"Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice."
Bethany Hamilton, American surfer
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ALBUM 1st October 2019
For captions or info click on i on the top right-hand side. A good way to go - the slideshow is found at the top of the page on the rt hand side by clicking on the 3 dots. Featured today – Central Kammanassie, Kleinmond, Ruitersbos, Harkerville and Out and About in the Southern Cape.
For names and captions of the photos used on this version of the Diaries - see the Album.
For earlier versions of the Outramps CREW Diaries
https://us17.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=be2accf3de565e1297257f79e&id=8113ba68c6
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HAT Evie in the central Kammanassie Mountains
I joined the South Cape section of the MCSA on an adventure into this remote corner near the head of the Kleusrivier. An area of deep gorges, rocky peaks and ridges, steep ascents and descents. Scenically it was wonderfully rewarding and some of the plants are unique to these mountains. This mountain range is relatively unknown - its make-up is a short chain running parallel, between the eastern Groot Swartberg and the Outeniquas.
Our group back-packed into the mountains to set up camp near the Kleusrivier. We set off with a bit of trepidation, as the local farmers had warned of very dry conditions and very little water coming off the mountain. Luckily, the 3 small streams at the head of the Kleusrivier were still flowing. Initially, a jeep track (on higher ground lined with gorgeous pink Agathosma ovata) helped us gain the upper slopes with relative ease. I say “relative”- a heavy backpack is never ideal! After this there were no further paths. It proved to be a great deal easier to hike, as a fire 20 months previously had cleared the original waist to shoulder-high Fynbos that we had encountered on previous trips in both 2015 & 2016! For the record, an archive photo is included on the Album
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From our base camp, we had 2 full days in which we were able to climb Perdeberg (1837m), as well as explore the ridgeline westwards towards Kammanassie Peak. Luckily, on the very dry dusty ground, I could recognize some of the resprouting and reseeding plants. On the upper rocky crags a few unburnt Fynbos pockets remain in good shape.
Many thanks to my fellow hikers for joining this trip, and for both their patience and interest in the plants, which are gradually making a comeback. My big hope is that there will be some good rains, and not floods in the future. The area could see serious erosion
Plants seen at high altitude include:
Protea punctata
Ground Protea tenax
Leucadendron spissifolium subs. fragrans
Leucadendron album
Numerous clumps of a spreading Phylica sp. (needs an ID)
Phylica meyeri
Old flowers on Syncarpha montana (R)
Pretty yellow Oedera decussata (R)
Agathosma pungens
Agathosma venusta
Dominant, colourful, resprouting Podalyria burchellii
Striking Anemone tenuifolia
Psoralea sp (? reseeder) in great abundance on the dry open ridges - currently had only empty flower heads.
Corymbium africanum is everywhere - flowers over.
Some of the Ericas seen
Erica discolor - as shiny, bright and sticky as ever.
New pockets of Erica strigilifolia in between rocky outcrops
Erica rosacea
Erica hispidula
Erica inamoena (R)
Erica andreaei
Old flowers on possibly Erica glandulipila (R)
Erica nervata; as well as a few I do not recognize!
Evie
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Outramps explore Kleinmond
Kleinmond: A Feast of Fynbos and an Arctic Fox
9/13 September 2019
Kleinmond lies in the embrace of the Bot River wetland to the east and the Palmiet river to the west. The coastal plain is flat and narrow. The dramatic backdrop behind and to the north of the town is the Three Sisters (634m) which runs parallel to the coast. Here, the north-south Cape Fold Mountains form a right-angle with the east-west range. Moreover, the Palmiet River valley and its rugged mountains form the unspoilt heart of the Cape Floristic region: It is known as the Kogelberg Nature Reserve.
The landscapes are magnificent and the plant diversity extraordinary. A large range of trails in the greater area allow for the delight of infinite exploration. Magriet Brink of Kogelberg CREW was invaluable in orientating us to the nature of the walks and plants to be encountered. We walked the Contour Path below the Three Sisters to Fairy Glen and explored the Palmiet marsh with Magriet; a short section of Rod’s Trail west of Betty’s Bay; the Three Sisters circuit and various ambles in and around the town and the coast.
To say that we literally tripped over interesting and Red Listed plants all the time would not be an exaggeration. The number of Red List plants noted is growing – twenty-six and counting.
The ‘Broadway Can Can – There’s-no-business-like-show-business-accolade’ goes to Mimetes hirtus (VU). It is a range restricted plant and under serious threat of urban expansion and civil unrest. The neighbouring community has set fire to the site before. These plants could not have stated their case more beautifully and eloquently to us. A stand of single-stemmed plants in full flower. Growing alongside - its ever-photogenic sister, Mimetes cucullatus is grinning from ear to ear. Can the zonation for this site be changed to allow for protection?
Other plants that stopped us dead in our tracks: Paranomus sceptrum-gustavianus (NT), Erica patersonii (EN), Brunia microphylla, Aulax cancellata, Erica retorta, Sonderothamnus petraeus (Rare), Lachnaea densifolia (NT), Leucospermum oleifolium.
Love at first sight: Erica bruniades, Diastella fraterna (Rare), Osmitopsis parvifolia (Rare), Erica holosericea, meadows of the russet restio Elegia stipularis, stands of Protea compacta (NT), Erica cristata, dainty Gladioli - Gladiolus bullatus & G. debilis, Geissorhiza ovata, Trachyandra hirsutiflora and Erica spumosa.
