Berg Alert 2012

When we climbed Injasuthi pass and approached the chimney, there was a Basotho shepard sitting right on the very edge of the drop-off on top (when we got out I went to have a look and realised that precarious position is the only way to have a view on climbers in the gully) and he was constantly and without end blowing repetitive long wistkes. On a mountaineering wistle, which I presume he picked up somewhere - maybe somebody unknowingly dropped it. During the night. Maybe even near his tent.

However, apart from being very annoying and not responding to our friendly gestures, or even a reply whistle - this guy caused us no harm. When we exited the pass however, there was no sight of him. Much to the dismay of one of our members, who (to my great amusement) wanted to buy the whistle from him. "but how?", I asked, "We've got no money here." I received the solumn response with thousand yard stare searching the escarpment for the shepard: "Met 'n PK!!"

It was strange that he was following all our moves in the gully, not responding to us, whistling constantly and as soon as we exited the chimney and started to coil the rope he vanished.

Is this normal?

Date of incident 21 December 2011

Regards

Yes. Positive view there Klipspringer. He 'found' the whistle.

If you define 'normal', then I think we can help.

Just think of it from the aspect of a lonely shepherd, in a vast range, with very little to do. I think 'finding' a whistle would have been a major hilight for him.

However. I do agree that the constant blowing of a whistle whilst trying to enjoy an ascent would have elicited a 'PK' from me if I had managed to reach him...

Mind you at one stage it did sound like the poor deprived soul was whistling a SOS call which caused a lot of concern for the lad......until he was spotted. So the herders are being taught safe mountaineering and call signs by their cows now?

Certainly sometimes seem like all the hussle and bussle for that car and absorbitant amounts for DSTV etc. is not worth it compared to mostly carefree life's of some existence farmers

Just heard on East Coast radio of an incident somewhere in the berg- party robbed of shoes/backpacks... will try get update. i missed the most of the story... anyone have more info or facts?

My friend just called me to tell me about it as I was reading this forum. He told me that an ezimvelo representative said that they are going to be doing patrols on the amphitheatre from now on. I hope they do as I am going up there just before the end of April.

The carte blanche story on livestock theft was pretty upsetting because of the threat from these criminals and now another incident with hikers.....not great.