Grade 11 duo on a fund-raising adventure

UKhahlamba, the barrier of spears. Drakensberg, Dragon Mountain…

Such are the names that describe the escarpment that forms a physical border and barrier between Lesotho and South Africa.

This barrier is frequently visible from the Treverton campus and exerts a magnetic pull on both the students and staff of our school.

While school-organised hikes into the Drakensberg occur throughout the year, a traverse along the summit of the UKhahlamba had yet to be completed by students from the school. This provided the perfect motivation for such a trip.

The ‘Grand’ Traverse, as it is known, entails a rigorous hike of approximately 246km from the Sentinel car park in the north to Bushmen’s Nek in the south. It is regarded as the most difficult hike in South Africa because of the mountainous terrain, altitude (on average 3000m), distance, remoteness, variable weather and lack of a predefined route and path.

The learners who completed it were chosen, rather than invited, as the nature of the trip required a certain level of fitness and prior Drakensberg experience.

ALSO READ: Festive fund-raising market

The group was also kept small (two students and two staff members) so as to limit equipment and injury-related issues that naturally occur in adventure-based activities.

And it wasn’t all plain sailing!

The disorientating mist made navigating challenging and cost the group time and energy.

Ascending and descending approximately 1100m and fitting in 25 to 30 kilometres a day proved to be a serious physical challenge.

Added to that were the high winds, cold drizzle, long days of walking, frustrating mountain bogs and innumerable tufts of grass.

Jarred van Alphan and Kai Broom, both Grade 11 learners, were accompanied by Mr Shaun Robertson and Mr Derrick Brown, both Science teachers at Treverton College.

The boys’ peak physical condition and aptitude for endurance set them apart as the natural choice to complete the ‘Grand Traverse’.

Their experience with orienteering, trail running, rock climbing and being avid outdoor adventure enthusiasts was instrumental in preparing them for the mental and physical fatigue they would face during the trip.

This great achievement inspired the making of a 30-minute documentary.

Jarred and Kai will be facing another adventure in the Rhino Peak Challenge on September 17.

Invited as ambassadors and accompanied by Mr Travers Pellew (Treverton College’s sports co-ordinator), the trio will be ascending and descending Rhino Peak in the Drakensberg as a fund-raiser for conservation efforts.

“The strides they are making in adventure sports are remarkable for their age. Treverton has a proud history of producing top-quality adventure sportsmen and -women. We look forward to celebrating Jarred and Kai in their future exploits within Treverton and into their adulthood,” said the school.

For further information, visit rhinopeakchallenge.co.za and Treverton.co.za

Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter