Organ Pipes
– Ndumeni Dome Cave – Tlanyaku Pass – Skoongesig
Cave : 16 – 18 June
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An early start saw Keith, Margaret, Dave, Warwick (leader) andamp; Brenda leaving the top of Mike’s Pass andamp; climbing up the ridge to Lookout Hut. After an early lunch stop further along the ridge we made for the bottom of Organ Pipes Pass andamp; plodded up slowly. The Ashtons celebrated their 38th Wedding Anniversary with chocolate andamp; congratulations at the top of the pass. Then the slog was on to collect water andamp; climb the last 200m to Ndumeni Cave at 3125m.
Some gentle “traversing” andamp; not so gentle musings later, we arrived at the cave to witness the simultaneous sunset andamp; moonrise. As we traversed the rock band towards the cave we left behind the icy cold wind gusting down on the encampment of tents in the valley below.
Much shuffling around later andamp; the cave was our comfortable, if slightly over-crowded, shelter for the night andamp; once in our sleeping bags, the injunction was “one out for a midnight visit – all out” which duly came to pass!
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Morning found us scrambling around before the dramatic appearance of the sun caused frantic camera searching to capture the beauty of the moment. Packed up andamp; ready, we left the cave at 08h15 andamp; with some very ominous clouds scudding around, we started down across the escarpment for our eventual goal – the head of the Tlanyaku Pass. Scrambling down over tussocky grass andamp; then contouring up andamp; around the gentle-looking valleys was amazingly energy sapping andamp; we had a brief stop for water, views andamp; photographs.
A welcome tea stop in a dry riverbed, where a string of cairns lead reassuringly to the pass andamp; we were on our way heading down. Mincing along down the narrowest of paths with dramatic drops visible out of the corner of one’s eye, required full concentration; andamp; the very long steep ridge below eventually caused most braking systems to smoke andamp; at times to fail. So it was with great relief that we eventually reached the river andamp; could stop for a bite of lunch, ‘till the weather had us packing up andamp; ponchoing down towards Skoongesig Cave. Two hours, andamp; a few detours later, we reached our objective weary andamp; leg aching. However a good wash andamp; supper on the go, andamp; shelter with a wonderful view andamp; what more could hikers ask for? The Scarp was a dramatic sight lit by the full moon all night.
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Margaret saw two strange flashes early in the morning, later explained – seemed Dave was flashing. (He has the photographs to prove same).
A later start andamp; up Phillips Folly to the nek – a romp after the escarpment traverse - andamp; then a stop to drink in the incredible wrap-around Mountain View.
At last – downhill – all the way to lunch at the Mikes Pass Car Park andamp; after 38km andamp; 20hrs of hard exercise very welcome to be sure.
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Brenda Keating
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