This is a tale of attrition. You will see why if you read on.

In the first instance our February plans were destroyed by the weather forecast. Rescheduling meant we lost some participants and gained others so that eventually we were supposed to start with a 14-man (+ ladies) team. Meeting at the top of 9th Avenue in George on Saturday morning it became evident that we would be 13 only as one person had not even made starter’s orders.

Under the Starters Orders:
(L-R ) : Tony Bowen, Stuart Neill,Evie Bowen, Elna van De Walt, Nelia Parma, Maretha Alant, Werner Frei, Janine Smith, Greg Devine, Stewart Stiles, Dennis Lange and Johan Huisamen. 

Eager to beat the heat we set off and made reasonable time to the “leaky” dam and thence to Tierkop hut. By now the heat and heavy packs were taking their toll and a long pause ensued as we sat in the shade and restored some energy for the final thrust up towards Kransberg and the dive down the hill into the Kaaimans kloof. Arriving shortly after 2pm we were tired after 6 hours hiking but had plenty of time to swim in the river and recce the early part of the next day’s trail.

The “Leaky” dam

Camp

Sunday morning saw us up at about 5am making breakfast and lunch in the dark. First light was at about 6am and after a few hiccoughs we were confidently striding North up the kloof. By now our team was reduced to 11 as one member had to get home and another preferred to rest in the camp for the day.

Our first 4 kms followed the old Outeniqua trail or at least what could be distinguished of it beneath the vegetation. At the 4km marker we had to turn sharply South and start some serious ascent. It was at this point that our party reduced further in size to 10 as one member decided “enough was enough”. Now the work really began. Almost two hours of toil gained us about 400 metres in elevation and brought us within about 1 km of the summit. Now clearly visible across a wide chasm the summit seemed so near and yet still so far. Encouraged no doubt by the smell of success we quickly closed the gap and shortly before 11am, about 4 ½ hours after our start, the remaining 10 gathered at the trig beacon and soaked up the 360-degree views all around.

The Mighty Melville Conquerors at the summit with Cradock Peak behind

Our descent was relatively uneventful, though as always, picking the right line down a hill is always that much harder than going up. Nevertheless, we made good time and found ourselves back at camp by 3.15pm just as the rain swept up the kloof. Luckily during the night, the overhang where we were camped kept us all dry and by morning it had stopped.

Now as we set out for home on the third morning, we were to climb a hill that gave us all an alternative meaning of the word attrition. Like tortoises laden beneath their houses we crawled up the slope achieving 370 metres elevation in about 90 minutes. At the back of the line I was witness to all the pain and grief above and ahead. To take my mind off the struggle I started to think of names by which this hill should be remembered. At the start it was “Rise and Shine” by halfway up it was “Heartbreak Hill “ and by the end it will simply be remembered as “Crucifixion”. This was more than endorsed when near the top we all had to file past a small burnt cross ( presumably a trail marker of some antiquity) that still stood beside the trail. As my eyes fell upon the cross my mind started to question the sins for which I was paying and the shortcomings of my contrition (that attrition biting at the heels again!).

A rare George Flame (gladiolus sempervirens)


Another Kaaimans delight awaits discovery

From here things could only improve and despite threatening skies we made good time and were back to George and our vehicles by 11.30. Thanks to all those who participated and made a great team – together we defeated the attrition and conquered the Mighty Melville once again.

Meet Leader ~ Ed Kay-Shuttleworth