LIVE LIFE
Had a good day with the team from Puma, having them construct rafts in a beautiful location at Simola Estate in Knysna. Once rafts were constructed teams raced them across the river in a relay event.
You can contact us for any special team build needs. We customize our activities to best fufill the aim of the team build.
From the 13th to the 17th of October there will be no trips going out as we will be doing the river safety on this great event.
We did a two day whitewater kayaking trip down a beautiful section of river between Calitzdorp and Herbertsdale. We were entertained by so much wildlife through these remote gorges. (Klipspringer, Otters, Dassies, Baboons, Kudu, Bontebok, Fish Eagle, Water turtles) The river consists of long flats with a few nice rapids which I would grade at about a class 3. Best to scout the bigger rapids for holes, siphons and strainers.
Some thing to watch out for when making fire is an exotic invasive species on this river system called Oleander, this plant is very poisonous and you don’t want to throw it’s wood on the fire. Cooking on it’s wood can be fatal and the smoke inhalation not to pleasant. So make sure you know what wood you are collecting when making a fire!
Can definitely recommend this as a nice 2 day river trip, with an easy put in at Calitzdorp Spa and a take out at 1st tar road bridge below Herbertsdale.
Has been a few great days for me with all the rivers in flood. When water levels rise, I drop all to go whitewater kayaking since this does not happen often and one needs to make the most of the time when it does. Most rivers in the area are technical creeks with pool drops, waterfalls and technical rock gardens to navigate. Makes for adrenaline pumping kayaking but only for experienced paddlers. Many danger spots in these rivers and rescue in many places is not an option. You go in with the knowledge that if things go wrong thats it, you get yourself out or die trying. Most people think we crazy but for me crazy is spending your time in a office not doing what you love! Pushing my limits makes me feel alive and being out in nature where few have been before makes it all worth it.
Fortunately for me my friend Ico Schutte just got back from river guiding in Canada, so I had a crazy friend to join me on whatever the rains had to offer. First river we took on was a new one in the Karoo through Paardepoort, called the Doring river. This is normally a very small stream most of the year but was a raging torrent of water on the 1 September 2015 bursting its banks over farmlands. Not sure if anyone has ever actually done this river before, highly unlikely. Very dangerous due to many strainers, from tree blocks to fence lines and trees running the rapids alongside you! If it wasn’t for all the exotic invasive tree species (Wattle) along this river causing the problems, it would be a very nice section to run. Only had one descent rapid before it got so congested by the wattle that we called it a day and took a long run back to our vehicle in the pouring rain.
Then on 2 September 2015 we ran Meiringspoort above a small town called De Rust. This river drops just as quickly as it picks up and one has a very small window of opportunity to paddle it, not unlike most rivers in the Western Cape. Due to this few paddlers have had the privilege to experience this river. I have been blessed to be able to do it 3 times in my life so far, most likely more than any of the other handful of paddlers that have ever done it. This is the only river in the area where you have the luxury of a road running alongside the river making it nice to take a support crew along who can organize coffee stops along the way! If you have ever driven through this poort you will know the river bed is strewn with huge boulders. Running it at flood you are constantly navigating in-between these rock gardens dropping down between the boulders. Watch out for siphons, holes and strainers. ”Oh, and nearly forgot about the road bridges” This is a very nice relatively easy paddle if you a competent paddler, if you go upside down though you have problems and a rock in the face is highly likely. The gradient drops constantly and very few flat sections keeps things interesting. The scenery is unbelievable and paddling through this poort really gives you the time to enjoy it. I will always be grateful for Sean Evans with whom I did this river with many years ago as one of my firsts in a whitewater kayak and for showing me the ropes back then!
Vibram FiveFingers’ outdoor trail shoes review
Over the last few years I have been testing out a few different brands to see how they last in mountainous environments.
