Monday 28th April 2014 - 9 Peaks

Monday 28th April 2014
Seweweekspoort peak sits at 2325m the highest point in the Western Cape. This was nothing to what I expected. The dusty road snakes for 17 kilometres through the ravine and are combination of some of the most beautiful vertical rock folds the country has to offer that forms this very narrow pass. This is both breathtaking and incredible mountain scenery, something I felt so incredibly privileged to be witnessing, as the mountains cross the little river that follows the poort/ravine floor no fewer than 23 times. I discovered that the pass that we were travelling on today was an engineering feat that involved Thomas Bains, a team of convicts and a very long time to achieve. At the northern end of the poort you can still find what remains of the original toll-house. On the poort’s western flank is the huge Seweweekspoort peak (Seven Weeks poort) which dominates the Klein Swartberge. What was so amazing was as we drove along this winding road we were completely encased by the sheer magic of these ancient rugged and jagged beasts transporting us into another world long forgotten. I half expected a dinosaur to reach out from behind the rocks!

 

 

 


We arrived at our starting point and climbed over a fence (we were getting good at this!) and made our way slowly through long rough bushes and had to scramble and make our way along some very steep terrain.  The rest of the team went on to find a place to set up camp and found a place a few metres from the drop off point. A farmer had created a campsite on a small lake under the trees. On offer were the most amazing rustic showers and loos, where the towel hooks were actual carved branches. This was the best shower on the entire trip and the whole team agreed.  We set up camp here and once the team was back we had hot chocolate a meal and slept in our tents while listening to the bull frogs.  Out of the entire trip this stop over was the most magical for me, I felt as though I was in paradise. The support team had built a huge camp fire and we had sat around this while eating our dinner. Around 22h00 everyone was in bed for a welcome sleep.









 


 



 



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