Camping site on col above Wemmershoek River valley
Link to detailed route page and map click on route title. Please note the first link is the trail from my camping area to Rte 301 (which is mostly downhill!) and the second from the camping area to the summit.[route-snippet id=”1119″ featured=”image”][route-snippet id=”1115″ featured=”image”]As I enjoyed my overnight trip so much, Mike and I decided to go back up there this weekend and do a bit more exploring. Had signed up for the annual golf Turkey Trot (fun competition) at PV on Saturday and as rain was forecast overnight our plan was to head up to where I camped previously on Sunday afternoon and then hike up to Middagberg (summit along from Klein Drakensteinkop) on Monday coming out on Tuesday as gales were forecast!
The weather men were right on the money with their forecast and we benefited from a good weather window. However as it was windy throughout and damp on Sunday we decided to try out our new lightweight tent from Sierra Designs rather than bivouac. Must say it is very easy to erect, super lightweight as largely made of mesh but a bit less bomb proof than our older tents which makes it slightly unnerving when the wind gusts. Overall very happy with it as a choice for camping in SA.
Bloodroot flower in bud – many of these were flowering along our trail
Hike up went well, missed the rain and had a beautiful sunset across the Mt Rochelle mountains in the evening. Mike thought the campsite was an excellent choice (phew!)
Monday decided to pack up our tent and kit and cache them, partly due to baboons in the area. Took our secateurs and small pruning blade with us to thin out some Hakka where we saw them close to the path. Soon realised that we would not get our hike done (given there were so many) so chose a small area to focus on during our return leg. Very satisfying.
Hike up to the Middagberg felt hard work, put that down to the remnants of a head cold and a hot morning. The path was well defined due to use by trail bikes until the last half a km. We found a nice way up to the Peak, Mike built some cairns which were useful markers on our return journey. Great views from our summit and rewarded ourselves with a rusk – what would we do without them??
From the summit we could see a path going up a valley which I thought from memory would lead to Spitskop. Choice, do we go exploring and try to find that trail or head back and climb the peaks I did the previous week. Both of us were keen to see if we could find a way to the path and see where it went.
As it was we only had to bundu-bash for about three-quarters of a km until we found the path at the saddle at the head of the Wildeperdjag River. Good path round to where we could cross the river (lovely spot for lunch where we paddled our feet a couple of hours later). Took a detour to a rocky viewpoint of a stunning waterfall with a huge pool at the bottom before retracing our footsteps to make our way up the river valley. (Could bivvy in this area). Decided our destination was the col at the top of the valley – wanted to see the view on the other side!
Agreed not to try to climb Spitskop as although not that much higher was very rugged and we had not planned a route up etc. So after an Orange (so welcome) headed back down the valley and spent some time on Hakea removal. Good hike back and arrived at our campsite nice and early to have our bird baths in the warm sun.
Tuesday morning decided to do some Hakea removal close to our campsite for an hour before heading back down our familiar trail. Found an alternative camping site near a different river so happy to have increased our options for exploring this area. All in all a very successful exploratory ‘weekend’ but we probably won’t be back there until next Autumn or Spring given our travel plans and the temps are starting to notch upwards.
Key highlights
- watching a ‘kestrel ‘ swoop down as we were drinking our tea at our campsite and pluck up a small yellow snake it it’s talons, then eat it on the wing!
- sunset over Mt Rochelle and Wemmershoek mountains with the clouds going pink in the evening light;
- full moon, bright enough to read by on Sunday evening;
- pink sunrise over Paarl with the full moon still showing;
- finding a couple of ideal new camping areas;
- trialling our tent, which we bought, post my back op, to allow us to carry on camping with a lighter set up; and
- finding fresh Cape Leopard tracks on the path on our return. We guessed it was stalking a troop of baboons on a nearby koppie.
