24–27 September 2025. Leaders: Jonathan Ray & Mo Londt
A group of eight set out from the Suurvlakte farm parking mid-morning on the Heritage Day public holiday. Heading into Breekkrants felt a fitting way to celebrate the holiday, trading braais for the mountains. Our destination for the day was a campsite somewhere along the Breekkrants River.
On our way we took the short detour to Apex Peak, leaving our packs in the shade of some boulders we completed the scramble to the summit. Despite sunny skies, an icy wind blew over the peak leading us to find a nice sheltered spot on the lee of the peak where we enjoyed our lunch break before an exploratory descent off the peak through the labyrinthine rock formations.
After collecting our packs, we made steady progress through the afternoon towards the river, scouting a few possible camps along the way before settling on Beesgatkamp as the best base for the next two nights. With tents and bivvies pitched, the day ended with very icy swims for the brave, supper, and a sharpish retreat to our sleeping bags as the temperature dropped.
The second day began with frost-covered tents and stories of a cold night. With daypacks, the group set off up Maanskyn Ravine, bound for Luna and Apollo Peaks. The ravine has steep gradients and scratchy stubborn bush, but after an hour of hard work Maanskyn Grot provided a welcome pause for morning tea and breakfast. After refilling water bottles, the party pushed on to Luna Peak, exploring the tunnel / cave below the peak before the enjoyable fun climb to the summit.
After a brief stop on top, our attention turned to Apollo Peak. Greg, who had very kindly brought and carried the required climbing gear, took over the lead and selected the eastern Hallack route (grade E) for our ascent to the summit. We had enough harnesses for the 5 who decided to climb which allowed us to get up and down fairly quickly. For a few of us it was really rewarding to return to this peak to finally get on top.
We elected a western descending traverse back to camp which turned out to be a relatively quick and flowing route and had everyone back in camp by 4 p.m., with time for coffee, icy dips, snacks and chat before supper. Warmer evening temperatures allowed the group to linger outdoors under a spectacular night sky, the highlight being a perfectly timed sighting of a Starlink satellite train.
On day three, camp was packed up early and our group ascended the southern slopes back to the high vlakte between Apex Peak and the Twins, where we choose a new camp beside a small stream. Packs stashed, the party continued to the Breekkrants Arch for lunch and scrambles on its striking sandstone span.
Later, half the group returned to camp while the others climbed the southern Breekkrants Twin via its eastern face, finding an enjoyable line of scrambling pitches. Our descent followed the normal route via the narrow crack to the saddle, from where we dropped directly to camp. Hot, still weather made for a relaxed final evening, with conversation carrying on under the stars.
The final morning was a relaxed cheerful walk back to Suurvlakte. Spirits were lifted further when we arrived back at the cars as Pieter produced a magic cooler box of cold beers and Cokes from his car’s boot. The weekend was rounded off with toasted sandwiches and roosterkoek at Carmien.
This was a meet that combined the beauty, expanse, and silence of the Cederberg with perfect weather and the camaraderie of a group of (mostly) middle-aged men sharing stories, climbs, and cold swims.
