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Post 4 written 7th November
climbing on eagle mountain was very different to that of the climbing at Boven which made for an interesting three days. On the first day I climbed routes on Mountain Everest and I didn't even need oxygen! Day two I climbed in the heat, a 6 pitch sports route which was over 130 meters high, making the views from the top pretty special. The most exciting part of the three days however was the fact that I got to finally try some slack lining (walking on a rope tied between two trees). That night the wind had been so strong that I ended up sleeping on the floor of the guys toilet. I was pleased however the next day to see that me £14 tesco tent was still standing while someone's £300 tent was in a field. In the morning we wake to find zebras and other animals in and near our camp-site.
After three days we drove to the Drakensberg mountains to do some hill-walking (while there is climbing in this area, the rock is of very poor guilty, making it very dangerous to climb on). Four lads and I opted to undertake an multi-day trek to climb Cathedral Peak (3005m). The first day was hard work but the views looking over to Lesotho were well worth the trek. Although we started off in very hot conditions, a mere three hours into the trek and the heavens opened and we got soaked through. Luckily after an hour of thunderstorms and rain, it stopped and we continued. The cave at 2700metres was also an amazing experience and I'm glad to report that the night was not cold either, We did however wake at 5.30 the next day to see nothing but cloud. This lasted most of the day which just made navigation and scrambling more exciting. Reaching the top would have been incredible, if only we could have seen
On the last day in Drakensberg mountains, I wake at 6am to 35 degree heat which ended up lasting until 5pm. Needless to say we couldn't do any walking so had a lazy day by the nearby pool with a Frisbee.
Near to the camp-site we were staying at was a township in the mountains. I find these very interesting places and am really keen to learn so much more about their way of life. Snap shoots I have seen include 15 year old girls at 6.30 in the morning going out to collect wood for the family before bringing it back on their heads, woman early morning walking miles to go to the river and wash their clothes, babies being carried on their mothers back while they work with their hands in the nearby fields.
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