The Wolfberg Arch – Total Isolation !

Going away for a weekend with super fit friends in the Cedarberg Mountains can lead to some interesting times!

One morning the guys decided to walk up to the Wolfberg Arch about a 3-4 hour walk for them. I decided to start the walk with them and turn around when I got tired or too sore (a fall earlier in the year had given me problems with my knee). The others powered ahead within the first 20 minutes they were out of sight. I carried on enjoying the quite. When I got to bottom of the pass, I had thought this is where I would turn back, but decided to push on. When I got to the top I kept saying a bit further then turn around. I didn’t actually have a clue where I was going but did remember one of the guys saying there is another pass to climb once at the top.

I found a path and followed it, I kept walking, ignoring my gut that was telling me it was the wrong way, after about half an hour when I started descending into another valley that confirmed I had missed the path up to the top so retraced my steps. As I got near to the pass I had climbed up an hour earlier I heard a whistle and looked up and saw the guys coming down the the pass I had missed.

I waited for the others and asked how long to the top, and was told about 45-60 minutes. I decided to push on as I had come this far, the others weren’t happy with my decision to carry on as the wouldn’t know if I fell and hurt myself (which I do regularly…) as no one would be behind me now. I reasoned that they hadn’t known where I was for the last 3 hours so wouldn’t make much difference now. I told them I would be back at camp in the next 4 hours if not they could come look for me – I’m a bit stubborn!

The last part up to the Arch wasn’t too bad, I think a bit of excitement, nervousness and a bit of adrenaline helped. I knew I was taking a huge risk in the mountain on my own, it was cold and windy and I didn’t know where I was going. I did get lost a couple of times when I lost the path and thought F*~k but I was memorizing rock formations behind me to help me on the way back down so was able to find the right way easily enough.

I don’t think I have been in such a remote place, totally alone before. It was an amazing, surreal experience. I could see for miles across the valleys but couldn’t see or hear any sign of another human, the only life I saw was 2 little birds when I sat under the Arch and had lunch. I wish a had the words to explain this absolute isolation. Mentally I felt like I had received a super recharge.

Coming down was a lot easier, just the last couple of km seemed to go on forever, I had walked almost 30km with all my wrong turns. The others by the looks of it were very happy to see me, I think the thought of coming to look for me wasn’t too appealing after their hike up…

The rest of the afternoon, I was on a high, felt great, and warm even though it was freezing. I must say I was a bit nervous of going to bed and not being able to get up in the morning but the body was ok, it only hit me two days later!!

A cold but awesome weekend and one that brings a smile to my face!