For the last three months I have been testing Vibram FiveFingers’ minimalist trail running shoes, the Spyridon LS model, as well as their men’s Maiori outdoor shoes, in various extreme conditions to see how they will last. This is also the first time I have tried this barefoot style of shoe, so I had no idea what to expect. A few of my friends that have them swear by them and have stopped wearing anything else, so I thought I’d give them a try.
Spyridon LS
Tested while trail running, hiking, climbing, canyoning and kayaking, I was impressed from the first outing with these trail-running-specific models.
They provided a nice balance of the barefoot feel and protection on rugged surfaces. The aggressive-tread design provided good grip, while allowing for proper barefoot dynamics. Running across a boulder field never felt so cool.
The shoes were often exposed to canyoning and were therefore constantly wet from walking and swimming in them down rivers. Swimming in these shoes was so much better than normal trail shoes, and when I wanted to do a quick, unplanned scramble or rock climb they proved very handy with the aggressive rubber sole around toes providing great traction.
I even went so far as to test them out on a Grade 20 climbing route and once again they managed very well.
Over the past three months, I have put these shoes through a lot in the mountains and rivers and they have continued to impress with their performance. The soles are still good although the sole does start seperating from around the toe areas and the material around the toes tends to tear.
Maiori
Tested while canyoning, hiking and kayaking, the Maiori is for more intense water activities. The design helps keep sand and debris out when walking in the water. The 2 mm neoprene upper provides a secure fit, added ankle protection and kept my feet nice and warm in the cold mountain water.
The soles are thinner than the Spyridon, so you get a more pronounced barefoot feel in them. The grip on the soles is really good in wet conditions, even over rocks and boulders.
However, you want to avoid walking in them for a long portage with your kayak or over very bad terrain because the rubber soles are thin and soft and don’t do well in a technical approach hike. They want to be in a water environment, so rather do the hike to the river in something else. Furthermore, the neoprene will get destroyed quickly in our mountainous-fynbos environment.
These shoes are not as hardy as the Spyridon LS, but you need to remember that they are specifically for use in water and therefore use on land will destroy them. As a result of this, I often used the Spyridons for approach trails to canyons and only then put on the Maioris at the river.
The Maiori have not held up as well as the Spyridon, even though they have not been worn nearly as much. After only a few uses in the canyon, a number of spots occurred where the sole and uppers were separating. However, water environments are harsh on shoes and I have not found a shoe that hasn’t started separating from the sole; it’s only a matter of time.
Conclusion
Vibram FiveFingers’ shoes are one of the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. Your feet muscles develop so much and your toes actually start straightening and are not bunched up in the way normal shoes affect our feet. I saw a difference in my feet quite quickly and their muscle development. I seriously feel faster when running up a climb in these shoes, with my foot placing being as it should be.
Vibram FiveFingers’ Spyridon LS shoes are light, easy to pack and take up very little space. As a result, they would be my first choice to take with on backpacking trips, to wear around the camp after taking off my boots from a long hike. I found Vibram FiveFingers’ Spyridon LS to be a nice all-rounder and would recommend them if you like being out in the rough terrain and not knowing what the next obstacle might be.
So far the Spyridon’s have lasted well, passing the three-month mark and are still going strong. I am quite sure that I’ll be using them for a while still.
As mentioned earlier, Vibram FiveFingers’ Maiori shoes are water specific and a good choice for water sports. They kept my feet warm and proved to be more comfortable than any other water shoe I’ve tried. They are also a very popular shoe for kiteboarders.
Although they have separated in a few places, they have not hampered the shoes performance as yet and should last through another canyoning season. They are definitely not as hardy as the Spyridon’s and won’t last as long.
The Maiori and Spyridon LS both get the thumbs up from me.
More information
Vibram FiveFingers has a range of specific models for various uses, as can be seen on their website: http://www.theoriginalminimalistshoes.co.za
– See more at: http://www.doitnow.co.za/content/vibram-fivefingers-outdoor-trail-shoes-review?
This months issue: http://www.doitnow.co.za/content/do-it-now-magazine-31-july-2015-0
