Highmoor Cleopatra Mountain 22 October, 2022
Weather, Weather, rain, rain, rain, Weather, to go or not, that was the question, eventually 5 hardy souls enjoyed a great cool day’s walk over rough terrain, long grass, very stony and rocky, and mostly hill and grass bashing as the paths were overgrown and lost in nature. Lack of any form of antelope walking these old paths was very evident, as in the past, they were the path maintainers.
The morning was cool, but clear, Giant’s was as always our back drop, and she was clear, for the moment. The old adage, if on Highmoor, watch The Giant, if she disappears into thick black cloud, best you disappear home quickly. We followed and old road, now lost in grass and veg, the ladies walking and talking and enjoying being out in the fresh air, quietness, and not another soul in sight or sound. Sooner than expected the old track disappeared into the faintest of an antelope track, bumbling on, we clung to it as it was better than crashing through the long undergrowth.
Eventually we came over the ridge, down to the top of the cliff that surround Cleopatra, and were looking down over the well known Cleopatra Farmhouse, and the top end of the Kamberg valley, wonderfull sights all the way down the valley.
Moving to a higher ridge were great rock domes, and in some of the great rock features were numerous pretty pools and water features.
By now, tummies were rumbling and it was getting a bit cooler, so we headed back towards the cars, but on the way we would cut down onto the top of a small valley for lunch. The long valley side we covered was very pretty in the Wintery/Spring colours, and away in the background, as always, THE Giant seemed pretty relaxed.
From our lunch spot on the top of an outcrop of a rock, we had great views looking East and West , down and up the very deep steep Impofanyana Valley. During lunch, the weather changed, The Giant seemed to start to snuggle into a dark blanket , so it was decided to forgo the long way back, and take a shorter cut, with a bit of speed. Walking faster over the rough terrain, put strain on legs and thigh muscles, and we were glad to get back to the cars, as by now The Giant was really snuggled in.
Thanks to a great hiking team for sharing the day, Highmoor is a very unexplored area, and unfortunately it will not get better known.
