TRAIL RUNNING
Tackling a few forest obstacles along the way
Climbing in the forest , on the way up Mariepskop
thousand metres above the surrounding lowveld , the change of vegetation is dramatic , from hardy thornscrub at the bottom , through verdant rainforests up to high altitude grasslands and fynbos at the top . This diversity results in a phenomenal list of more than 2000 plant species .
The start of day one was scheduled for 5:30am , which meant a rather cold start and more than an hour in the dark . Headlamps on , we lined up , knowing that the ascent of Mariepskop was the first order of the day . The first 5km take you straight up the mountain , ascending some 800m , with the fourth kilometre claiming over 250m of elevation gain all by itself , and sometimes requiring climbing on all fours in certain sections as the terrain becomes near vertical .
By the time I got to the top of Mariepskop , the sun had made its appearance and the vistas were endless and breath-taking . The course is not always on well-trodden paths – in fact , a lot of it appears to be random running through forests and bush , at times an obstacle course , at others a brilliantly marked trail with purple ribbons hung from trees and bushes guiding you through nature ’ s magnificent diversity . It definitely felt like a true adventure trail .
Another Trip to the Top
Once the top is reached , the trail winds along the edge for a few kilometres , offering amazing intermittent views between the vegetation , before
dropping a few hundred metres and then another 10 or so kays along the contour before the descent into the Blyde River Canyon , on an eminently runnable descent on jeep track to the bottom of the course at just past the halfway mark . The spectre that follows you from the start , however , is the knowledge that Mariepskop is a two-time affair , and by time you hit the bottom you know what ’ s coming up next …
It starts with a gentler slope , making you hope that maybe the climb will not be as brutal from the other side , but that hope is soon dashed as the trail becomes increasingly steep , peaking at kilometre 29 after 270m of ascent . The forest and the rock formations are stunning , and in
A stunning view of 61 Blyde River Canyon through the vegetation on Mariepskop