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Hi

Seems like politics and greed are influencing our local mountaineering as much as they are in the Himalayas.

I'm still continuing my planned hike on the Northern escarpment (from Witsieshoek Carpark to Stimela Ridge) on Easter weekend. I can't see the fights down in Natal actually being a threat up there, what do you think?

Spoke to the guards at the Witsies carpark today, apparently some thefts took place last weekend on the Amphi, so just a warning to my fellow visitors to stop, think and never leave your stuff alone, if they have a 50m headstart with your pack in their home stadium, you'll never catch them.

I think the weather will make for some good fun on the escarpment this weekend!

Happy mountaineering!

Emile

Hi Emile,

yip, crazy how turbulent it is in the mountains right now...Nepal's situation has improved somewhat but it remains to be seen what happens after the April elections. Tibet, well...ahem...protests as I'm sure you've heard. And the Chinese are causing some waves around the climbing of Everest too...they have closed it for several days so that they can carry the Olympic torch up. They are trying to get Nepal to close their side too...and it's major climbing season right now!

Back to the Berg...aside from the Cathedral area I don't think anyone should cancel their plans! I'm off to Injasuthi tomorrow and don't anticipate any unusual problems. It seems the dirt road leading there hasn't had any robberies for more than 2 years now. There was a relatively minor incident last year where kids threw stones at a car when they were not given sweets. This was apparently addressed in the schools.

The recent theft at the Amphitheatre is not surprising...it's business as usual...and it's almost guaranteed to happen again this coming weekend. Anyone intending to camp there, please read this article on general precautions, and this one specific to the Amphitheatre. It will help make your experience a lot more trouble free.

Yip, looks like it might be a cold and misty weekend on the escarpment, but no excuse not to go!

Enjoy!