Leader: Jonathan Ray, Co-leader: Paula Clarke
A party of eight joined this three-day, two-night meet in the Groot Winterhoek Reserve to unwind after a long year and enjoy some time in the mountains ahead of Christmas. The weekend coincided with a heatwave, with daytime temperatures consistently in the mid-to-high 30s, which strongly influenced the pace of the hiking and the group’s daily decisions. Water management, shade and swimming opportunities became central themes of the weekend, and each of the river pools along our route were keenly anticipated.
Day 1
The group set out from the car park in the morning, following a route eastward past Disa Pool, where an early rest stop was taken. From there the path continued on towards Groot Kliphuis. The rising temperatures made themselves felt and by the time the Perdevlei River path was reached, most of the party were hot and running low on water. In response to these conditions, a decision was made to slightly detour to the Eikeboom campsite at Groot Kliphius. This proved to be a well-judged call, allowing the group to refill water bottles, rest in the deep shade, and cool off with a quick dip. The pause did much to restore energy and morale.
After recovering in the shade, we descended the pass into the Klein Kliphuis valley, where afternoon tea was enjoyed next to river at another much needed and enjoyed pool. The combination of cool water, some afternoon shade and animated fish made this a highlight of the day. Our final section involved crossing the saddle through stunning fynbos and descending to De Tronk, where we had booked the Disa Hut for our two-night stay.
It was a long and physically demanding day due to the heat, and the group made the most of the small river pool behind the hut on arrival, enjoying a final swim as the sun dropped lower. The evening and night remained hot, and everyone chose to sleep outside on the stoep, enjoying the open sky and the slight relief offered by the night air.
Day 2
Day two was deliberately kept relaxed to suit both the conditions and the spirit of the meet. A short hike was undertaken to and from Die Hel, with the majority of the day spent close to the water with long swims, lunch, relaxed conversation, and tarot stretching into the afternoon. The oppressive heat made strenuous activity unappealing, but it also created ideal swimming conditions. The day passed slowly and comfortably, with little urgency and a strong sense of recovery and enjoyment after the previous day’s effort.
Day 3
On the final morning the group departed Disa Hut early in order to avoid the worst of the heat. The return followed the River Path, with the cooler early hours making for pleasant walking. A leisurely breakfast and tea stop was taken at the fantastic pool along the path, providing a final swim before leaving the mountains.
The group arrived back at the cars around midday. After a quick lunch stop in Piketberg, everyone dispersed and headed home, bringing a hot but memorable end-of-year meet to a close.
