need more than a couple of breaks. There was a specific spot we had to crest the ridge at so that we could find the only gap in the mini cliff on the other side. The path down was treacherous but we got right spot in the end.
Whilst crossing through the various valleys of the plateaux that day we had another encounter with the local herders which was tense to say the least, they are pertty pushy and just say ‘give give’ the whole time. All the while covered in ponchos which gave me the impression they were armed and hiding it.
We had planned to camp at Bannerman Cave above Langalibalele Pass but were put off buy the increased density of local herders in this part of the plateaux. We decided instead to push on and come down the pass a bit to camp. For views this was a fantastic decision. The lower slopes of the Drakensberg are truly magical and we all sat and watched them talking of the hike as the shadows lengthened and called us to a deserved sleep.
We had only a small distance to cover back to the hotel and we took our time walking slowly on our tired legs. Savouring the clearer view of the Castle and the escarpment we had hiked through.
There are few times in my life when I’ve felt more connected to the mountains than the hikes in the Drakensberg. They are epic arduous adventures but each time I went I was reminded anew of the awe that I feel when hiking through them. I wish one day to experience that awe again, for I cannot recall the feeling and there are not the words to describe it. I recount this adventure here to remind myself of what I seek. To light a flame of hope in the amidst the chaos. Hope that I may one day be able to do these things again, however daunting the dragons may be.
Thank you for indulging me and I hope that you too experience this awe one day, in whichever form it calls to you in.
Appreciating the hard work you put into your website and in depth information you offer.
It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date
rehashed material. Excellent read! I’ve bookmarked your site
and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google
account.
Good answer back in return of this query with firm arguments and describing all about that.
This design is incredible! You definitely
know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my
own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent job. I
really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented
it. Too cool!
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before
but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s
new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back often!
Pretty element of content. I just stumbled
upon your website and in accession capital to
say that I get actually loved account your blog posts. Any way I will
be subscribing for your feeds or even I success you access constantly fast.
My brother recommended I might like this blog. He was totally right.
This post truly made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this info!
Thanks!
I every time spent my half an hour to read this web site’s articles or
reviews daily along with a cup of coffee.
Everyone loves it when folks get together and share ideas.
Great blog, stick with it!
Also visit my blog post; delta 8 thc store
It’s the best time to make some plans for the longer term and it is time to be happy.
I have learn this post and if I may I want to suggest you few interesting issues
or tips. Maybe you could write next articles regarding this article.
I want to learn more things about it!
I used to be able to find good info from your blog posts.
My web-site … delta 8 thc
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative.
I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future.
Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
my page: delta 8 thc
Undeniably consider that which you said. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the net
the easiest thing to have in mind of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed even as folks consider worries that they just don’t understand about.
You controlled to hit the nail upon the top and outlined out the whole
thing with no need side effect , folks can take a signal. Will probably be again to get more.
Thanks
Great blog here! Also your web site loads up fast! What web host are you the usage of?
Can I get your associate hyperlink for your host? I
want my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol
my homepage … delta 8 THC area 52
Hi there, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just
curious if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you reduce
it, any plugin or anything you can suggest? I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so any assistance is very much appreciated.
0mniartist asmr
As an alternative to employing various internet advertising organjizations for various computerized marketig providers, get our firm
Infobizz Option as the full Computerized Companion for those internet advertising professional services like preserving manufacturer
reputation, product or service advertising, exciting
delivers, creative ideas & technique for on-line advertising, and a lot more.
Some company owners may think of where to go to select an expert electronic marketing and
advesrtising firm Gurgaon to enmoy finest Searcdh marketing services and position up
their webpage on Google internet search engine outcome webpages.
The corporation makes use of a staff of domain name experts who provide complete computerized advertising and marketing services in Gurgaon which include
Seo (Search engine optimization), (SEM), Social Networking Optimizing (SMO),
and Pay per click marketing (Pay-per-click) etc towards the businesses across different industries.
Among the top rated Electronic advertising and marketing Company in Gurgaon well-known for the careful and expense efficient website
marketing services like Search engine optimisation, SMO,
Pay per click, ORM, Branding and Article Writing. is a Professionally monitored Computerized Advertising
and marketing Firm based in India, comprising
of any staff of expert specialists from the career fields of
Website Marketing Professional services, Seo, Social Media Marketing,
E-mail marketing, on the internet standing management and various
other tactics. Our electronic marketing package deal that begins with images, emblem layout, company
marketing and branding to online website campaigns, Search engine marketing,
SMO, e mail activities, on-line sociable standing management aand the most up-to-date secrets of the pros aid placement you advantageously to acquire
masimum exposure and continuous flow of potential clients by using an escalating
size.
The digital marketing and advertising organization delivers internet site
design and growth, internet hosting, articles production and search engine optimization solutions to businesses
of all sorts. YNG Multimedia is really a top rated Digital Marketing Agency in Delhi/NCR, dedicated tto computerized method,
search engine marketing, Paid advertising, social media advertising
& retargeting. Thhe important thing solutions presented through Eventum are Social media
Optimisation, Web site & Software Development, Pay per Click, Articless Administration solutions,
On-line Reputation management, E mail Activities, Search engine optimisation, Instruction and Digital Advertising and marketing Consultancy.
It iis actually tiny hard to find out of the most technical and reasonably priced Electronic digital marketing and advertising Agency in Gurgaon which comes with the favorite professional services like google and facebook
special offers Search engine optimisation, SMO, Pay-per-click, ORM, Web site creating, guide generation Web hosting service
and Website Services. 5. Brand name Hoopla – It
really is a complete-assistance Search engine optimisation company that includes
every area of electronic marketing, starting from webste design and improvement to
Search engine marketing, Pay-per-click, e-mail marketing and social media.
To create your business fulfill the entire probable this site offers providers and strategies linked to Search engine marketing, PPC advertising and marketing, ssocial
media advertising, and e-mail marketing. http://infobizz.co.in
Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.
You need to be a part of a contest for one of the best websites online. I most certainly will recommend this blog! Darla Mace Bowles
If you desire to take much from this paragraph then you have to apply these techniques to your won web site. Nerta Yancy Kissel
I bought one at his house before, and after washing it once, there is no time not to wash it naturally. I bought one again and did not plan to wash it. After washing it, it will fry the hair 😂
What a fantastic story of your adventure. Touching to read of your, I am sure very grateful, friend Schalk who now graces the heavens above.
Enlightening to read of the herders for, if ever I was brave enough to hike this route. It was very enticing to read of how in nature you really were with no hut to stay in over night. Truly awesome.
Awesome adventure… inspiring too