An Ode to Mountains and Passes
“The mountains are calling, and I must go.” – John Muir.
There’s something about mountains… They’re good for the soul, standing proud and silent – a testament to the enduring landscapes of the natural world. They’re solid, ageless and somehow comforting. And beautiful. So very beautiful. Some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world are created by mountains…
By definition, where there are mountains there are valleys. To reach these valleys, or simply get to the other side of the mountain, one needs to go over or through said mountain. Man has always been curious, or war/trade has dictated that new, shorter routes be discovered. For every formidable barrier to travel, a navigable route is discovered or created. And so, a mountain pass is born…
You may wonder what constitutes a mountain or a hill? Well, according to the USGS (United States Geological Survey), up until the 1920s, the British Ordnance Survey defined a mountain as a “geographic feature rising higher than 1,000 feet (304 meters)”. This arbitrary designation contributed to the story which subsequently became famous in the film The Englishman That Went Up a Hill and Down a Mountain (1995). Hugh Grant starred in this gently amusing comedy about two English cartographers who arrive in a small Welsh village to climb their ‘mountain’. On reaching the top, they do some preliminary measurements and come up with a height of 930 feet, qualifying the mountain as a mere hill. The offended citizens hatch a plan (to place a pile of rocks atop) to make the hill high enough to become a mountain. These designations are arbitrary and manmade, much like borders – mere conjectures by humans to satisfy our need to make sense of the physical world.
South Africa is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, a fact that translates to our region being best explored by vehicle and on foot, requiring that you find access via a pass if that area is mountainous . There are close to 1000mountain passes throughout South Africa. If those are not enough, our neighbouring countries have many more (particularly Lesotho)! And whilst some involve tar roads gently meandering over a mountain, many more are an off-road enthusiast’s dream…
Many of our mountains and their passes are extremely remote, a fact which adds to the mystery and the appeal. Introduce a challenging route into the mix and, if you are ill-prepared and under-skilled, you have the perfect recipe for an extremely expensive disaster. In a series of upcoming columns, we will explore various mountain passes in South Africa and nearby countries. Some may be tarred, but most will be unpaved roads requiring a sense of adventure and a healthy dose of caution. As Ed Viesturs once quipped, “Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” We would like to add that getting home with minimal damage to your vehicle is equally important!
When driving these passes, one needs to be prepared for steep hills, winding roads, an absence of safety barriers, wildlife, and rocks in the road. These challenges become even more difficult when driving on gravel roads and in adverse weather conditions. Way beyond the rules of the road, there are 4×4 specific rules which will make your trip a joy rather than a disaster.
There are many ways in which you can prepare in order to ensure your safety. Carrying extra water, food and blankets are simply the very beginning of a way more comprehensive discussion – so keep an eye out for the series beginning next week…
Jacqui Ikin & The Cross Country Team
