Month: November 2015

Garden Route Events has teamed up with the Garden Route Trail Park for the GR300 and GRlite being held in Feb 2016.

Riders in both the GR300 and GRlite shorter route will get to enjoy some of the best custom-built trails in SA as well as explore the magnificent SANParks Farleigh MTB trails which link up with the mountains behind the park. GRTP owner, Rob Dormehl assures GR300 and GRlite riders will be able to “Escape into the undiscovered and become part of the journey through the Outeniqua forests”.

The Garden Route Trail Park is nestled at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains and the Karatara River Gorge, in the heart of the Garden Route and offers meticulously designed, world-class routes to provide riders of all levels with an oversupply of adrenalin, excitement, scenery and amazing views, flowing turns, berms, rollers and river crossings, massive rock pools, waterfalls and boulders.
“Over and above the usual excitement created by the event itself, the new start and finish location for Day 2 at the GRTP will undoubtedly add to the excitement of the event overall”, said race director Pax Mosterd. “Every year, we try to keep the event exciting by the addition of new trails, and it makes perfect sense to incorporate some of Farmer Robs efforts in the GR300 event next year.

The increase of international participants in the race in 2016 is definitely as a result of increased international marketing drive so we are super excited to present the Ultimate Garden Route Ride to riders nationally and internationally. Still placed firmly as the recommended Epic prep race, the GR300 crew look forward to showcasing this magnificent part of the world to locals and international participants alike.

Entries will be strictly limited to 500 riders across both the GR300 and GRlite events.

More info – admin@gardenrouteevents.co.za

The Robberg Coastal Corridor (RCC), which comprises a 20km stretch of unspoiled coastline between Robberg Nature Reserve and Harkerville State Forest, has been declared a protected area. Minister of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning of the Western Cape, Anton Bredell, signed the declaration on August 31.
Pam Booth, Founding Director of the Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative, who initiated the research into the possibility of implementing protected environments by landowners, said: “The preservation of the RCC from encroachment and development, and linking it to the two core protected areas, Robberg Nature Reserve in the east to the Garden Route National Park in the west will extend its length to over 35 kilometres from the tip of Robberg Peninsula to Noetzie – more than sufficient to sustain a hiking trail along a coastline equally as spectacular as the famous Otter Trail on the Tsitsikamma Coast. It will also protect and facilitate the natural movement of the flora and fauna along the Corridor, thereby preserving the diversity of genetic species and enabling better adaptation to the vagaries of climate change. Most important, it secures the last remaining ecological lifeline to the increasingly isolated Robberg Peninsula.”
Robbie Robinson, former Head of SA National Parks, and Chairman of the Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative, said: “Generations of conservation-sensitive landowners have struggled to keep the link between Robberg and the remaining coastal lowland fynbos viable. It is essential to maintain this vital corridor.”

Two Knysna locals are part of top South African team Merrell Adventure Addicts, heading to the Adventure Racing World Championships in Brazil.

The team of four leave on Saturday 7th November for the long journey to the wetlands of the Pantanal in Brazil, where they will compete against 40 top international teams in this extreme endurance sport. The 700km course with various legs of mountain biking, trail running and kayaking will be undertaken as a single stage, expected to take the winners about 120 hours non-stop. It is predicted that the exceptional paddling skills of our Merrell team, currently ranked Number 7 in the world, will give them a good advantage in the wet course which will see them in and out of rivers and flooded areas.

All teams must be fully prepared to survive unassisted in the wilderness and preparing all the equipment necessary is in itself “an adventure in international relations”. So says captain and Knysna resident Graham Bird, who has spent countless hours talking with other foreign teams to swop favours. So although they will be rivals out there, the spirit of true sportsmanship is evident in the camaraderie shown before and after the event. “Teams overseas have sourced things for us that we can’t get here, and we have done the same for them. We are taking several sets of custom made paddles for ourselves and other teams that were specially made by Albert Wasserman of Knysna Racing. They split into four pieces – thereby easier to carry on the long running legs.” The local company will no doubt be getting many more orders next year when several of the same teams will come to challenge the eagerly anticipated Expedition Africa 500km event which is being held in Knysna and Sedgefield in June 2016.
Aside from good athletic abilities, the team needs optimum navigational skills to complete the course. All they receive is a set of maps and must find the checkpoints and finish line using only a compass. No GPS systems are allowed however each team must carry a transmitter which allows supporters of the race to view their progress on screen. It’s called ‘dotwatching’ for the armchair enthusiasts who report having sleepless nights themselves as they shout directions and advice to their team, represented by a little dot amongst many on a map. “The technology allows people to get involved and see a bit of what we do. Without the sweat dripping in their eyes!” said Karatara local, Hanno Smit.

The Pantanal is the world’s largest freshwater wetland with an extraordinary, concentrated biodiversity. Teams and the media, who will be following some of the action via a riverboat, will be in the home ground of jaguars, giant otters, anacondas, caimans, macaws, marsh deer, tapirs, over 700 species of birds, 260 species of fish and 80 reptile species.

“We are going to be racing very hard but we are always aware of our surroundings and know how privileged we are to be able to compete in such exotic places. Knowing that people all over the world are following us is truly wonderful. We hope they get inspired to enjoy the outdoors as much as we do.” Said Donovan Sims who, together with Robyn Kime makes up the rest of the South African team.

Live tracking will be available from the moment they start, at 18h00 SA time, Saturday 14th November. The link to this and updates and images will be posted on the Facebook page of Merrell Adventure Addicts.

-The Gremlin

SANParks rangers patrolled hiking trails as part of an assessment subsequent to recent heavy rainfall. They checked for windfalls, uprooted trees and river stream crossings. The trails in Tsitsikamma will be opened tomorrow (Thursday).

12 hiking trails in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park (GRNP) have Green Flag status from the Hiking Organisation of Southern Africa (HOSA). This is a global benchmark for hiking trails and includes the following criteria: Conservation status, health and safety measures, cleanliness and maintenance, sustainability, management and others.

Most hiking trails start and end in the Storms River Rest Camp. There are 12 hiking trails with green flag status in Tsitsikamma: The Waterfall hike, the Loerie, Blue duiker, Platbos nature walks, Goesa nature walks, Rugbos trail, Stinkhoutkloof, Salt River, Varinghout trail, Kalanderkloof and Grootriver trail.

All hiking trails in Knysna and Wilderness remain open and the Park’s planned launch of the Graspad cycling trail (Harkerville, Knysna) this coming Saturday, the 07th November 2015 continues.

-southcapenet