Training Log Archive: Stijn

Up at sparrows again and down Rockeries Pass back to the Cultural Centre (1700m of descent). Above the clouds to start, then misty and then hot on the final gravel road slog.

Lekker weekend adventure :)

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move85445832

Up at sparrows and further up the Mnweni Valley. Our goal for the day was to open a new pass deep into the Mnweni Cutback. Or at least an undocumented pass - we don't think anyone has done it before.

Followed the path up to the base of Mnweni Pass and then kept on boulder-hopping up the river. Some steep grassy slopes to negotiate to avoid the waterfall below Manxome Pass (a route I opened 11 years ago) and then boulder-hopping and clambering up the river from there on up. Just before hitting the really nasty looking gully at the head of the cutback, we had to swing right up a side gully. But first there was a house-sized chockstone in the way which required some bushy scrambling on the side slopes to get around.

We gained access to the final rocky gully at about 2500m, with 500m of scrambling to the top. The first 300m were ok but then the gully narrowed to about 2m wide and there were a series of large chockstones blocking it. Luckily, every time we encountered one of these obstacles, there was a narrow grassy ledge on the side to get around them. These ledges also involved some tricky scrambling (now exposed), including a particularly gnarly chimney through a bush, but we never had to get the rope out. It was very relieving to get sight of the top without a massive obstacle in the way which would have forced us to go all the way down again!

Reached the top at 11am, so a full 6 hours with light packs. I would not want to do that pass with a full overnight pack! We're probably calling it Hanging Valleys Pass (Andrew did not like my suggestion of Grovel Pass).

From there it was an easy hike in the mist around to Ledger's Cave via a lunch stop at the source of the Orange River - still very dry with standing pools only.

A tough, scary, but rewarding day :)

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move85445901 (GPS goes a bit nuts in the narrow gully)

Light and fast hike with Andrew Porter in the Berg. Drove down on Friday evening and set off from the Mnweni Cultural Centre at about 20:30. Avoided some of the kraal dogs and made it up to Five Star Cave just before midnight for a few hours sleep. Nice to be able to escape to the mountains so quickly.

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move85445967

Lethargic run with Charne.

TE 3.8 http://www.movescount.com/moves/move85021076

At City Rock with Gerrit. Feeling stronger... 14, 17, 19, 17, 15, 16.

Pirates Pub Run with Neal. 6 beers & 2 shots. Is there a separate training category for this?

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move84987012