15/17 December 2001 : Warwick Keating
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Early Saturday morning seventeen Club members,
including an American plus four visitors arrived at the rustic campsite which
includes “upgraded toilets”? (previously long drop) and no showers unless one
can use those in the Giants Cup hiking trail house. The morning was spent erecting tents under the shady trees and
swimming in the Pholela river.
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A circular hike of 6 km partly along the Giants
Cup trail rewarded hikers with beautiful clear views of the berg and farmlands
towards Underberg as well as a fine display of wild flowers along the Trout
Beck stream.
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Saturday evening weather was balmy and warm and
all enjoyed the communal get-together, some braaing, others cooking meals on
gas.
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Sunday’s hike (the Challenge) took off at 07:40 up the
Pholela river with a brief swim stop at Whale Rock. The hot sunny weather convinced some members to return to the
shade and cool of camp. The path led
up a steep incline to the Little Berg plateau where a tea break allowed all to
enjoy the clear vistas of the Berg, then on to Mnongweni Cave to view the
Bushman paintings. A brief visit to
Siphongweni Rock, then some route finding down to the Siphongweni stream and on
to Mzimkhulwana Hut for lunch. The
trip home along the Giants Cup trail past Bath Plug cave met with some hail and
rain. The party arrived back at camp
at 5.00 pm having covered 23 km.
Again a braai social evening was enjoyed by all under cover of the
extended caravan tent.
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Monday dawned misty and damp and most members
broke camp early. Although the camp is
rustic it has beautiful shady grass campsites with views of the Berg.
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