GPS
‘God’s Positioning Service’
The most southerly peak in the Twelve Apostles range in the Cape Peninsula is known as Judas Peak. For the Monday Mountaineers, climbing the peak on Monday 14th February the name was particularly apt as our collective memory ‘betrayed’ us on the day! Perhaps it was because it was Valentine’s Day, or maybe it was the heat!
A group of eight Monday Mountaineers (all retired men) began the climb from Hout Bay at 08h30. Even at that hour the sun was beating down but as our climb was up the beautiful Myburgh Waterfall Ravine we climbed in the welcome shade of the ravine forest. Being summertime the ravine was dry and we were able to ‘boulder hop’ a long way up the ravine with the steep rock faces rising up on either side of us. As we neared the apex of the ravine we had to do some mild rock climbing up the face of the dry waterfall then we all scrambled up and out of the ravine into the bright sunshine.
With Grootkop on our right and Judas peak on our left we made our way across the plateau where, fortunately, there was somewhat of a breeze to cool us down. We enjoyed our lunch in the shade at the top of Pimple Gorge then set off to make our descent via Llandudno Ravine back to Hout Bay. And that’s where it all went wrong! We followed the wrong path down the ravine until we reached a point where we could go no further! In the discussion that followed the reasons for our dilemma varied from, ‘there must have been washaways since we were last here’ to, ‘no, this is the wrong path’. So, still in good spirits, though feeling the effects of the heat we retraced our steps. Back up to the top again! Then began the hunt for the correct path. Frustrating, because way down, about 300 metres below us we could see where we had to get to but just where was the path down?
After about an hour and a half of searching up and down, the heat intensifying and water resources beginning to run low a decision was made that we ought to retrace our steps and go all the way back and down the way we had come up in the morning. It was certainly a long and tedious option but one which would get us down the mountain, albeit very much later that we had planned. It was then that I realised that, despite in all my teaching about the Christianity of the Celts and their understanding of the presence of God always, I was being a very poor example of what I teach. I had direct access to God’s Positioning System and I wasn’t availing myself of that privilege! So, I began to talk to God and to tell him that the guys were really getting tired, that our water was running low and that the heat was sapping our energy. Of course God knew all that before I told him, but then I added, ‘Lord you know exactly where the path down Llandudno Ravine is hiding, please would you give me just a little inspiration and direction.’ Sure enough, I hadn’t gone very far when I saw it! It had to be the way down, so I called to the guys to ask if I may check out the path I had ‘found.’ Apart from a few calls that we’d already been down that way and that it was the wrong path, most of the guys were too weary to dissuade me. So off I went, full of confidence and, sure enough, it was the way down. Praise God!
Everyone followed and as I thanked God for showing me the path I thought I heard him say, ‘Eric why did it take you so long to ask?’
It was still along way down the ravine and as we made our way along the narrow path against the cliff face (appropriately named Eureka Face on Peter Slingsby’s map) the sun was baking down and with the rocks radiating the heat back at us the temperatures must have reached close to 40 degrees. (Joyce later told me that the temperature in the shade on our verandah in Fish Hoek had reached 32 degrees)
By the time our group arrived back at the cars we had been on the mountain about ten hours while two other of our members, who made their way back via another known and safe route, only got off the mountain about thirteen hours after setting off in the morning. For the last hour walking along the Orange Kloof jeep track in the moonlight, in cell phone contact and with transport waiting for them at Constantia Nek.
Praise God that we’re all safe and a salutary reminder to me that, though I may not own a GPS, I have a relationship with the One who sees
and knows every path and every road and I trust that he will always be my ‘GPS.’
Every blessing in Christ Jesus.
+Eric
16th February 2011
Shuu Dad! You guys have some serious adventures on Mondays!!!!!!!