Members of the Khuduga Square Mini Hikers’ leisure adventure to reach the peak of the Thaba Nchu Mountain provided the perfect opportunity to learn that humans indeed coexists with nature. This they realised on their third embarkment to the mountain during the weekend of 25 March.
The 20-member group was formed in January last year, with two tours undertaken shortly thereafter in April and October.
The mountain, after which the town is named after, is also known as Blesberg in Afrikaans or bald mountain in English. The name originates from the fact that the mountain peak does not have big natural vegetation. The peak is also flat – rightly another Table Mountain.
Kelebogile Khuduga (42) and Paseka Setlai (54) said the first expedition to the mountain was a gruelling assignment for everyone.
They had mixed feelings due to spooky stories people often narrate about what some others experienced on their journey to the mountain peak.
The stories range from spiritual belief and practices to evil spirits that haunt the mountain on account of witchcraft. One tale that stands out is of a huge two-headed snake that inhabits the peak.
It was all in a day’s work for the hikers to conquer their fear of the mountain, with its highest peak at approximately 2 138 m high.
“We all went to the mountain peak and returned safely, having had none of the bad experiences we heard about when one wants to go explore this mountain,” said Setlai (54).
Born and bred in Thaba Nchu, they had never tried exploring the mountain until last year. On their journey, the group also came across a water dip (a bowl-shaped water basin) that provides water all year.
Setlai said apart from the natural feature, they even came close to the nearby radio tower which transmits signals to most mobile devices in the area.
“The radio tower is accessible from the south and adds to the beautiful peak of this mountain which we were discouraged from exploring through terrifying stories,” said Setlai.
Climbing to the mountain peak has become a routine whereby members take along partners, especially among the youth. Khuduga said this time she took along her two sons, Odirile (14) and Omphemetse (18), as well as her brother, Phallo (35).
“We are working on recruiting youths, purposely to prevent them falling victim to drug and substance abuse,” said Khuduga.
Having received support by means of hiking attire, Setlai said they plan to form a tour guide club. These donors are Queen Gaoboinelwe Moroka, Thabo Mokgotlwane, and the funeral parlour groups Ponelopele, Ratlou, and Khabonina.
Because of the terrifying stories told about the mountain, many believed that no one had ever set foot on its peak. To the amazement of the Khuduga hikers, the peak was “conquered” several years prior. Evidence thereof is the tragic death of Niall Clark, a climber and member of the Free State section of the Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA).
Allegedly, the climber fell from the top of the route on 24 February 1963 when his rope snapped. Celebrating his life and love for nature, his widow, Julie, placed a plaque at the spot on 19 May 1963, which would have marked their first wedding anniversary. Reportedly, the plaque was stolen in 1998.
