Hi Everyone
MONDAY HILL RUN
Nothing this week, I’m afraid.
Back in action next week with a proper hill rather than the exploratory trips we’ve taken over the last few weeks. Next week we will tackle Devils Peak at speed.
SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 2012 - MYBURGH'S WATERFALL RAVINE / GROOTKOP / DAMS / NURSERY ARBORETUM / PUFFER PATH / CONSTANTIA NEK
Start Time and Place
This is a car admin week. As many runners as possible to meet at Constantia Nek at 06h00. We will leave as many cars there as is viable and jump into as few cars as possible and head down at 06h10 to the start in Farriers Way in Hout Bay in time for a 06h30 sharp Start.
Directions to Farriers Way: See attached document, block CM18, X marks the spot. From Constantia Nek, straight down towards Hout Bay, right into Disa River Road, left into Valley Road, first right into Garron Ave, right into Connemara Drive, first left into Hunters Way, first right into Farriers Way. Get it ? Got it ? Good!
Route
WARNING: the last thing I expected at this point in January was rain. Quite heavy too, as I was scrambling around bringing washing in and got soaked. Why am I yammering on about the washing? What is crucial for Myburgh’s Waterfall Ravine is that you do it when it is DRY. It can be a little too slippery when wet. I will investigate conditions beforehand BUT if we start going up and it appears that it is going to be slippery then be warned that we will NOT PROCEED. I am not going to take chances. If it is even slightly dangerous we will turn back, run the contour path towards Suikerbossie a la Table Mountain Challenge and head up Hout Bay Corner and Llandudno Ravine instead. Makes it a bit longer but that’s okay because the planned route is not that long anyway.
All going well we head up the spectacular Myburgh’s Waterfall Ravine, oohing and aaahing about the red disas all over the place. If you’ve never seen them, they’re much smaller than you think! As things flatten out and we near the Apostles Spine Path (ASP), look out for the rare blue disa. We saw a few of them there last year. Yes, I know they’re just flowers and we’d all rather see lions and leopards but they’re really quite pretty. We turn right onto the ASP and head over the eastern shoulder of Grootkop and proceed down the other side past the tops of Oudekraal Ravine, Corridor Ravine, Slangolie Ravine (with its little scramble which can be avoided) and Woody Ravine. Then it’s right at Margaret’s Cairn (I never get tired of telling that story…..it’s the origin of the Missing Margaret Award) onto the old railway track to the concrete road near the huts. Keeping to the left of Woodhead Dam we follow the road around to the far end of the Hely-Hutchinson Dam wall, left onto the single track, first right onto the path that leads to the top of Nursery Ravine. At the top of Nursery turn right and follow the Puffer Path to the Bailiff’s Cottage and then straight down to the cars at Constantia Nek on as much single track as possible.
Distance
I am guessing at about 15km-ish (if we have to do the Llandudno Ravine detour it is more like 20km).
Running Time
Allow at least 3 ½ hours for this one. 4 hours for the slower runners.
Difficulty
Tough climb to start with and then another nasty but short climb over Grootkop. After that it is easy, easy, easy stuff.
Important Notes
1. Please note the car admin arrangements above. 06h00 at Constantia Nek to drop cars. 06h30 start at Farriers Way, Hout Bay.
2. There is some mild(ish) exposure going up Myburghs Waterfall Ravine. Certainly nothing worse than anything we have done to date. If you get nervous, please tell me and we will start singing something appropriate like “That’s Amoré”. It seems to calm people down.
3. Please wear weather-appropriate clothing and carry the necessary wind-proof jacket, whistle and cell phone.
4. And PLEASE carry water. Lots of it. There are still people not understanding this point. It boggles the mind. For those who have been transgressing: it’s a clear liquid with relatively little taste but a constant supply is essential to human life. Although it is fairly easily available some people have been battling to get their hands on it. It needs to be carried in a container. So you need a container/s which can hold about 2 litres (3 litres if it’s hot). I know there are some experienced, extremely fit trail runners who can do without it so I am not nagging them. They know their limits. Facetiousness aside, if you are in doubt, then please bring water. Do not rely on mountain streams at this time of year. And some energy snacks.
5. Sunblock and a cap.
6. Don’t stand on snakes. Might cause you to turn and ankle over.
7. Fill in the register before starting out.
8. Have fun. It’s not a race.
9. Bringing ICE cold rehydrating be’erages for afterwards.
FEEDBACK FROM SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2012
Going straight into the India-Venster climb is a tough way to start a humid, sweaty Saturday morning. There was no time for slacking either as the Table Mountain Trailers were hot on our heels. But as we warmed up, the quads screamed less and we started enjoying the spectacular views (see some of Roger Ronnie’s photos attached). Our American guest started off full of energy and enthusiasm but the humidity seriously started taking its toll by the time we reached the scrambles. By the time we reached the Arrow Face Final where we go around the Camps Bay side and onto Fountain Ledge the “good feeling’s gone” (Dori from “Finding Nemo”). He looked ready to jump. But to his credit he slogged it out to the Platteklip cairn regroup and gleefully said goodbye to us. Then came the breaking into groups. Thanks again to Jane for taking the fast / non-regrouping group who sped off in the direction of Maclears Beacon and we never saw them again.
Thank you also to Karen Jennings who took on the task of Short Route Leader in the absence of poor Bronwyn who is with injury again and confined to “walking in the pool” (recover soon Bronwyn). More will be said about Karen’s short route below (all in good humour).
The marginally slower group decided to avoid the humiliation of eating Jane’s dust and we took the scenic route to Maclears Beacon, along the front face of the table. Stunning run in stunning weather. Roger Ronnie up front took a little wrong turn and realised his mistake too late as he was confronted by a wall of rock. This put him in line for an award……..does he receive it ???? Read on.
From Platteklip to Echo Valley our group had a lovely, extremely runnable flat and downhill gallop. Then a little climb over to the dams, a quick drink from the tap and then more flat to the top of Woody Ravine. SUCH EASY RUNNING. We then had a slow descent of Woody Ravine which is steep but very safe and has been stabilised nicely. For those who want to know, it is perfectly do-able now. We then had a lovely flattish 4.5km run in along the Pipe Track where, lo and behold, we caught Karen and Robyn from the Short Route Group. What happened there?????? The Short Route Group had taken the path straight down to Echo Valley from Platteklip, then Isolation Valley, Valley of the Red Gods (some then ducked down Kasteelspoort) and then took the path all the way to Corridor Ravine. Karen, for taking a much tougher, more technical and only marginally shorter route than the Long Route (700 meters doesn’t count as shorter) the committee is unanimous in awarding you this week’s Missing Margaret, sparing Roger the blushes.
The winner of the Sailing Sandra is equally deserving. Mike (I think it is Pithey, please confirm Mike – definitely not Ohlsson ………. who is standing behind me with a gun to my head) left it to the last 200m of Pipe Track before being brought to ruin in avoiding a very little dog (what Robyn described as “stoepk@kker”) who refused to give way. Mike rolled in with all the little tell-tale signs of a Sailing Sandra candidate. The entire right hand side of his body was covered in sand and the grazes on arms and legs were bleeding more than sufficiently to earn him this week’s Award. Congratulations Mike!!!! And well done for taking it in such great spirit. I’m not sure I would have been smiling.
It was hot now. We were tired. But all was made better by ICE cold beer.
Have a great week Everyone.
Cheers
Tim
Tim Bellairs (Sir)
acsis VOB Trail Running
Cell: 082 321-0299
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