Wolfkop 180: Balancing
Rock
A great
little hike with an easy but entertaining rock scramble up to a
stunning viewpoint which may be done as a fine circular route
taking in several nearby caches and is suitable for supervised
older children.
To reach
the cache:
Park @
Silvermine Gate 2 carpark (also known as Silvermine East or Wolfkop
carpark) preferably @ the last parking area @
S34
05.495 E18 25.381. There is
a R5 parking fee for visitors but free parking for Wildcard holders
– however please consider making a reasonable donation to
whoever may be looking after parked
vehicles.
Take the
trail heading east from here signposted Higher Steenberg Peak and
proceed to S34
05.476 E18 25.542 where you
will find a small trail heading south and around the western side
of a large rock and on up the rocky slopes of
Wolfkop.
Follow this
trail as it winds its way up through the rocks up to
S34
05.564 E18 25.564.
From here
make your way the approx 10m west to the prominent boulder balanced
on the edge of the mountain.
The cache,
a small cylindrical camo-container, is hidden down in a gap in the
rocks just to the north of this balancing
rock.
This is a
great spot to have a rest/eat break whilst absorbing the view and
the airy location. We were there on a nice calm day - no doubt when
winds are strong, extra care will be needed when moving around here
– although the cache location is not near any
edges.
From here,
one could simply return by the same route, but it is better to
continue as follows.
Pick up the
trail above the balancing rock and head further along and up the
trail which crosses the top part of Wolkop, passing a little below
the actual summit rocks. At or around S34
05.594 E18 25.619 you should
find a more distinct trail - join this heading right
(south-east).
At
S34
05.630 E18 25.683 (where you
will be just 40m away from the Silvermine
Tales - 2 The Rancorous Wolf cache
GC336A) take the trail junction left fork and
continue to the next junction @ S34
05.706 E18 25.849.
Going
straight on here will take you on to Higher Steenberg Peak and over
to the eastern parts of Silvermine but if you wish to return to
your car, take a left turn to head down a link path leading to
Wolfkop Steps and joining this main trail at
S34
05.663 E18 25.855. At this
junction the Wolfkop
Steps cache (GC1QBWP) is less
than 30m away up the trail hidden in the rocky outcrop.
Follow the steps down and
the trail around the foot of Wolfkop, passing a few metres south of
the Amandla and
the Sleeping Dragon cache (GC2171G)
and continuing until you reach your
starting point.