This and That on VE

Firstly, I think the economy is not great and with that comes less of the getting out there and hiking. People are feeling the pinch and are therefore working more.
Secondly, it does not attract people when you open the front page and see the top 3 or 4 forum posts all advertising secondhand equipment for sale. That's not what I want to see. We have a secondhand equipment for sale thread for that nonsense.

So no change here, if anything I have even more passion for the mountains! I'll also happily discuss anything related, especially gear if it makes me lighter!

I've have noticed less requests for advice from newbies and far less trip reports. Not sure if it's the hiking that's decreasing or just the lack of inclination to post about it.. maybe we could survey members and ask what's up?

If people have starte using AI more it could result in less traffic on forums but I'd say thats still coming. We could ask KZN Wildlife if the number of overnight hiking permits has dropped in recent years too. This could establish if there's a general decline in hiking activity. We don't see many people on our weekend hikes either in recent years...

One thought about VE I have, is that it's not a social media platform like others. It's for people who love the mountains so no posing needed.

Hi All
This question has been buzzing around my mind for a while now...but i didnt post it.  I also haven't been great at posting my recent photographic trips timeously, though I have been hiking a fair amount but mostly solo.  There is a 5 day trip I did last week that I promise I will post this week  
  
C19 has knocked the stuffing out of us, some at a physical level and most I believe, to a varied degree at a pyschologoical level.  The world is not the same place it used to be.  I beleive we have all become more insular and the effort to engage, comunicate and even to socialse just seems to have become to much.
On a personal level, I suffer from a chronic generalised anxiety disorder and have done since childhood.  Depression that is both genetic and environmental and and since having had covid, my not great sleep has turned into insomnia.  I had C19 three times that tested positive, and each time my sleep was disrupted for longer periods of time.  The last time in June 2024, not tested, but similar symptoms, has left me dependant on Valium to sleep each night.  Since Feb this year, I have been tapering down the dosage to the point of only taking 1.25mg (1/8 of a tab). The last four nights I havent had any which is a huge win for me.  Bear in mind, these mind altering prescription drugs, benzodiazapines, are one of the hardest substances to come off...according the the scientific literature, cocaine is a breeze in comparison!  I know that during lockdown I was OK with the concept, but actually having had C19, has done some damage at a phsychological level.  
Fortunately my fitness is the highest it has ever been though I put this down to the fact that now, my body now feels like it is constanlty on a hamster wheel because of the chemical imballances that benzo's, covid and potentially the vacine has caused.  This is just my journey and am 'happy ' to share it, and perhaps partly why I havent been posting as much as I used to.  I think that like me, a lot of us are just tired!

The other reason which has been raised, is that more people are using social media than before, I think because it is easier and instant.  I love the berg, and being a professional landscape photographer, I do post on Instagram and I do enjoy getting recognition and likes for what I do.  I put in a lot of effort and planning to get the imges that I get.  Here I think is then the other reason why people aren't puttting out reports.  I think that when people put in the 'effort' to write up a 'good' report with great images, and all they get is a 'thanks' at the bottom of the thread, it is discouraging.  More than thanks at the bottom of the post is needed.  Give some commendation and some feedback.  The recent thread on the iCidi Trip is a case in point, that must have taken at least and hour to put together, as do most good reports.  I am on a number of online photographic communities, and this group has always been the nicest, kindest and informative bunch of people that I have engaged with.  Lets not let C19 fatigue take that away.

Hi Karl

Thanks for sharing and being so open with the struggles you have. Hats off to staying focused and still pursuing your passion like you do. Wish to encourage you and have you know that though there might not always be a verbal acknowledgement of your work, I for one always enjoy it. Photography remains a passion with me as well but for various reasons stepped down from both the Electronic media as well as the chase and race to get the shot and at least for now enjoy the mountains until I can make peace and enjoy photography for the reasons I fell in love with it to start with. Dont let others or your impressions rob you from the joy you have in all of this. Keep on shooting, look after your health and make sure you stay safe in the mountains. 

Hi GT
Appreciate your feedback and support.  Was a bad morning, and will get worse for the next few weeks as I come off these meds, but am busy editing now, so rest of the day seems a lot better. 

Morning all - 
Thanks for all your replies and thoughts in answer to my question about traffic on VE.
I agree with a lot of the points raised.

Happily there have been two brilliant trip reports loaded to the forum since my question was posted on this thread. It is clear what a difference these trip reports make to interest and responses.

I've been asking myself why I don't post them (having done 5 multi-day hikes in the Berg over the last 14 months). In part it is because I thought I had nothing to add. The descriptions of the passes already on VE are better than anything that has ever been published in hardcopy even. So it is hard to improve on the material. But what makes the trip reports so interesting is that the same pass, for example, brings a different experience to everyone who walks it. It might be hotter, colder, drier, wetter, later/earlier in the day or the person might be fitter/less fit, more or less lost than the person before. Those are the details that you learn from.

There is also something to be said about how people respond on VE.
Here is a terrible example:
www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/drakenberg-trips-giants-castle/54179-the-thumb-that-spurred-us-on.html#79634
A question raised. A generous answer given. In this case by AndrewP who has to be the world's authority on the business of descending/ascending sketchy routes and un-named passes in the Berg. Yet there was no reply, no response. No nada.

Sometimes when I have posted details about the weather (it's my day job so hard to stop myself), I wonder how the material is received, especially when other forum members like JonWells do a wonderful job already with this. So, on balance, I have done less of that lately. Which, anecdotally, is one small reason for there being fewer contributions to VE.

Once again, thanks for answering the question.
And all strength to ST. Mountains are the best medicine.



 



 

Hi everyone

I have always felt that the hikes I go on are mostly pretty standard and would not be of interest to all - in other words, not a new area, new cave or new pass - not exciting enough!?

Speaking for myself I am always happy to see write ups and photos of anywhere in our beloved Drakensberg, even it is to a spot that is well known by all.  This is useful for those that are new to hiking in the Berg and  may give them  ideas of areas to go to?
Just my two cents worth!  

 

Agreed, I love to see it's still there and looking beautiful, even when I'm not there.. ????????????????