GCT Day 4, 9 August, 2022
Day 4, Tuesday 9th August
Pholela to Sani Backpackers to home. 10 km hike
Snow and Ice and Sun
Dear Matthew, our charming hill billy courier, came early to load all our bags on his roof and inside “Mathu Landy”, to transport them to Sani Backpackers.
It was a frosty start with us hikers leaving Pholela. An icy, icy morning with fresh snow on the Lesotho peaks. The iced over suspension bridge was an early challenge that sharpened our senses and physicality. Wobble, wobble, hearts beating, beating, scary stuff but we all made it.
Up and up through the frozen grass and into the welcome sun.
Through the burn again, mountains on the left and craggy rocks abounding. The weather was perfect, no wind and sunny. The tea stop was below a large baboon shaped rock where Dave and Hettie had laid a cairn on a recce. Here we had to turn right. We overlooked blue dams and rich farmland with a reluctant acceptance of civilization and an end to the trail. We then faced some steep rocky downhills with Clive helping Erica once more and Christa did a slither on her backside.
We reached Sani Backpackers by 11.45. The day that began with 1 degree temperatures was now hot, so we dipped our feet in the coolness of the pool.
It was a welcome relief for those tired feet, that had trodden a 58 kms trail over 4 days. Smiley Matthew arrived with our bags, we said our goodbyes and thanks to all.
We dispersed in our cars for the 2 hour trip home.
THANKS
Thanks must certainly go to Hettie Randall for her bravery in initiating this slackpacking reverse GCT … for long hours doing the recces, for sorting the finances, for co-ordinating the hikers, for the logistics of transport, for the delicious food, for the welcome tea and coffee station, not forgetting the boiled eggs each morning.
Hettie you are a star!
Thanks to Deon Small for his excellent, strong, professional leadership, his sense of humour and tales of his hiking experiences. Well done, Deon, for managing to keep us together in the mountains.
Thanks to Matthew and his trusty Landy and to Jess for plenty of delicious food.
Thanks to fellow MHC hikers for the camaraderie and fun.
A most successful multi day hike. Queque up, Midlands hikers, for the next one.
