Conquering Drackensburg

Drackensburg National Park

After our enjoyable stay in Durban, we ventured northwest to Drackensburg National Park. It is a huge, well, national park, with mountains and cliffs and a gorge. It has the second longest waterfall in the world, though we were kindly informed at the visitor’s center that the source of the waterfall was frozen. That’s okay, we have good imaginations. We could pretend there was water falling.

Several sources told us that we should do a particular trail and follow it to its end. Most people, the sources said, turn back on the path before finishing, thinking it is too difficult, but they miss out on an amazing view. Well, don’t tell two competitive guys that a trail is too difficult. You only fan the ego.

So, we took the trail. It winded along the side of a ridge, through plains and through rain forests, over rocks and up climbs. Around each corner, we thought we would see the amazing view. We saw great views around each corner, but nothing that was amazing compared with the wonderful views we already could see. So we kept pushing ahead.

Eventually we reached a ravine, climbing over rock and water. We came to a point where it was not apparent where we should go to follow the trail. There was an arrow pointing left which was painted on a rock, but as we started that way, three guys came back and said it wasn’t worth it. They then climbed 50 feet up a rock face on a metal wire ladder, but as we started to follow, they had turned around and said they were tired and didn’t want to keep climbing. Too much? Ha.

We scaled the ladder, then we had to scale a 100 foot cliff with pegs drilled into the rock. We mastered this only to find another part of the ravine. It was not apparent at all where we should go, so I started along a rock next to the water, only to find it icy slick. Too slick. So slick that I slid eight feet down into the water. I was quickly above my waist in chilly water. I easily got out, but I was wet.

It wasn’t a disaster, but I didn’t want to walk back 2 hours in soaking wet jeans. Providentially, Fr. Mitchel had swim trunks and sweat pants, so I was able to make the trek back in dry sweat pants.

As far as we can tell, we finished the trail, but we didn’t see the view they talked about. Or maybe we did. Either way, we had a great hike with some beautiful scenery. Go to World Cup Photos to see some pictures.

More than enough. Talk to you later.

God Bless,

Fr. Scott