4 May 2023
While many headed to sports events far and wide, the Northwood School Junior Hiking Club headed into the Drakensberg over the long weekend. In March, it had been the turn of the Senior Hiking Club, but this time a younger group made their way to Highmoor.
Under the guidance of the Master in Charge of the Hiking Club, Morgan Hosking, and Mrs Hayden, the boys, many of them new to the experience, were subjected to an inspection of their backpacks before they set off. Good thing they were! Many carried unneeded items, which would have added unnecessary weight; there is a tendency among newcomers to pack too much.
The first day’s hike included a stop at a dam, before heading upwards towards Aasvoelkrans Cave, where the group would overnight on both evenings spent in the Berg.
While it is called Aasvoelkrans Cave, there are, in fact, two caves. The lower and larger one served as accommodation for the boys.
Day one activities
The remaining time on day one was spent around the nearby waterfall, with the weather playing along to ensure that the boys could truly enjoy the great outdoors. This meant, too, that the group headed up to the ridge to take in a spectacular sunset.
Making Memories on the Northwood Senior Hike
https://www.pinnacle-schools.com/2023/03/09/hiking-northwood/
At this time of the year, though, the Drakensberg becomes somewhat chilly overnight, which resulted in some of the boys rising well before the sun to make coffee and hot chocolate around 04:00. Others preferred to snuggle up even tighter in their sleeping bags, waiting for the sun’s rays to signal the start of the new day.
Day two saw the group take a hike to Caracal Cave, and it was decided that the boys would create their own route rather than follow the established footpath. En route, the group sought quartz rocks, with a competition among them to see who could find the best example.
After spending some time at Caracal Cave, the team headed back to Aasvoelkrans Cave by the conventional route, taking in four dams along the way. More time was spent splashing around in the sparkling Berg waters following the arrival of the boys back at their overnight accommodation.
Final day
An early start was undertaken the following morning, so that the group could watch the ascension of the sun while being warmed not only by its rays, but also by cups of coffee.
Then, the journey back to the combi saw the boys passing groups of day visitors, while they witnessed a fly fisherman snag a rainbow trout.
One of the boys, who had found a beautiful rock, brought it with him in his backpack – a multi-coloured reminder of a memorable adventure.
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