HIGHMOOR – LONG WEEKEND –
14-16 DECEMBER 2002
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Margaret and I had booked
for 6 nights over this period and included it as a long weekend for the
club. Highmoor has become a particular
favourite of ours as it is so close to Howick and we discover something new
every time we visit this magnificent spot.
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We arrived at the campsite the day before everyone else and
so were well established by the time Warwick andamp; Brenda, Graham andamp; Jean
and Dave arrived on the Saturday morning;
our three sons and one daughter-in-law were due to arrive later in the
day.
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After Warwick, Brenda andamp; Co had pitched their tents we
set off to Ka-Dedakushe Falls, first bearing left along the old jeep track near
Kamloops and Salma Dams (both beautiful trout fishing dams, but the daily rod
fee is R80 and the bag limit is only 2 trout). We gradually climbed about 3km until we reached a track junction
(at about 2080m) and bearing right we continued for another 3km to the “Plaque”
with lovely views of Giant’s Castle and beyond. The “Plaque” marks the spot where history was made on 18 May
1973 by S P Botha (Minister of Water Affairs andamp; Forestry) declaring this
reserve the first wilderness area in a state forest (Upper Mkhomazi and
Mdedelelo). KZN Wildlife is now keen
to keep wilderness areas as such and I understand the plaque may also be
relocated at some time, closer to the office. From the “Plaque” we descended along a ridge for about another
1.5km (the track eventually disappearing) until we reached the falls. We had a leisurely lunch at this beautiful
spot at the top of the twin falls (about 80m high) but there was very little
water coming over.
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After lunch we retraced our route taking a left turn about a
kilometre past the “Plaque” to descend by a narrower track (the “short cut”)
back towards the dams. After an enjoyable day’s hike of about 15km returned to
camp to enjoy a couple of beers.
Whilst we were hiking our sons had arrived, pitched their tents and
settled in.
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On the Sunday, a hearty breakfast consumed, we all set
off and met up with our “day hikers” at
the office, being Philip andamp; Christine Grant and a group of friends from
Boston; this increased our hiking party to 19 participants. I had intended to hike via Aasvoelkransgrot
(Vultures Cliff Cave) to the end of Mount Lebanon but this is quite a long way
and some of our party wanted a slightly more leisurely day (including our
sons). However it was easy to comply
with both requests and we made our way across the Kamloops Dam wall climbing
gradually in the direction of the old look-out tower to reach our first stream
and waterfall in less than an hour. After
a refreshing drink (it was a lovely but hot sunny morning) we continued along
the side of the hill below the look-out tower and before too long we were
descending steeply to the top section of Aasvoelkransgrot. Having inspected the cave we made our way
to the beautiful stream and had a nice rest and refreshments doing some
paddling to cool off our feet.
Refreshed we returned to the cave and then descended even more steeply
to the bottom section of the cave which is close to a magnificent waterfall and
pool. This lower section of the cave
is a very good overnight sleeping spot and Margaret and I have celebrated at
least a couple of New Year’s Eves in this lovely place. Being a bit like his dad our middle son
John decided to climb up to and stand precariously behind the waterfall (I took
a photograph of him whilst Margaret freaked out). We then crossed in front of the lovely pool and climbed very
steeply up the other side and onwards for a couple of kilometres, (our sons and
daughter-in-law Heather decided to have a leisurely time at the cave, pool and
stream before making their way back to camp by a shorter route) our main group
numbers dropping from 19 to 15. After
reaching the ridge Warwick andamp; Brenda and Graham andamp; Jean, as previously
arranged made their way back to camp, first via the escarpment. Our main group was now down to 11 and the
rest of us continued towards Mount Lebanon, however after more climbing and
getting within site of the beacon, ominous thunder and lightning started. As we were on a high plateau we thought it
wise to start our descent. We managed
to have lunch by a stream but on our return to camp we got caught out in a
gigantic thunderstorm with torrential rain and hail. We were in it for over an hour and a half so we were like
drowned rats by the time we reached camp.
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I have rambled on a bit
regarding the first two hikes so will merely outline the routes for our later
hikes. On the Monday Warwick and
Brenda, Graham and Jean, Dave and our sons decided to strike camp in the
morning (to avoid the usual afternoon thunderstorms) and have a shorter
hike. Margaret and I met up with our
day hikers (Aris and Victor) and we had a very rewarding circular hike via
Fulton‘s Rock (with it’s marvellous Bushmen’s paintings) to Caracal Cave (a
great lunch spot) and then back to camp via the usual route to the cave.
Margaret and I had the campsite virtually to ourselves for
the next 3 nights. We continued hiking
each day including another trip to Ka-Dedakushe Falls but this time included a
slightly tortuous downhill route to find and enter the secret cave far below
and behind the falls.
Another day we did get right to the beacon on Mount Lebanon
but got caught in yet another thunderstorm on the way back. We enjoyed our six days so much that we
have already reserved our favourite campsite at Highmoor for 4 nights at
Easter.
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Keith Ashton