Magriet and Kogelberg CREW:
When Magriet came to tea it turned into a mini CREW workshop, exchanging ideas (interacting with municipalities - road verge mowing came up too!) and an impromptu iNaturalist demo. A photo of Ann’s Pomeranian Squiffus was used for an upload. Without a blink, mischievous iNaturalist identified Squiff as an Arctic Fox!
The past six years Magriet has made an incredible contribution in the Kogelberg area as a member of CREW. She mentioned that interest in this group is growing, given a boost by iNaturalist and Cape Town’s participation in the City Nature Challenge earlier this year. She is an enthusiastic member of the Caterpillar Rearing Group, they study and document the life histories of the insects for science. More information about this: https://www.lepsocafrica.org/?p=projects&s=crg and https://www.facebook.com/groups/caterpillarrg/
Sandra with Jenny and Ann
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Ruitersbos
Jan Vlok let us know that Leucospermum formosum (Endangered) was in bud and suggested that we make haste to see it. The Red List has this to say about this exquisite Catherine-Wheel Pincushion, "Three out of six known subpopulations are already extinct, and climate change models (Bomhard et al. 2005) predict a further population reduction of at least 50% by 2025". So we took our chances and headed for Ruitersbos on Friday 13th September. It proved to be our lucky day. Richard James from the Ruitersbos office came with us to have a look at this very special plant.
There was only 1 adult plant to be seen and it was in full flower. What was very encouraging - all the young plants in a radius of about 50x50m were approaching 50cm high. With luck and some decent rain, they should be flowering in about 2 years. What a show that's going to be.
Other rares seen on the day
Aspalathus digitifolia (Vulnerable)
Serruria fasciflora (Near Threatened). There were a number of adult plants, but stacks of babies coming up
Erica unicolor subsp. mutica (Endangered)
Protea coronata (Near Threatened)
Psoralea asarina (Near Threatened)
Thanks Jan for pointing us in the right direction. We had a simply marvellous day and many thanks to Richard for joining us for part of the day. It was great meeting up with you again.
tanniedi
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Harkerville - The Bearded Wonder
A couple of years ago, Johan Baard of SANparks was risking life and limb on the daunting cliffs of Harkerville hunting for a Bulbine. He was very surprised to come across a Gasteria perched perilously on a ledge on a vertical cliff-face. It was nothing like anything he'd seen before. He enlisted the aid of Ernst van Jaaarsveld, who confirmed it as a new species, described it and called it Gasteria barbae in honour of Johan.
Originally he discovered less that 10 plants, but after the 2017 Knysna fires, he could only find one plant. We met him at the Garden of Eden on Friday and then drove to the Harkerville cliffs to have another look. It was not ideal country for the crutcherati, although some of the others managed to do a fair bit of clambering. Still, they only found the one plant. I am wondering if our HAT and their rock-climbers in particular, shouldn't be enlisted to see if we can find more plants on those inhospitable cliffs. The plant is not yet on the Red List, but it will certainly be categorised as Critically Endangered, even if we find a few more.
It was great to see Johan again. Over the years, he bas been a great help to us. He is aways encouraging and his marvellous sense of humour is very entertaining. Dankie Johan for giving us the opportunity.
tanniedi
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Out and About in the Southern Cape
Waboomsberg
Clear weather and balmy temperatures are unusual on this mountain. We thoroughly enjoyed the conditions, although the northern side was hot towards the end of the day. As always, the views from the summit were mind-blowing. It is one of my favourite places on earth.
Disparago kolbei was stunning in pink and it was great to see the brilliant blue of Nivenia binata in full flower. HAT Evie captured a lovely photo of Syncarpha milleflora, which had escaped the burn. A vivid pink Indigofera was eye-catching, as it hugged the sandstone rocks. The regeneration of the vegetation has been very slow post-fire. This is no doubt due to the ongoing drought, which is choking the life out of the Klein Karoo.
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Goukamma
Do yourself a favour and get there. I have been hiking Goukamma since 1970 and I have never seen it so beautiful. Magenta-flowering Dipogon lignosus is festooned over every black stump and burnt tree. Adding to the spectacle, you have deep-pink Senecio elegans and the pale lilac of Felicia echinata. Bursts of sunshine-yellow are provided by Osteospermum moniliferum and Ursinia anethoides and chrysanthemoides.
Doing the boat-thing across the Goukamma River in a howling southeaster was quite an adventure, as we rode the waves whipped up by the gale-force winds. It was wonderful to see Thulani and Thabego (? spelling) and to send love to Melissa and Thubani, who we were sad to miss.
tanniedi
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Let’s magnify Greta’s girl power
As humans and Climate Change tangle in a "for better or worse" scenario - I am buying into the the positivity of the rapidly growing South African tsunami of #ImStaying and marvel at the courage and outrage of 16-year old GretaThunberg, as she speaks for the Earth at the UN Climate Action summit in New York. Many scoff at her endeavours, but she is right of course. It takes 7,7 billion humans to apply brakes. I simply have to believe that even my everyday contributions, times 7.7 billion, make a difference. Please buy in and do what you can too.
Sandra
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