Three groups of five set off for an unsupported 6 day trek along the edge of the escarpment. Maj John Howell-Walmsley started from the northern end, circumnavigating Sentinel Peak and climbing the chain ladders up to the highest mountain in South Africa, all on his group’s first day. LCpl Tom Burke took his group off first from Cathedral Peak National Park, fighting the dense undergrowth for 12 hours on day one before having to call a halt and camp, not yet on the escarpment. Capt Cath Stephens, the expedition leader, set off from the south the following day, opting for the ‘Bell Traverse’ rather than the jungle as the ascent route for her group.

Once all 3 groups were on the escarpment the landscape changed dramatically, from soaring cliffs to rolling hills, the cloud at times so thick as to limit visibility to 50m. With no paths to follow, and the magnetic rock making the compass swing through 90 degrees, navigation was challenging! There’s always the GPS to rely on, if it doesn’t pick the same moment to loose all its satellites. The groups were all getting used to their diet of couscous and pilchards by this point, even if the decanted pilchards did find their way out of their bags into a few people’s rucksacks.

Finally, after 6 days each at 3000m, the end of the journey was nigh. LCpl Burke’s group made it safely down the chain ladders and past Sentinel Peak, but Capt Stephens’ group, after the excitement of the first 2 days on the Bell Traverse, had not been able to recoup sufficient time to make it all the way to the north, so had had to turn around. A glum faced group retraced their steps of a few days earlier, at least moving with spectacular views this time, rather than the pea soup of before. Getting back down to Cathedral Peak at the same time as Maj Howell-Walmsley’s group, all were happy to re-unite, share stories, get showered and head to the local restaurant for some decent food!