Krom River Peak circular via Cascades Valley, Du Toit’s Kloof.
When does 12.5 km feel like 16km? In 33C and not much breeze! Our group of 8 females (the males had all withdrawn, each with a valid reason) bravely took on the route anyway.
We started from the cars at the MCSA parking area shortly before 8:00 and returned 8 hours later! The very narrow path and picking our way along from cairn to cairn as we ascended Krom River Peak makes for slower going. And the leader is known to be slow uphill anyway! Nevertheless, the stops to catch our breath gave opportunity to admire the ever-expanding views, and protea re-growth after the fire several years ago. The small bushes of protea magnifica in cream and pink (photos) were a delight.
Beyond the summit, on the plateau towards the Krom River, we found a variety of really interesting ericas, including one small bush of dramatic erica glauca (photo). All around the tall grasses had all dried out – it was worrying to see how dry everything was already in late November. And of course there was no path, so it required high-stepping through those grass clumps until we reached our lunch spot at the waterfall, (now only a trickle). A very cold swim gave some relief from the high temperature – there was no real shade to speak of. Knowing there was a resident leech in a side pool made the swim a little less comfortable!
To prepare ourselves for the hot descent, we wet our shirts and hats before setting off after lunch. We kept to the river for a short while in order to look down at tempting, unreachable pools in the upper steep section of Krom River kloof below. From there a short uphill stretch brought us to the Wailing Wall (fun photo). Now, back on path again, and keeping to the ‘wall’ on the slopes of the Witteberg, we descended the wide Cascades Valley. It was interesting to compare the more ‘lush’ growth on the peak’s slopes to the relatively sparse growth along the valley. It was as though there had not been much recovery after the fire.
A short distance above the Cascade stream we were treated to a little disa filicornis (and 2 other types later on). After another cooling dip of clothing and a refill for our water bottles in that stream, we ascended onto the long plateau that leads to the Krom River Hut. Just before the sharp descent to the hut – a horrible, eroded and loose, stony section – we traversed instead to a point just above that delightful pool near the hut where there was time for another quick, enjoyable swim.
Finally the 40-minute walk-out to the cars brought us to the end of the country meet.
