Drakensberg Cable Car

I know I am referencing something from ages ago, but this photo just came up on my screen saver, and I thought it illustrates a point pretty well.

According to the Cable Car feasibility study, Mnweni Pass is one of the routes where heavy erosion has been caused by hikers. So here's a photo of the "heavily eroded" Mnweni Pass (red circle). Note the yellow circle, which is nowhere near any form of trail. But clearly hikers are at fault here...

How do you know it's hiker's. Just asking for interest

Marshmandrew wrote: How do you know it's hiker's. Just asking for interest

sarcasm doesn't always work well online

It was one of the accusations most likely intended to annoy hikers. I always like examples that so clearly disprove a case. Mashai Pass is a similar example - all the erosion is above the trail.

One has to admit that the foot paths in some passes are very eroded. However, these are generally passes (eg Bushmans & Judges) predominantly used by a sub-set of the hiking fraternity who commute, sometimes daily, through the mountains. This includes Smugglers.

IMO the solution is not to spend millions on a cable car but rather train & employ locals to repair/maintain the paths on an ongoing basis.

Also noteworthy that almost all of the more heavily used passes don't have erosion barriers. I can only think of barriers on the Chain Ladders and Grays Pass. Some barriers in place also need some maintenance work - e.g. "the hurdles" on the approach to Langies Pass.

I rate we should have a VE poll on whether or not the Chain Ladders approach should be concreted right through to the base of the ladders.

I personally rate Mashai Pass should be closed - the number of rock falls in the general area and degree of erosion near the top of the pass makes me wonder how safe it is. Once again, nothing to do with hikers, just a case that mountains aren't static and unchanging, and rock isn't rock solid.

Having seen this thread now I believe it's also noteworthy to mention.. (at risk of not being a point of discussion elsewhere) that the valleys leading in to Mnweni pass are increasingly being "invaded" by locals used as Dagga fields and even setting up camps to manage this from. I found Shepard's cave a while back permanently occupied and wrecked pretty much from any natural state. Further I found that the one beautiful little forest trees before heading in to the Mnweni pass area to have now been hacked and used to build some sort of structure for who knows what purposes. Activities are increasing at the expense of preserving the beauty of nature there. Hikers don't cause damages such as I've noticed.

I have always considered Mnweni as a beautiful example of how the local tribes can and want to get involved in seeing that their lands are preserved, managed to the benefit of both tourists as well as for their own living purposes exempt largely from the exploits of Westerners under the banner of conservation. However if the Local leaders are not doing something about this increasing problem I fear for the worst.

The propaganda continues

www.iol.co.za/travel/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/berg-cable-car-will-do-wonders-for-area-1.1916330#.VfhNbBGqqko

Well at least the proposed world tour was cancelled!

Clearly these people have not looked through the eyes of our last Lammergeier's as they tangle with the cable!

He said they wanted to ensure they did not lose the tranquillity of the area, “so the car will be as quiet as possible”.

Meanwhile tourists will be forced to wear gags

I don't think the noise has ever been one of the big complaints anyway. Much like a scientist who points out that you can't see a black hole through a telescope, but you can see the effects of it, even if we can't see or hear the people, we will still see the litter - much like we currently do on the Chain Ladders after a long weekend.

“The project has been talked about too much, but there was lack of political will and certain opposition contributed to the delays in moving ahead with the necessary groundwork,” he said.

Mazibuko said those criticisms were part of the attempt to “derail” the project.

By any chance is someone keeping a list of all the names we have been called in the media, if so - please add "opposed to change" to the list