No Fixed Abode: Hiking with the masses

Fri 22 July 2016 - Monks Cowl Park, Central Drakensbergs

River Crossing our resort, is in Champagne Valley, the most developed area of the Drakensbergs with many other resorts off the central access road and very convenient for the Monks Cowl park, which also meant there were many other cars in the car park when we arrived in the morning. Having chatted with the rangers we decided to tackle the Blind Man’s Corner hike - a steady 19km to get us back into the swing of walking, which we hadn’t done since Sossusvlei in Namibia, weeks ago.

It was a warm, clear morning with temperatures in the mid 20’s forecast, not bad for mid winter, and we set off on the steady climb to a rock feature named the Sphinx. As we wound up the trail we leapfrogged some couples of our age and were then overtaken by a large group of French speaking youngsters - what were all these people doing in our mountains? Half way up we stopped at the Crystal Falls, an aptly named waterfall of crystal clear water that had carved a narrow slot in the rock down which it was running.

A short while later we reached a large rock outcrop that we took for the Sphinx, although it didn’t bare much of a resemblance. What it did have was spectacular views and we tarried awhile watching the young French men climbing a rocky promontory to show off for photos, listening to some of the more frail girls crying and complaining about the exertion and waiting for them to get on their way. No solitude for us today.

Although old enough to be their parents, we soon powered past the youngsters working our way along a large plateau when, out of nowhere, the wind started blowing. As we reached the T junction of Blind Man’s Corner, where we would about turn, we rounded the corner seeking some shelter from the wind, which while not cold was blowing dust about, for our lunch.

Rested, nourished and satisfied with looking at the views we began making our way down. Fortunately the noisy youngsters had wolfed their lunch, as youngsters do, and left some time before us so peace had returned to the mountains and we enjoyed a steady descent down a different path. At one stage the wind picked up drastically and we had to stand still with our backs to the force to keep the dust from our eyes while we felt it blasting against our bare legs.

With most of the descent out of the way we reached a junction of paths and briefly discussed adding an extension loop but opted for an early finish to enjoy the sunshine. By mid afternoon we were back at the car and the short drive brought us back to our chalet where we sat on the patio in the sun soaking in the heat and admiring the view.

With the weather forecast not good for Sun, Mon and Tue so we prepared for an early start tomorrow.