Despite the meet being advertised quite late, there was a very good turnout of members. The party comprised Clive & Sandy Louw, Stewart & Christine Stiles, Bruno & Ulrike Baldzuhn, Ed & Mimi Kay-Shuttleworth, Tony &Evie Bowen, Greg & Janet Moore (meet leaders), Analyn Knight, Ruth Powell, Maretha Alant, Werner Frei, Henry Hill. As the [...]
This hike was put on the calendar to provide an opportunity for the not so fit to also get out there and enjoy our beautiful area. Unfortunately the weather proved to be a bit windy and cloudy, but perfect for hiking. The party consisted of 11 people: Hanna Edge (meet leader), Chris Gow, Mike von [...]
I regret and was confused and a bit angry about the planned hike last Saturday (18th January) due to the rain and many cancellations. Friday afternoon (24th January), I suddenly had the idea of still doing it, although the tide in the afternoon was wrong – springtide high. So I contacted Fred, as I had [...]
Hikers Greg and Janet Moore, Peter and Marianne Halbsgut, Irmela Kohlsdorf, Saartjie v d Merwe, Hans v Ameyde, Fred v Berkel, Wolf Schneider, Dave Barnes (meet leader) Thanks to Nicky v Berkel who took the group picture at the start but did not join the hike, engaged on a botany excursion. Thanks to Fred v [...]
Towerkop with its cleft peak, as seen from the R62 on route from Barrydale to Ladismith in the Klein Karoo is a characteristic landmark. At 2189 m it stands higher as an obvious peak in the Klein Swartberg ridge line. Legend says a witch (tower) waved her wand and cleft the peak. It does feel [...]
Hikers: Clive and Sandy Louw, Barbara Raubenheimer, Wendy Thompson, Geoff and Lorraine Ditchfield, Jude Cobern, Joan Louwrens, Fred v Berkel and Dave Barnes (meet leader). The hike started in town where we met, and proceeded eastwards, then up the hill to our first stop at the paragliding site which was unusually deserted on a Saturday [...]
The Swellendam trail has been on my list of trails to do for years. The trail was first opened in 1980. In 2012 a fire destroyed the paths and the hut at Boskloof. The trail is now open and back in frequent use again. The hut at Boskloof has been replaced with two corrugated iron [...]
This hike was squeezed in at fairly short notice mainly for Gillian’s benefit, before she returned to work in the UK. From ten days before the hike it was apparent that the weather was not going to play along, with promises of up to 70mm of much needed rain. The weather reports in the following [...]
Blood, sweat and fears Hiking off-trail in the Swartberg can sometimes be okay and sometimes extreme. I had my sight on the beautiful Kangoberg area for some time and worked out a probable achievable traverse route from Kruisrivier to Groenfontein (this is in the area between the Swartberg Pass and Calitzdorp). The best map and [...]
Rain, Rock & Re-learning On a clear day I can see the Langeberg mountains from where I live in Stilbaai. There is a prominent pointed peak almost due north, forming part of the Paardeberg mountain. This peak has fascinated me for the last two years and I wanted to stand on its’ summit….. This meet [...]