CEDERBERG HIKE
There is a growing ministry among the men in CCSW, built around a (lekker early) morning gathering each week. As part of the ministry the leaders suggested doing a hike together. Last year it was The Amathola Trail. This year the group walked 80kms over five days through the incredible Cederberg. What an amazing time! We decided to read through 1 Thessalonians, one chapter a night. It was a real privilege spending time in the mountains, enjoying fellowship and reading God’s Word together. Thanks to everyone who organised, participated and provided backup for this to happen. And thank you loving Heavenly Father for your beautiful creation and your caring hand.
Stephen Quirke did a great job in capturing the details of the hike. For those who are interested, please continue reading…
The group met at the Algeria Forest Station where we spent the night in the chalets. After a braai, Stuart described the route for the first day. We read and discussed the first chapter of 1 Thessalonians. Then retired for the night.
DAY 01: from Algeria to Chrystal Pools
The next morning groups headed up the mountain from Algeria, past the waterfall to Middleberg hut where we stopped for lunch. The afternoon trail headed over a ridge, past some copses of Cedars and down a long valley past the Lone Cedar Campsite. It was a warm day but there were many seeps and rivers along the way. We climbed the “Groot Hartseer”to the contour through the rocks to Chrystal Pools. The early arrivals had a chance to swim in the pools before dusk. Those taking their time had a chance to enjoy the scenery along the way.
As evening fell a stiff breeze picked up. We had a meal and sat around the reader to hear and discuss the second chapter of 1 Thessalonians. Then everyone turned in. Those sleeping out were treated to the grand procession of the starry host with the occasional meteorite.
DAY 02: From Chrystal Pools to Welbedacht Cave
The next morning we crossed the river and headed up the “Klein Hartseer” past the Chrystal Pools hut and up Englesmanskloof onto the Shale Band. There were fresh leopard spoor at the top of the kloof, a refreshing reminder that these creatures are around and probably watching us go by. The storm in the previous week had drenched the Cederberg and the jeep-track along the Shale Band was a river in many places. We met at the Sleepad Hut for lunch. It was great to take in the massive view to the West as we ate lunch. There were no more hartseers that day, except for some of the guys who missed the path down to Welbedacht Cave, and the others who went to catch them.
Welbedacht cave is good shelter. The overhang provides cover from the wind while offering a view of the stars. We ate, read the third chapter in 1 Thessalonians then settled down for a snooze.
DAY 03: from Welbedacht Cave to Sandrif – via Wolfberg
The walk from Welbedacht to the path up the Wolfberg follows the Shale Band, gently dipping down towards the valley. Some of the chaps left in the dark to appreciate the dawn. The faster hikers caught up through the morning and we stopped for an extended lunch at the Wolfberg Arch. At noon we set off for Wolfberg Cracks and the way down the mountain. Some of the group joined us for last two days of hiking and we met some of these guys on their way to see Wolfberg Arch. On the way down the mountain a couple of guys went off track but eventually everyone made their through the cracks and down the mountain to Sanddrif. A braai-team did a great job to provide an evening meal. Some of the guys stocked up on food and others offloaded excess baggage. We said cheers to some of the guys who decided not to do the last two days. After a good conversation arising from 1 Thess 4 the guys retired for the night.
DAY 04: from Sandrif to Sneeuberg hut
In the morning the route followed a dust road and onto path over a clear stream and up a steep pass. As we crossed a low ridge the Maltese Cross came into view. There are some great photos of this feature but it is worth doing the walk to see this structure. After lunch we headed for the Sneeuberg hut. Stuart, warned everyone to take the path around the obvious level plain, which was in fact a quagmire. The rock strewn route to the hut gave us views across the valley to the route we had walked the day before.
The hut was occupied by a group of scouts who had walked up from the opposite side so we had opportunity to sleep under the stars again. But first, a swim in the river, a good meal and a read through the last chapter of 1 Thessalonians.
DAY 05: from Sneeuberg to Uitkyk pass
Three groups headed out in the morning. The first set out in the dark to gain some time. A second group set out a little later, planning to leave packs at the pass and run down to Algeria to pick up the transport. A third group set out later, intending to catch up with the first group before the trail head on Uitkyk Pass. The on the last day was probably the prettiest. After a level route through the valley below Sneeuberg the path entered a deep valley, descending at a low gradient to an easy pass over the route to Uitkyk Pass. The route crossed waterfalls, some dramatic rock falls and passes through a small ravine filled with indigenous forest, mostly Cape Hollies it seems. As we passed over into the final descent to Uitkyk pass we had opportunity to look back at the elegant Sneeuberg Peak. We descended a rocky path to the end of the trail. As a final gift to weary hikers the path crosses a river twice with some magnificent pools.
In excellent timing the two groups met at the lower pool just as the runners returned with the bakkies. What a great finale to this wonderful route.
This was much much more than a slog through the mountains. There is an Indian proverb (so I am told) that sounds something like, “if you want to get to know someone, start a business or take a journey with them”. On this short journey some of the men got to know each other at just a little deeper level. On the hike we each presented parts of ourselves we usually don’t show at services and bible-studies. The group had a chance to talk and deal with elations and frustrations introduced by the terrain and the task. And to do this in such a dramatic setting was a real gift from God.
