Blow and Glow Season 2011

We drove to Cathedral Peak on 3 Sept & saw the overblown truck trailer & another bakkie that was hauling some JoJo tanks that was blown over.

My friend got blown out of the path just before the top of Mlambonja pass. Pretty strong wind this weekend.

The "back-burn" advise should be taken as an desperate last resort to survival and in no other instance. Coming from a farm I know from experience that this option usually caused more damage than the original fire would have caused when done by over eager "fire-beaters".

When starting a back-burn for survival purpose in the Berg it should be mentioned that this should be started down wind from you, meaning you will be between the on coming fire and the back burn you start. You then move with the back burn into the burned patch. Make no mistake it's going to unpleasant in the least if not still dangerous. A raging fire being pushed by heavy winds is a very scary sight and the super heated air that precedes the flames is what overwhelms you, burning your lungs and making you panic where after your sound judgement is compromised. Running from this fires when they are close are difficult if not, impossible. Keep track of far away fires and wind movements.

Contrary to popular belief is not always cigarettes that starts veld fires. I've tried on numerous occasions to start a fire in this way and could not yet achieve this under ideal circumstances.

Safe hiking.

Sage advise! I have never had to try a back-burn, but it is something i have thought about and wondered if my lighter should not be more readily available and not tucked away in my pot in the middle of the pack!

Sebastian Junger the author of the book the 'Perfect Storm', also has another book called 'Fire'. In the book he documents firefighters that fought fires in the 94 season at Yellowstone in the States...some fires reached temperatures of 1000 degrees celsius. This was in stands of pine trees though, and not grass fires, which can still kill.

Fire is indeed dangerous!

If anyone's got news on fires specifically between chain ladders ifidi and mont aux sources around the 15th to the 18th of sept i'd really appreciate it, were a fairly big group with a few first timers and would like to avoid any unnecessary danger. shot guys stay safe!