Last weekend I signed up to climb the Stellenbosch Mountain (this is the mountain I posted pictures of when I arrived). As this was the first ISOS activity, the President was mildly honest about the trek. Although I was stopping very frequently to collect insects for my awful 150 specimen collection, I would have had to stop every 2 minutes anyway, as he failed to mention the Gladiator Steps one must pass to even set foot on the base of the mountain. If lactic acid was a commodity and could be drained from muscles, these activities would be a gold-mine.
Elizabeth (who lagged behind with me as an insect killing assistant) and I got up pretty high, but not quite to the first "part." In this picture you can see behind me how far that was, in and of itself. That road in the background is what leads (which way, you ask? Who knows, labels on hiking trails aren't done here) to the base of the mountain. I'll do it again, but at a normal pace, and will get to the top. The first part is the hardest part (or so I'm told).
Yesterday, the activity was a mixed-martial-arts sort of attack on the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. The day entailed:
1) A walk to the ISOS Office, on campus (not that far, but worth mentioning)
2) An optional 7km (4.3 miles) cycle to the Jonkershoek gates
3) 10km (6.2 miles) hike on the Jeep Trail leading to the rugged trail up to a waterfall
4) 6.3km (3.9 miles) hike to/from the 2nd waterfall.
Since I got my ass handed to me on the Stellenbosch Mountain hike, I immediately opted out of the bike ride part (transport to the gate was offered for those who were "lazy" or "don't have a bike." A friend (a local, who is a bit of a mountain-man hiker and is familiar with these hikes) suggested that during the week we ride our bikes up to Jonkershoek, or just as far as I could go, so I could see what I was dealing with.
Getting into better shape is a core goal for my time here, and to this point (in life), the farthest I've biked was to the grocery store here, 1.7km away- so I agreed. At this point he mentioned that it was uphill most of the way. Oh good.
I was winded after only 10 minutes, but kept thinking I could do a little more- and that's how it went for the next 2 hours. I stopped a couple of times and walked a couple of the hills toward the end, but finally we arrived at the gates. All I wanted to do was collapse, but we had to leave right away as it was getting dark. The ride back was much more enjoyable- as there were fewer hills, and I was actually able to enjoy being between these mountains. I should have brought my camera as the sun was setting and lighting the mountains in a most inspiring manner.
Before I talk about the actual hike- there are some important Afrikaans Translations (and by "Afrikaans," I mean specific to one individual organizing these excursions) one needs to know before heading out with an Afrikaans guide:
Not Far = Far
Short Hike = Long hike
Easy hike = Unbelievably hard hike
It's quick-quick-quick = It's going to take forever
It's a clear jeep path = You need a jeep to get up the 5km sandy incline.
Just around the corner = Up ahead is a set of 84 vertical steps along a treacherous cliff that spans a corner.
You can do it = Get up
Only 2 more hills = Over the next 3km of steady incline there are two even more intense inclines.
This is a shortcut = It looks different from what we've been biking on and I'm hoping it will distract you.
We're almost there = Stop crying
It's 15 minutes from here = It's 15 minutes for an athletic billy goat
Beautiful view, huh? = Hurry up.
Budget your time here at the waterfall to get back down the mountain in time to catch the shuttle = You must leave immediately.
It was worth it though, right? = Don't hate me.
I've learned that what I've called "hiking" is really just leisurely walking
with trees along your path and dead leaves underfoot. Here, they have
a much more "Mad-Max" approach tot he activity. You're climbing up makeshift steps that are literally tall enough to require a leg to be swung over it and clinging to walls rather than slip down the edge that is only centimeters away. We traversed steep rocks littered with the corpses of students (the smarter of us stayed back/turned back long before). At one point, I passed a girl weeping with exhaustion. As is acceptable in times of war, her friends had left her behind....without water. I gave her as much of my water and sympathy as she could drink before shoving her aside to pass. My turn would arrive soon enough, I knew.
Finally, and I mean finally, we arrive at the river, a bit down from the waterfall of lore. It's a cavernous scene that transforms what I've come to associate with the South African landscape. Mosses, grass, tadpoles, frogs and ferns covered the rock walls as there is actual shade here. SHADE. Below are some images of the 5km walk through the winding mountainous ridge, followed by some pictures of the cavernous area. By the time I reached the waterfall, it was covered in people, so I didn't stay for long at that actual spot. I opted to try for a moment of solitude with the new sounds/sights.
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