Opening of Sommer Pass

Over the long weekend I have been privileged to be part of the following activities:

We….

·         stumbled across a lot of little dagga plants covering the hillsides where previous convoys of dagga smugglers must have dropped some going down the passes.

·         witnessed two Basotho hunters and their seven dogs chasing up and down hills chasing baboons

·         fixed one of the dog legs who was bitten by the baboon with duct tape.  This was not the only thing fixed with duct tape, this included hiking boots and my pants after they failed during a fall and I was demoted to the back of the hike!

·         cleaned Easter cave

·         overcame some silly fear of falling down cliffs by climbing to some unknown “kulu”

·         followed our fearless guide (not without reservation, I am getting too old for this!) and opened a new pass 

·         admired the millions of stars in the sky

·         tried to overcome our fears and hold our breaths while we watched what we presumed to be smugglers with torches passing our tents at 22h00 and after crossing the river, moving away from us.

·         woke up with the magnificent view of the Berg in front of us

·         started our last day’s hike with a fantastic uphill where I was overcome with gratitude filling me because I am so lucky to witness such splendour where it was either the birds or the beetles singing.

·         picked up litter left by ignorant people to show our gratitude

·         Met lovely locals along the way

·         missed our ride back to the Mweni Village and was given a last opportunity to walk an extra 5 km clearing our minds from the rat race

 Giving the pass just opened a name came easy. It was either:

·         “I am getting too old for this pass” OR

·         Sommer pass

·         Sommer (in Afrikaans means because), because we respect the opportunities we get to see the Drakensberg’s splendour and appreciate it

·         Sommer – dedicated to a wonderful friend who loves the Drakensberg with a passion and who is making this passion contagious.

Strengthening the boots with duct tape - before the hike!

Ian healing the dog's leg after it was bitten by a baboon

Getting to the top of a Kulu

Our descent into the unknown!

Some of the village kids with the litter brought down
from the mountain

A dagga plant, a dead Cape Vulture and Barbed wire
in a kraal?

The Basotho hunters with their 7 dogs

Another purpose for duct tape. My mom won't be able
to fix this one! Bummer!

After more than a year - I'm off to the Berg again!

I forgot all about how to pack, but since Chris is taking care of the first aid kit and all the life saving equipment, I just have to make sure I take my Sudoko, pencil and The Dream Giver!

Instead of going up the unknown Nguza pass, we are going to go up another one - but plans might change, so for now, I am just too happy to go along. It has been too long. Way too long. 

International Mountain Day

At least 50% of our world’s population depends on water that comes from our beautiful mountains.

Climate Change has had a devastating impact on our mountains and mountain regions as we have had abnormal warming over the past few years.

Because we have taken on the job of protecting our beautiful mountains, Sunrise on Africa’s Peaks (SOAP), SOAPkidz and the SOAPdogz attended the International Mountain day rally to the Magaliesberg with the Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA) Magaliesberg Section in Pretoria.

The SOAPdogz enjoyed themselves thoroughly and after spending some hours on the mountain, I was, for once in my life, not woken up by the SOAPdogz before 06h00, which just shows how great the mountains are for one’s health.
 

Making the posters

Almost on top of the mountain

People and dogs working together to save our mountains

A very tired protester after a splendid day on the mountains