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Summer, Snow Proteas
Who
could have thought that in the middle of Summer we would be out on a search looking for
Snow Proteas? Where? Obviously, of all places, the Sneeuberg! I was very fortunate to be
invited along with members of the Protea Atlas Project under the leadership of Nicholas
Cole. We were also accompanied by Patrick Wagner (Getaway Magazine) and his girlfriend.
There was a lot to achieve over the weekend, so we were kindly driven up by a game warden in a 4-wheel drive vehicle to our isolated hut in the mountains from the base camp. The hut was made of stones and cement with old wooden doors and windows and the floor was covered with hay.
That night we had a royal feast of cous cous, pasta and bully beef. Everyone slept outside under the brilliant stars. I received a fright from a big, disgusting creature on my sleeping bag, but I had not one clue what it was, so I let out a yell while making my bed. My dad came running. When I told him the story and showed him the creature he laughed and said it was a koringkriek and took it away. A few minutes later I let out another yell - they can give you a good nip!
The next morning we started the Great Trek, with the Protea Atlas group stopping nearly every second to identify proteas with Patrick (The Getaway Man) taking photographs. The views were BREATH TAKING. We had plenty to drink because there had just been heavy rainfalls. In the shade of the Maltese Cross we rested before hitting Sneeuberg. (I found this experience difficult and tiring because this was my first ever backpacking experience). The climb was steep and OK.
The Snow Proteas (Protea cryophila) were
beautiful. Patrick and Nicholas took spool upon spool of photographs of these incredible
plants. We found several large magnificent clusters which must be protected. This is one
of the aims of the Protea Atlas Project, and we need more people to participate.
Always remember: Knowledge is Power!
My father and I decided to climb to the beacon another few hundred meters, that's all! All I can tell you was I was very scared. We had to climb through all sorts of obstacles that the mountain had formed, such as narrow chimneys. My worst was when we had to cross a little path with a drop just below me of about 2000 feet (but we got there - heart pounding). When we returned to the proteas again the atlassers were still at it, so my father and I headed back.
I felt a joy of relief when we finally reached the hut. I had a cold bath in the river to refresh myself from a pounding headache. The next day we would have to walk back down to the car on the same road that the 4X4 had brought us up in. So a good nights rest was necessary. After dinner, another "Nicholas Cole camping special", Patrick made us sit on "A Rock under the Stars" for a time-delay photograph.
The following morning our bags were packed, we grabbed a rusk and tea, and headed off. While going down Patrick took some more photographs. All seven of us were squashed up in a micro-bus but glad to be down. What a brilliant weekend! Many thanks.
Tegwen Duckham (aged 13 and a bit)
Protea cryophila on Sneeuberg at the nek
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