There-and-back

​​​Google Maps:

​​Start/End   Turn-around

Maximum Altitude: 1185m

Total Distance: 6.0km
(Google Maps)

Total Elevation-Gain: 600m

Specific Gradient: -80deg

Slope Length: 35m

Qualitative Danger: 4.5/5

The initial climb up along Bon e Crusher is steeper than that to the top of "Outeniqua View" across the road, on the south side of Outeniqua Pass, but shorter. It compares in steepness to climbing George Peak, starting at Arbour Road, and going up the front, but it's a significantly shorter hike than George Peak.
 
The rock scrambling reminds of that at the back of Cradock Peak, but it's a significantly taller climb than the scramble on Cradock Peak. Somehow, inexplicably, I felt more uncomfortable scrambling over the boulders on Vensterberg across the road, which was much more horizontal terrain. I enjoyed this scramble tremendously. Some other hikers might not enjoy the scrambling as much as I do. My entire scramble, both up and down, are recorded in this video, and, in the footage, the down does look rather more intimidating than the up. I think it looks worse than what it actually is - especially since this was one of my earlier videos, when I still wore the camera on a head mount, making the shots much more unstable than in my later videos where I carry the camera in my hand, or mount it on my backpack belt.
 
This hike was an amazing experience for me -- even more so than usual for any other. It felt as if everything just came together, and worked out perfectly, despite disagreements in the group regarding the way forward, and when to turn back. I felt grounded, balanced, centered, completely present, at peace and at ease the entire time, flowing perfectly in the moment, and the more I became aware of it, the better it got -- exponentially. There are probably many puns with the word "high" that might be appropriate, but I don't think any narcotic substance can give anyone such a feeling of quiet and calm well-being and enjoyment as I experienced on this hike.