Solutions for the Amphitheatre

One of the suggestions is "not to overnight on the Amphitheatre", which I understand regarding the current situation of safety up there, but really?

This is probably the most accessible spot for someone to be introduced to the berg as was my first berg trip experience as well. There is a huge hut on top (in a magnificent setting) with so much potential! I think it should be restored to it's former glory and used as a base station for a ranger(s). There should also be a system in place to book for the hut and allow small groups (only capacity what the hut can take) to stay over for a night or two. If there should be more people in the area, it should at least be a safe-spot to camp, not the other way round. Just look how nice the huts are working and looked after in the Alps. Why can't we?

I am more than willing to donate / help towards the restoration of this hut.

@LouisvV: I believe the rules for wilderness areas require no man made structures, or something to that effect. Odds are that the support would be more behind this hut being removed than repaired. I am not entirely sure how these rules work with huts such as Bannerman Hut, but I know the Giants Cup huts are all out of the wilderness areas, and if my reading of the Geoseries Maps is correct, there is a small gap for Sani Pass to allow for structures required for the boundary.

I would say security has to take precedence here - so a big group, support etc are great. Otherwise, one can still hike up the Chain Ladders as an easy day hike. There are other easy ways to the top - Langalibalele Pass, if you have a 4X4, Dagga Nek is easy when parking right at the bottom, the Bushman's Nek passes are great. Sani Pass is also an easy way up.

There are also caves like Crows Nest which I believe have no history of security problems (can anyone confirm?)

I have recently stumbled across this web-site (not sure how i did??) & am really heartened to read of all the very positive stuff being done by many various people who, like myself, have a passion for these mountains of ours!

It blew my mind to read & hear of the recent horrific happening to the 3 guys enjoying what we all do in the mountains - freedom! And my thoughts are with you 3!

Exactly 12 months ago myself & 2 mates hiked from the Amphitheatre thru to Giants (partly unsuccessfull - but thats another story) & had a very "safe" trip. So I was stunned to read of all the goings on at the Amphitheatre & at other spots as over the years we have always enjoyed the time & space that the mountains have offered us & have never had any nastyness....other than the odd snake!

Having hiked the berg for many years & having over-nighted in the Amphitheatre hut as a school boy back in 1972 (beds & matresses supplied nogal!) it is indeed really saddening to see a magnificent heritage slowly decaying. But reading comments from various peeps on this site brings a glimmer of hope in terms of trying to do something to help the situation.

Solutions to the upkeep of the hut (& others)...on the Amphitheatre....the employment of locals may be a way??

From Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife: Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the discussion on this matter. A lot of discussion has happened since the proposed temporary closure of the Amphitheatre. A stakeholder meeting was held and a committee was established to propose and action identified interventions. They include many of the suggestions noted on this forum, such as engagement of law enforcement bodies, interaction with adjacent Lesotho community leadership, refurbishment of the mountain hut (and possible expansion), the compulsory use of guides etc. Although these actions have been proposed, they still need agreement and comment from the stakeholder committee, and at present we are waiting for feedback on these from the committee. Once all comments have been received, we will then issue a formal press release as soon as possible as everyone is waiting to hear. Following several meetings with the SANDF, there is already very positive action from them, and patrols have already begun in that area in conjunction with our staff. It would be out of turn for me to share more without the approval of the committee, but suffice to say that a lot is happening and hopefully we will be issuing a press release very soon. Thank you all for your patience in this complex matter.

From Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife:

The stakeholder committee for the Amphitheatre matter is requesting those with ideas on the refurbishment and possible expansion of the mountain hut to forward them. It will need to serve as a base for our law enforcement staff and the SANDF. Any ideas around the securing of it against vandalism would also be appreciated. Should the hut also be able to be booked out by paying hikers?

Thanks

Ranger wrote: Any ideas around the securing of it against vandalism would also be appreciated. Should the hut also be able to be booked out by paying hikers?

Thanks for the update Stephen.

It would be great to have a hut that hikers could book out.

In terms of vandalism, windows are always the first to go. Polycarbonate is a very high impact resistance and low scratch resistance material. That would serve well for windows. Many people use "polycarb" burglar bars for their strength and also their aesthetic value. I think a very crude and simple approach needs to be taken for the hut in every respect. The less items of value that can be taken (door handles, fittings etc.), the better. Whilst being more expensive, there are options for very strong doors and more tamper/theft proof mechanisms which may be the more economical option for the long term. The hut should definitely be lockable with keys being held at the Sentinel car park.

I'm not sure what facilities the hut offers at the moment but one of the solutions to preventing vandalism may be in making it suitably comfortable for your average day hiker or newbie so that the hut gets used and is booked out frequently by groups. I know there is a fine line here...but the slackpacker market is a lucrative one.

Also, perhaps the building of a small stone wall around the hut. I know in certain African cultures it is very impolite to enter a property without permission.

I will gladly pay for a secure hut. If you require working parties to help, let us know.
How much cargo can a helicopter haul up there for repairs?

If you look at huts in other parts of the world, I'm always amazed at how well kept they are and also the great new ideas for upgrading and replacing old huts with new, more "eco-friendly" options.

Some interesting reading regarding a study by Harvard students on the habitation in extreme environments (see video below on their project):

Click here for link to article

Hi Ranger,

I heard a rumour that the Amphi is now open again. Is this true?
And is it a wise decision to do a traverse in Oct?

susanalkema wrote: I heard a rumour that the Amphi is now open again. Is this true?

To the best of my knowledge, they never actually went through with the closure.

I won't say whether or not it is safe to do a GT right now - because risk factors are variable and I don't want to be the one who encouraged someone to do a GT that ended badly. But I will say that if school holidays were a bit longer, Hobbit and I would have done a 7 day S-N GT in late September. We would have done Rat Hole/Ledgers to the finish in a day, though, so no camping anywhere near RNNP. Actually, for that matter, the tent would have stayed at home, so no camping at all.

Safety is relative and never absolute. I have narrowly missed a rock fall this year in Grays Pass, and watched a massive rock land surprisingly close to a lot of people on Beacon Buttress Gully a few weeks back, yet not seen a single Basotho since my last hike at Vergelegen, 141km of Berg hiking ago. Also noteworthy that I was is really bad shape on day 1 of my first GT, and that was a consequence of lack of preparation more than anything the mountains might thrown at a hiker.

I appear to have digressed well off topic...