A Time Traverse in the Mighty Marloth Nature Reserve.
This weekend’s hike was all about time, which for the seasoned mountaineer is an unavoidable factor that governs many plans and often creates the division between success and failure.
On Saturday another and somewhat different dimension of time was explored.
The first rays of a beautiful pink sunrise were piercing the atmosphere as the group assembled for the customary photographic record next to the parked cars and the leader’s clock commenced ticking at 5 minutes passed the hour. Due to the complexity of the timer mechanism on the photographer’s camera, ten minutes were lost and the small group of 6 was underway, 10 minutes later, at a full quarter passed the hour.
The question that might arise in the readers mind is – which hour? The group that morning also had a similar question as looming over them in the dim light of dawn was 10 o’clock, 11 o’clock, 12 o’clock and 1 o’clock.
The leader’s clock ticked for a full 4 hours and 15 minutes and at 30 minutes passed 9 o’clock all six members of the South Cape section were upon the summit of 12 o’clock. I will leave it to the reader to do the arithmetic.
Time travelers at the start:
L-R: Mimi and Ed Kay-Shuttleworth (Leader), Tim and Kim Gaskell, Jeremy Lister-James and behind the camera (Dennis Lange = photo credit)
The suns first rays of the day lighting the target ahead
(Kim Gaskell= photo credit)
Fortunately, the way to the top of Twaalfuurkop requires no applied mathematics, quantum physics or similarly complex knowledge. There is a good, clearly marked path that is evidently well groomed and a ladder and chain to assist a small scramble near the top.
With time on our side, we languished for a full hour at the summit whilst briefly contemplating a movement that would have set us on an anti-clockwise route against the natural progression of time. Seated on Twaalfuur at 1428 metres above the sea, our gaze was drawn to Elfhuur lying to the east at 1399 metres. Beyond Elfhuur but concealed from view lay Tienhuur at 1195 metres from which we knew a route back down to our cars was possible. The contemplation was brief, as it was decided that the 3 Kms of traverse to Tienhuur, whilst possible, would have negated the enjoyment so far and overshadowed the benefit of the cool ascent which would have been spoiled by a hot and weary slog home.
Contemplation on the summit of Twaalfuurkop
(Mimi Kay-Shuttleworth = photo credit)
Group resting on the Saddle in front of Twaalfuurkop
Misty Point to the North without its habitual cloak
We were all safely off the mountain by very early afternoon with plenty of time to recharge before our well-earned reward at La Sosta where we enjoyed an out of this world dining experience.
Antipasti
Primi Piatti
Secondi Piatti
Dessert
Good company, a great day in the mountains and extra-terrestrial dining made for a memorable recipe that I’m sure will see the time travellers only too eager to repeat.
Meet Leader ~ Ed Kay-Shuttleworth