Training Log Archive: nmulder

Event: Gauteng Short Course Zoo
 

Getting out of the Berg was the next problem. I thought it would be easy, as we only had to double back 3km to Leslies Pass and then descent 14km to Injasuthi Camp.

It took us 4hrs from the top of Leslie's to the bottom. I've now found the worst pass in the Berg. Very rough, slippery and overgrown. The track and cairn stones were also laid out by an idiot. We were forced into crossing the flooded stream at least 12-15 times. The final 8km from Marble Baths to Inajusthi went quicker, but by now it was damn hot. The rivers were also still in flood, making for some fun crossings.

Finally got down at 1.30pm, just 45 min before Gert eventually pulled in with the car. Great timing.

Slept the night at Inajusthi and drove out the next morning early. The waffle place just past the Monks Cowl junction comes highly recommended on the way home.

C • Leslie's 4

After getting about 5-6 hrs sleep at the Sentinal Car Park chalet, Ryno and I set off with Gert in attendance on the Grand Traverse. It got light even before the chain ladder, so it probably would have been possible to start at 3.30am in summer.

We clocked in at Mont-Aux-Sources in 1h50 (7.5km). No running until this point (working on a 'run the downs and flats' strategy), but there was a good drop off down the Khubeka from here, with our average speed climbing to well over 5.5 km/hr over time. Lots of Basuthos around, but no problems at all. Despite the ominous weather forecasts, beautiful morning weather with high clouds making it cool, but dry. Ground was very wet however and we had continual wet feet.

Long way to Cleft Peak. Gert left us just after Mweni and Rockery passes and just before the Cathedral area (45km) to drop down the Berg and return somehow to Sentinal to pick up the car. He got caught in a major thunderstorm and had trouble crossing rivers down in the Mweni region. We got some spray on the escarpment and from about 2pm the weather started getting very wet. Just before Cleft (55km - 11h27) it got quite bad.

Got badly surprised by some of the hills, most notably the climbs up to Cleft and near the Elephant, taking strain due to the lack of oxygen. Our speed had taken a big dip by the time we clocked in at Cleft Peak. After good sections through Windsor and Yodelers, we had thick mist in the rain at night and I started making route errors, adding about 4km of distance above that required. We had a total speed stall as I found myself totally exhausted during the night. I think we covered less than 3 km / hr for most of it. Clocked in at Champagne Castle at 19h58 just before midnight. We finally called it quits just past Leslie's Pass, just before the climb to Mafadi ridge. By now I was struggling to manage 20 min/km of flat terrain. We were only at 89km mark, so this would have meant a further 30hrs to Bushman's Nek at best.

Lots of lessons learnt and we will be much more prepared for our next attempt. Realised that you can be as fit as you want for the GT, but unless you know fully what you're getting into, your still in for a shock. Next time we'll carry lighter, as we know we want to do about 40 hrs (5km/hr ave). Better food choices, less water and some type of altitude acclimatisation needed. We'll also change our weight distribution in our backpacks to make it easier for running. Finally, we'll probably got out for a scouting run in the middle Berg at some time to make certain we know the best paths for the main night section.

C • Hills 1

Going down to the Berg to attempt the Grand Traverse Record. Weather is not looking at all great however. Stijn will be updating the Traverse site as we go: http://drakensberg.ning.com/

C • nic!!!!! 1

Putting out and collecting a short training course for Garry's o-training at Berario.