White arrows |
Galloglas
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The 'trail' was only really a trail as long as enough people walked over it to keep it fairly clear, or acted so as to stop it getting overgrown by the encroaching bush. For quite a long time the earlier stages of the trail coincided with footpaths still forming parts of the local Zulu track plan.
Even in the 1970s and 1980s when there was nothing like the modern overgrowth - and only an idiot would do so - it was very surprising how often people would set off boldly without a guide, cross the Manzimnyama in the wrong place (too far downstream), therefore entirely miss the main marked rising section leading towards the boggy section on the Mpethe slopes, then as a result get completely lost in the Buffalo River ravine. A dangerous place to be if strong sunshine. humidity and heat stress took effect on the weaker walkers. Surprising too how many people will cross at Rorke's Drift, pay no attention to a strongly surging river, then find themselves having to backtrack to Isandlwana because they cannot safely cross at the Drift. So, nothwithstanding the Shepstone point, it's probably about time that there was a much more robust warning to the ill-prepared and feckless before they went too far down a trail whose location and direction they are unsafely ignorant of. I write as one much irritated by having to lead a troop of very large English women back to Isandlwana once in the late 1990s having found them floundering and in one Reubens-like case near collapse on the trail. G |
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Mel
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G
You wrote: "So, nothwithstanding the Shepstone point, it's probably about time that there was a much more robust warning to the ill-prepared and feckless before they went too far down a trail whose location and direction they are unsafely ignorant of." Look again at the photos. Count the arrows all in the space of a few metres. What's the point? Elf en safety gone mad! Or someone has had to use up all the surplus whitewash in order to get another grant! It's almost akin to a hooligan with a whitewash brush defacing the trail. You said it yourself: large ladies!! Implications - unfit. Should they have been attempting the trail in the first place? How many more scene spoiling white arrows and warning signs should be painted and erected for the protection of these "idiots" (Your word, not mine) Suggested large sign to be erected on the saddle to completely spoil all future photos of the said saddle area:- "To all tourists thinking of walking the trail- Please note that, as you can see, (not too far in the distance) the trail consists of quite steep hills which can prove rather tiring to the unfit, particularily large ladies. As you can also see, if you take the trouble to look, there is much overgrowth of vegetation and we are sure that you don't need this sign to point out that you could quite easily get lost if you don't use a guide. As you can probably tell by looking up, the sun is quite hot at the moment so please be aware that you could suffer heatstroke in the next two or three hours. As you have probably not checked the level of the waters in this area please also be aware that the Buffalo river may be a little high and if you can't swim you will have to walk all the way back over those steep hills. Also, please don't try to climb this mountain because, again as you can see, it's rather high and you will probably fall off unless you are careful. Have a nice day." |
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_________________ Mel |
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