The annual hike was the group’s last primary school outing and prinicipal Coco van Aardt, sports coach Thabiso Thwale and environmental gurus Stuart Thomas and Jose Alves, accompanied them.
Loaded with a backpack and high spirits, they set off to Maritzbos Hut, a mere 9 kilometres away and graded a level 4 hike. It took a little getting used to lumbering along with a loaded backpack, but there was time enough to stop along the way, reshuffle the contents, play some games, eat some snacks and set off again.
On arrival at Hut 1, the children unpacked and spent three hours playing touch rugby (with a small sleeping bag), stuck in the mud and a newly created version of roll rugby. They were introduced to new bird calls (Narina Trogan, warblers, Swee Waxbills) by Stuart and Jose and learnt about indigenous forest trees and spoor.
After a smoky braai (wors, smash and noodles), the children pulled the mattresses outdoors and slept under the stars.
Early on Saturday morning, the team left Maritzbos to tackle a level 9 hike up to Stables Hut, 13,8 kilometres of sheer hiking hell.
The incline never seemed to end and there was much moaning and groaning as they clambered up and over rocks, precipices, slippery paths and tree roots.
However, there were four stops along the way, where the hikers could take a dip in the ice cold mountain streams and pools. Cathedral Falls was breathtakingly beautiful and Chock Stone Pool was freezing.
It took five hours to get to the top of the mountain. The climb along the ridge at the top was stunning, with blesbok leaping around in the distance and raptors circling overhead.
At the source of the Blyde River, the group stopped for another swim (and cup of tea) and refuelled on noodles and biltong.
Completely exhausted, they arrived at Stables at about 17:00. Only icy water was available for showering, followed by a game of touch rugby again. Another really smoky braai, more ridiculous games and the entire crew collapsed into bed at 19:30.
On Sunday morning the group had a 05:00 wake-up call, had tea and breakfast then packed and tidied up.
With sore, blistered feet, aching legs and tired heads, they took on the last 6km to Bridal Veil Falls.
Conversation was limited and there was less singing. On arrival at the Falls, most of the children leapt into the water, which was the perfect way to end the roughly 30 km hike.
The annual hike is an amazing experience for the children as it challenges them to endure beyond their own expectations, takes them out into nature at its finest, forces them to “play,” and gives them a fantastic sense of achievement at the end.
As a final bonding moment, it is probably the most meaningful way to spend their last weekend together. No cell phones. No junk food. Just the wide outdoors, each other and total abandonment to the joys of childhood.
