TRAVEL
Writer: Duane Stacey Images: Duane Stacey and Anthony Speirs
Majestic and magical Matroosberg
M
atroosberg is a
Cold front
that read: “Peak of Adven-
mountain with
One of the fiercer cold
ture”. There was no other
a certain air of
fronts ripped through
car in sight.
mystery and magic. As one
the Western Cape, but
The receptionist, sur-
nears the mountain along
we were ready with our
prised by our enquiry to
the N1 highway a sailor
thermal gear, tents and ski
camp, tried in vain to point
(matroos in Afrikaans) and
pants. The car was packed
us in the direction of some
his ship seem to emerge
with enough cold-weather
quaint cabins, but recog-
from the rock formation,
gear (and treats) to sur-
nised we were dressed for
hence its name.
vive whatever conditions
adventure and wished us
the mountain would throw
well.
At 2 249m, it is one of the highest mountains in
By now, the usual hiking
As we headed through
pathway to the summit
tracts adventurers from all
the valley, our windscreen
was covered in snow so
walks of life.
wipers screeched into
we elected to take the
Hiking, abseiling, fish-
overdrive, and tried its
wider 4x4 path. It was
ing and trail running are
best to repel the relentless
steep and rocky but the
all part of the adventure
downpour that battered
fresh covering of powder
package in the summer
our car and added to the
and continued snowfall
months.
nervous energy exhaled
reminded me of past Euro-
However, it was the
from inside onto the
pean snow adventures, as
winter adventure that
rapidly fogging wind-
the trees stood covered in
gripped our attention, hav-
screen. But then there
their best white suits.
ing seen pictures of this
was silence. We ascended
icy wonderland from years
another corner and the
we made our way up to-
gone by.
pelting rain transformed to
wards the summit. It was
candy floss, tossed about
tough going: the depth of
cated an approaching cold
by the swish of the blades
snow climbed towards our
spell. With plenty of rain
confirming we had timed
knees, and it was evident
and -12°C predicted on the
this adventure perfectly.
that a hike of 7km was
Weather reports indi-
Matroosberg summit, we went in search of snow.
30
our way.
the Western Cape and at-
At the front gate, we were greeted by a sign
Snow continued to fall as
going to take us far longer than anticipated.
Public Sector Manager • April 2022
