It’s hot, it’s sweaty, and we are happy to arrive at Keiths Bush Camp located in the foothills of Greys pass in central Drakensberg. With very little shade and the sun beating down on us, we quickly set up our tents and hotfoot it to the river, which after the heavy rains is flowing with great vigour, what relief! Setting up camp after a day’s walking always brings with it a feeling of accomplishment and arrival. At this point, we kick up our feet and relax to a sharp whiskey as the sun dips behind the mountain, which towers some 1000m above us, ushering in a sudden drop in temperature. After a few hours of light banter and a simple dinner, we call it a day and head to bed early in preparation for the following morning’s 4 am wake up time and summit of Greys pass.
Waking up the next morning to thick mist and a slight drizzle is a sure way to put a dampener on your mood. But we had set out to summit Greys, so that’s what we were going to do! We made a fast wet and cold ascent of the pass, surprising ourselves with a sub two hour time. And, as if it were a peace offering from the mountain, we were given a crystal clear view overlooking the cloudy blanket below through which we had just walked. Marvelling at the beauty of the white blanket that covered land as far as the eye could see, we were content in our personal victory of the mountain. But what goes up must come down and we still had another 15km to walk to get back out of the mountains.
With 20kgs on your back and ridiculous elevation gains, multi-day hikes in the berg are physically demanding. But not only do they push your physical abilities, they also give you time and space for much needed and priceless introspection. Taking away the luxuries that make us tame and adding in the necessities that make us human. It is a time and place where onward is the only option and succumbing to that idea frees the mind of its internal battles as you take the next step to reach your goal. With our over-indulged lifestyles, taking time out to evaluate just what is, opens the door for positivity and a clear mind.
