WTF

Why didn't anybody tell me it is so easy ?!?

Second Waterfall

“Oh my God, I’m slipping.” These words flash through my mind as I felt my numb feet losing their grip on the moisture slick rock beneath me. Behind me, the torrent of rushing water seems to suck me backwards, ready to plunge me over the 4-meter waterfall downstream. I shift power to my arms, praying that the rock won’t break off in my hands, again. Thankfully the rock stays firm and my slipping feet find a toehold. With rug sack on my back and boots hanging around my neck, I continue to inch along the cliff face, trying to stay ahead of the spider that is Adriaan.

On 9 August, Adriaan and I decided to hike to Second Waterfall in the Jonkershoek mountain reserve. Everyone knows about Second Waterfall; that is, they know it exists. But have you ever talked to someone who has actually been there? The reason for this anomaly is that most people turn back at the board that says: “Warning, route to waterfall dangerous”. The hike up to said board was fine, relaxing even, with the crisp morning air and the beautiful surrounding nature putting one in the mood to sing silly songs. But once you pass that board, happy songs become a thing of the past.

When the river is in flood during the rainy season, Second Waterfall becomes a series of waterfalls. The only way to get to the main waterfall is to hike up the riverbed and to get past all the waterfalls; one must traverse up the rock faces beside said waterfalls. The first part of the riverbed hike is fine, with more than enough semi-submerged rocks that provide stepping-stones. Upon reaching the first waterfall, I was struck by the beauty that nature could sculpt using just flowing water. And as the rushing water hits the pool below, it creates a stunning rainbow filled mist. A mist I would soon learn to curse. For the moisture-laden air makes the moss covered cliff faces slick as the devil’s own ass. But, there was nothing for it, so we started the climb up the left side of the canyon wall, using rock outcroppings and tree roots for hand and foot holds. After getting lost once or twice, we finally reached the area above the first waterfall, success! Only to be confronted by a second, meaner waterfall.

This second waterfall plunges from a height of about 4 to 5 meters, into an icy cold pool, a pool surrounded by sheer rock walls. And it was these rock walls that we had to traverse to firstly reach the waterfall. Then, once one reaches the waterfall, one has to climb up the rock face beside the waterfall. No mean feat with tons of water rushing past you on your right hand side. Without batting an eyelid, we started to descend into the basin below, with me praying that my boots won’t slip and send rocks crashing onto Adriaan’s head. After reaching the pool, we started the slow process of hugging the wall and inching our way along various hand and foot holds of the rock. This is where I learned that rock is not always solid. More than once pieces of solid seaming rock came off in my hands, making me franticly search for new holds to keep from plunging into the pool below. But, again we conquered, and it was with a huge sigh of relief that we reached the top of the waterfall. The end was in sight.

The last part of the hike is much the same as the first part, with rock faces too sheer to climb, but with many rocks in the riverbed to use as stepping-stones. Or so we thought. At one point the semi-submerged rocks just stopped, and the surrounding cliff faces presented tantalizing possibilities for hand and foot holds, until one tries to use them. Then you realize that moss, water and eons of water erosion make for very smooth and slippery stuff. After debating for a while, we decided to go that extra little bit; by taking of our shoes/boots and braving the rest of the way barefoot. Holy moly but mountain water is cold. What followed can only be described as a harrowing experience. After wading through the ice-cold water, we were faced with a last climb to the main waterfall. This is where one learns that climbing with hands and feet numb from cold is not fun. Especially if said appendages have to use holds scarcely larger than the tips of your fingers.

Finally, wet and bedraggled we reached amphitheater into which Second Waterfall plunges. Shivering from the spray created by the water as it plunges several stories from the cliff above us, we were rewarded by the sight of a stunning rainbow that spanned the pool below the waterfall. We stood there, grinning like idiots.

The route back was no less dangerous and thrilling than it was when we followed it to our goal. Especially with me nearly taking the plunge. But after 40 minutes of climbing and praying, we finally reached the board that said: “Warning, route to waterfall dangerous”. No bloody kidding. The hike back was uneventful, except when my hands and feet started to defrost. But for once I welcomed the pain, because it meant that I was ALIVE.