It’s about getting there, not getting there fast

I have always walked with a little hustle in my stride, it may be the long legs and the size 13 boots I wear and if I’m fit I tend to push it even more. I had been running consistently for a few months before we hiked up Organ Pipes and I was doing well, fitter than the rest of the team.

As always, we left Cathedral Peak Hotel at first light, 2 experienced hikers, one novice and someone joining us for their very first hike. As we reached the bottom of the Camel I fondly remembered my first time up this pass and this time it thought would be no different. Day one saw us reach the top and set up tent with no issues – except for this niggling thought about what would happen if I slipped and fell. I have had this sort of thought before, so assuming it to be like all other times I dismissed it.

Day 2 and we started to descend, stopping to soak in the majestic views. Being that I was strong at the time, I sped ahead, leaving the group in my dust. Again having that niggling thought about falling, and again I dismissed it. It was only at lunch when we reached the bottom of the Camel that Shaun suggested that I slow it a bit – He was right. I was feeling very strong, but the fast pace had left the team in a less than comfortable position.

A little after lunch, coming to the bottom of the last major hill and a chill ran down my back as I heard the shout from above: “Catch Kyle”. Shaun was walking at the back with Kyle just in front of him and Kyle slipped. I had already followed the path as it cut back and I was heading back toward them, 15 meters below. I rushed forward to try and grab Kyle as he came rolling down in front of me, but I wasn’t fast enough with the pack on my back. The tree slowed him down while pushing him away from the ladder that had been put up. I would hate to know what would’ve happened if it wasn’t for that tree – we got let off lightly – a broken ankle and a few scratches and bruises, not to mention that we were just 2 KM from the hotel. 2 hours earlier, with us being a lot higher this sort of fall would have had a very different outcome.

I am grateful Gods protection and for the team that we had, who pulled together, mustered up what was needed and got Kyle out without further injury.

As I look back and think about what happened and more importantly why it happened I am left with this sinking feeling that it wasn’t just an accident, but something that I, as one of the leaders of the hike, could have prevented.

In Luke 8 Jesus tells the parable of the sower; some of the seeds fall on the rocky soil and although it starts out strong, it does not have the roots to last. This is the risk of not pacing yourself - of moving forward faster than your roots are able to sustain you.

God is gracious and can supernaturally grow us faster than we can imagine, but there always seems to come a time when we need to trudge and allow our foundations to be strengthened. This is time consuming and we need to be willing to take the time to walk this through, enjoy the journey and let God do what He needs in us.  

We prepare for what we know

Only just a teenager preparing for my second hike, I cast my memory back to my first experience of the Berg and place the pack of batteries into the trolley as we make our way to the till to pay. 24 triple A batteries – I want to be sure that this time my torch doesn’t leave me in the dark.

So many batteries?

On my first hike we had a crack at Injasuti pass, ranked as a difficult the first day gave me something to think about – just the climb to the top of the little Berg left me with few words and sore muscles. I was very glad to see our lunch spot for the day; Marble Baths. This was also our stop for the night. Serene, remote and wild, the rough terrain has left many a day hiker in pain and the real climb hasn’t even started.

Day 2 was a real shock, we started off early (I can still remember the initial pain of the pack weighing down on my hips) it took at least 10 minutes to warm up to the walking again. Looking up at the mountain, at the goal - the escarpment, it drives the body on to push itself to the limit. Taking it slowly, enjoying every chance to take the load off my back and give my legs a break. I was expecting to start setting up camp, a tent this time not a cave, at a somewhat “normal” time; but this is the Berg, nothing is normal. Stopping for dinner, but no setting up of camp just yet – you see due to the weather, the group, the pace we got close to the top late, and then the small climb needed to reach the last 100m scramble was iced up, there was no going forward and too late to turn back. It had been 18 hours since we set off in the morning and this was it - no further.

18 hours of hiking means that some of the walk is going to be in the dark and the 2 AAA batteries which I had didn’t provide light for very long. And there in is the reason for all the batteries. As you would expect, I got ragged on the second hike, but I was prepared for what I was expecting the only thing is that what I had experienced on my first hike was not the usual, you don’t always have 18 hour days in the berg, and actually in hind sight, even if you do, 6 batteries should be enough, not 24…

Are we not the same in everyday life situations? We prepare for things based on our previous experiences. When we go on holiday, we plan based on what happened previously, if we start a new job we expect something similar to what we had before. It makes me understand why so many people don’t like change – they don’t know what to expect and can’t plan for what is coming.

After His death on the cross, Jesus was not seen for 3 days and the disciples went back to doing what they were used to doing (John 21); Simon Peter told a few of his mates, fellow disciples, that he was going fishing, and they said they would join him. Jesus then came and found them where they were and asked them for a fish (they didn’t realize it was Him).  It was after this that Jesus gave them the great commission.

I find that God does the same with me; often he puts me in situations that I could not possibly be prepared for. Although not always comfortable it certainly tests and grows my faith and reliance on Him. If the outcome is growth then I hope change will be my only certainty and the only thing I am prepared for.

Why the Blog

It has been more than half my life that I have been hiking in the Drakensburg. Putting my body through the stress and strain of the intense terrain to soak up the most beautiful of views from our camping site - 6000 horizontal and 1500 vertical meters from the place we started in the morning.

Some think us crazy while others are amazed that we do what we do. The fact is that we continue to go back and put ourselves through it all because of the love for the mountains, the joy of accomplishment and the depth of friendship built.

These blogs tell stories of adventure and look at lessons learned while spending time with mates in the Barrier of Spears.