Verlatenkloof Pass
This is a quick cache-and-dash roadside cache at the top of this pass with views far to the south and (it is assumed, as it was dry during our visit) of a nearby waterfall to the east.
This famous 15km pass on the way to Sutherland winds its way nearly 1,000m up the steep slopes of the Roggeveld mountains. Until 1874 there was limited access to reach Sutherland and a pass was set out by Thomas Bain, son of the famous Andrew Bain who (amongst other passes) built the famous Bainskloof Pass near Wellington.
Work started in 1874, with a Scotsman, William Hesketh appointed to carry out the work which was completed the next year.
It took a ox-wagon drawn by donkeys (= donkey-wagon?) to move supplies from Matjiesfontein to Sutherland – 14 days there and back! A post wagon with 4 horses delivered the mail and sometimes people as well taking only 4 days to do the trip. Fresh horses were used halfway to the town.
Hesketh undertook to build the pass at his own expense until the government had the required funds. When payment day came the government did not have money to pay him and gave him a farm – Klipbanksrivier, at the foot of the pass – in lieu of payment!
Halfway up the pass (no details of location) is a stone with his name carved on it and the date 1875.
The steepest part of the pass towards the top has the name ‘Dankie-en-asseblief’ – ‘Thank you-and-please’ – ‘Thank you’ because the wagons could get up the pass, and ‘please’ that in future the trek over the mountains will be successful again!
The cache, a small pharmaceutical camo-container (approx the size of a 35mm film canister) is hidden @ ground level @ an elevation of 1,530m on the south-east side of an obvious prominent rock under some other rocks.