Wednesday 30th April 2014 - 9 Peaks

Wednesday  30^th April 2014

We were up early the next morning packed and on our way.  It felt good to be back in Gauteng where the roads and terrain looked so familiar. This was the home stretch now and the rest of the peaks were a walk in the park. We arrived at the gates of the reserve and had to pay R150- 00 each regardless if you were going to climb or not.  Any way we made our way to the starting point and the mountain from the road looks very high and a challenge. I have passed this mountain so many times, but it is on private property so I had not given it a second look. One of the most noticeable things is the huge towers and antennae’s on the mountain. Once we parked the cars the entire team including our amazing support team made the short walk to the summit. It was really special to have them with us and not leave them behind at base camp. We got some great photographs and the views are really stunning. The early morning sun rays were flittering through the clouds and mist creating a great sunrise. On the way back down we saw the “carcass graveyard” of all the drying white bones where the vultures come to eat. As we made our way around the mountain we saw many groups of vultures flying in the clear blue sky.

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

We stopped off at the Wimpy in Magalisesburg for much needed coffee and a Wimpy breakfast but not before we had a flat tyre. Changing this tyre proved to be entertainment all by itself but our heroes had changed it in no time and we were soon on our way to enjoy our Wimpy breakfast. After our breakfast we made our way to Limpopo to climb the highest point there which is Iron Crown at 2126m, east of Polokwane near the Ebenezer Dam. Once again this peak has many towers and antennae scattered on it.

 

                                                           We seemed to drive for ever. Some of themountains looked like quite a challenge and we drove upwards and then made our way down until the starting point at a little dirt road in the forest.  This road was only for 4x4’s. We made our way to the top and once again the support team came along with Gershon guarding the cars. The views were spectacular with white rocks covered in greenery and views well above the clouds. We watched as the sun was starting to set taking many photographs. I have to say that even though this was not has high as the others the colours of the vegetation and rocks coupled with the lighting was absolutely beautiful, definitely one of my favorite places.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

We made our way back down before it got too dark to the dirt road and dove to the local supermarket and enjoyed a scrumptious Nando’s chicken. Once we had filled our tummies we made our way to Die Berg in the province of Mpumalanga in the Steenkampsberg. 

This stands at 2331m and the army partly manage this peak among other parties.  Once again we parked at our starting point and climbed over the gate in the dark of the night.  It is a very easy walk all along a concrete road littered with cow pooh!! The support team came along with Brendon and Gershon guarding the cars and catching a much needed catnap. As the crow flies it would be a very quick walk but the exposed road meanders back and forth past a farm house of sorts and a small dam creating a cold walk. Once we made the second fence we maneuvered our bodies through the gap in the fence and followed the path to the peak. We took our photographs and made our way back down to the main road and the warmth of our cars. 


Everyone was really tired and it was decided that it would be wise to find a place in nearby Dullstroom to sleep for a couple of hours. Luckily we found accommodation and managed to have a hot bath and a few hours sleep after driving across 4 provinces and climbing 3 peaks in 24 hours a good sleep was needed.