Year 9 Hike

A few weeks ago, on Thursday the 10th of April, the Year 9s departed for our first trip of the year, an overnight hike. Some of us were motivated with the promise of fulfilling the requirement of an adventurous journey for the President’s Award, while others tagged along simply to have fun. Over the next two days,  we would complete 18km on the first day and 10km on the second, trekking all the way from school to Noordehoek.Though we were told this, we ended up walking 20 tiring kilometres on the first day, more than what we had initially been aiming for. There were a lot of steep uphill steps and trails, but we persevered despite aching legs.  After we had completed the first day’s part of the hike, we made our way to Chrysalis Academy, where we would be camping for the night. 

Upon arrival we were greeted by various baboons, before we Year 9s were left to set up our tents. Once our tents were properly assembled, the girls were split into groups to help prepare for dinner whilst the boys helped collect firewood (and then proceeded to help the camp facilitators with the braai). For dinner that night we enjoyed various delicacies like  braaied chicken, multiple types of salas, and what seemed to be everyone’s favourite, skewered roosterkoek.

Though we all went to bed later than intended, we were woken up at 6am to do morning stretches in preparation for the second part of our journey. Then, after getting ready, having breakfast, and grabbing a packed lunch, we set off once again. We hiked all the way from the academy up to Silvermine, the sharp and seemingly endless incline exasperating all of us. It was no surprise that we became very familiar with the phrase “one more hill”. Along the way we took breaks before eventually reaching Silvermine Dam. That was not the end of the journey; however, and we soon found ourselves venturing down precarious paths, where we had to cling to branches to make sure we didn’t slip. 

Once we reached a road, we then walked to Noordehoek Village, where we bought ourselves much-needed refreshments while waiting for the school bus to pick us up. People caught up on sleep and bonded over their experiences on the bus ride back to school, where they were then picked up by their parents. It had been quite humbling to cover the equivalent distance of our two day journey in a mere half hour bus ride, but overall it had been a fun and memorable journey.

– Anina