Once upon a time there were Three Little Peaks that enjoyed a blissful existence as part of the Hottentots-Holland range. But as little peaks do after the first million years or so, they grew weary of their structured and sheltered lives and decided to leave the range to go and make their own mark on the landscape. So the three little peaks set off to the west where they’ve heard the picturesque Helderberg basin and Stellenbosch’s valleys groan under the weight of the beauty they bear. After careful consideration they decided to settle in the Helderberg between the Dome and the Western Buttress…
Peak 1: Peak 1 is the oldest and wisest of the three and as you might expect also the biggest and tallest. It therefore decided to settle on the western-most side, right next to the Western Buttress to guard the other two against possible dangers from the Flatlands. It is a bit of an introvert though, so the best way to approach it is by sneaking up the gully on its northern slope. Turn off the contour path at the supplied co-ordinates (CPT1) and head straight-up from there; sticking to the exposed rocks in the gully to ensure there will be no trace of you visit once you have departed.
Note: If it is your intention to also visit Peak 2 you will have to retrace your steps back to the contour path as it is impossible to scale Peak 2 from the west.
The cache: The cache is well hidden in a crevice between two large boulders. The hide UNSCREWS to give you access to the log book - please ensure you close it again tightly. Please note that the letterbox stamp (which is not an item for trade) is stored in a separate watertight container in the same crevice.
Getting there: You have three options on how to approach the Helderberg hiking trails - starting from the Helderberg Nature Reserve (HN), the Helderberg Farm (including its 4x4 route that will save you some time and distance) (HF) or the Helderberg College grounds (HC). For the first two there are small fees to be paid (R150 for the 4x4 route) and they only open at 07:30 and 08:00 respectively, but you can enter from HC at any time and for free. See picture above and waypoints for more details.
A great THANK YOU to Kasimani who assisted me in placing this cache. Hope you enjoy the challenge as much as we did!
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