VE Berg trip
16 Mar 2011 09:21 #2577
by intrepid
interesting, I was wondering what the white streaks were! I've got pictures of the gliders whizzing around very close to Cathkin and the Cowl too, which they do from time to time, and have mentioned this to KZN Wildlife.
While I'm on, here is a special list of equipment to consider for the weekend (some mentioned already in previous posts):
- rubbish bags (shopping bags and larger black plastic trash bags
- leather gloves
- some cord / bungee cord to strap cane knives and bow saws to our packs
- some plastic bags/sheeting to cover the saw and knife blades while strapped to our packs to prevent damage
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Re: VE Berg trip
interesting, I was wondering what the white streaks were! I've got pictures of the gliders whizzing around very close to Cathkin and the Cowl too, which they do from time to time, and have mentioned this to KZN Wildlife.While I'm on, here is a special list of equipment to consider for the weekend (some mentioned already in previous posts):
- rubbish bags (shopping bags and larger black plastic trash bags
- leather gloves
- some cord / bungee cord to strap cane knives and bow saws to our packs
- some plastic bags/sheeting to cover the saw and knife blades while strapped to our packs to prevent damage
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
22 Mar 2011 20:23 #2593
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Re: VE Berg trip
So, our trip was a blast! We all got to the camp site on Friday night. It was interesting to put faces to forum names! On the trip were diverian and his wife Wendy, zen101, ClimbyKel and myself.
Setting out via the Sphinx trail on Saturday morning, we met JacquesBuys on his way to Ships Prow (how did it go by the way?). After Breakfast Stream we started noticing just how bad the pine infestation is. We had all noticed the pines before, but with more alert eyes we saw the extent of it in Wonder Valley and on the slopes below Hlatikhulu Neck. Sobering indeed, because if this is left unchecked, the landscape of the Berg could look very different in say 50 years.
We dropped into the Mhlwazini valley on the way to KBC, were the 8 prominent pines are situated. It quickly became evident that these were too big to be cut down using a saw, and that the most efficient way of handling them was by ring-barking using cane knives. But even this was very hard work, more than one might imagine if you've never tried it! Often branches had to be cut to access the trunk. And navigating through the river bed was also not so straight-forward. Countless river-crossings, bolder hopping and plowing through tall, dense foliage! What was also not so evident from the trail, were the number of juvenile pines, offspring of the 8 mature ones. We cut down many of these.
Our first camp was near this group of trees in the river bed, since we could not finish everything that same day. This gives you an idea of how time and energy consuming the work is - loads of fun nonetheless. Finishing up in the morning, we moved down the river bed to Gatberg campsite, where the ladies relaxed and enjoyed the river, while the three guys scrambled up Gatberg which was thoroughly worthwhile! We spent time on the summit and at the hole. A helicopter came quite close to us while we were at the hole - we must have made a memorable photo for the tourists aboard, but the many helicopter flights in these valleys is quite a nuisance. In the afternoon we continued down the river bed towards Zulu Cave. The walking was probably even more difficult than up-river. Here we tackled more pines and again camped near them. We did not make it to Zulu Cave.
Monday morning we regained the contour path and headed back. A little beyond Hlatikhulu Neck, ClimbyKel and I said goodbye to the others and scrambled up the steep slopes of Amphlett, to successfully climb its short technical knife-ridge leading to the summit - very enjoyable! The rest of the gang managed to cut down some more trees on the way out.
In total we ring-barked 10 mature pines and cut down about 39 younger ones, typically 1-4m tall. This seems little in numbers, considering especially how many pines are pushing up the valleys, but the remote location of some of these is a factor, and, if one is not accustomed to hard labour, the work is pretty demanding and taxing on the body. Even your hands hurt from all the chopping! But we successfully proved that it is possible to have a have a thoroughly enjoyable trip in the Berg, which includes a scenic hike and some peak climbing, and at the same time to tackle pines along the way. And this with a bunch of people who only knew each other through an online community. This is very significant, and I hope that in subsequent discussions on this forum and more VE Berg trips, we can expand this concept.
The trees that we ring-barked will need to be revisited in 1-2 years time to ensure they are dead and also to check for new trees that will spring up. If you happen to be on your way to KBC, you will notice the distinct yellow band of the ring-barking on these trees even from afar. Please help us monitor them and take pictures if you can.
There is lots more to be said and we also have pictures to shared. That will be the focus of the next few days.
I want to thank everyone involved for the effort made. It was very enjoyable for me to meet more people from this online community! Here's to a memorable trip, with countless laughs and fun moments, and to many more!
Setting out via the Sphinx trail on Saturday morning, we met JacquesBuys on his way to Ships Prow (how did it go by the way?). After Breakfast Stream we started noticing just how bad the pine infestation is. We had all noticed the pines before, but with more alert eyes we saw the extent of it in Wonder Valley and on the slopes below Hlatikhulu Neck. Sobering indeed, because if this is left unchecked, the landscape of the Berg could look very different in say 50 years.
We dropped into the Mhlwazini valley on the way to KBC, were the 8 prominent pines are situated. It quickly became evident that these were too big to be cut down using a saw, and that the most efficient way of handling them was by ring-barking using cane knives. But even this was very hard work, more than one might imagine if you've never tried it! Often branches had to be cut to access the trunk. And navigating through the river bed was also not so straight-forward. Countless river-crossings, bolder hopping and plowing through tall, dense foliage! What was also not so evident from the trail, were the number of juvenile pines, offspring of the 8 mature ones. We cut down many of these.
Our first camp was near this group of trees in the river bed, since we could not finish everything that same day. This gives you an idea of how time and energy consuming the work is - loads of fun nonetheless. Finishing up in the morning, we moved down the river bed to Gatberg campsite, where the ladies relaxed and enjoyed the river, while the three guys scrambled up Gatberg which was thoroughly worthwhile! We spent time on the summit and at the hole. A helicopter came quite close to us while we were at the hole - we must have made a memorable photo for the tourists aboard, but the many helicopter flights in these valleys is quite a nuisance. In the afternoon we continued down the river bed towards Zulu Cave. The walking was probably even more difficult than up-river. Here we tackled more pines and again camped near them. We did not make it to Zulu Cave.
Monday morning we regained the contour path and headed back. A little beyond Hlatikhulu Neck, ClimbyKel and I said goodbye to the others and scrambled up the steep slopes of Amphlett, to successfully climb its short technical knife-ridge leading to the summit - very enjoyable! The rest of the gang managed to cut down some more trees on the way out.
In total we ring-barked 10 mature pines and cut down about 39 younger ones, typically 1-4m tall. This seems little in numbers, considering especially how many pines are pushing up the valleys, but the remote location of some of these is a factor, and, if one is not accustomed to hard labour, the work is pretty demanding and taxing on the body. Even your hands hurt from all the chopping! But we successfully proved that it is possible to have a have a thoroughly enjoyable trip in the Berg, which includes a scenic hike and some peak climbing, and at the same time to tackle pines along the way. And this with a bunch of people who only knew each other through an online community. This is very significant, and I hope that in subsequent discussions on this forum and more VE Berg trips, we can expand this concept.
The trees that we ring-barked will need to be revisited in 1-2 years time to ensure they are dead and also to check for new trees that will spring up. If you happen to be on your way to KBC, you will notice the distinct yellow band of the ring-barking on these trees even from afar. Please help us monitor them and take pictures if you can.
There is lots more to be said and we also have pictures to shared. That will be the focus of the next few days.
I want to thank everyone involved for the effort made. It was very enjoyable for me to meet more people from this online community! Here's to a memorable trip, with countless laughs and fun moments, and to many more!
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
