GC3HTE4 Granddad's Dynamite (Traditional Cache) in Western Cape, South Africa created by mlornelh

GC3HTE4 ▼

A cache by mlornelh Message this owner

Hidden : 4/6/2012

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Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

First find your way to Nel’s Cave on Towerkop, Ladismith, West Cape. Yes, it’s in the cave. Whew, no need to climb the summit! Sign log sheet and help yourself a souvenir but please do not leave anything. Thanks. This cache commemorates our Granddad, CJ Nel.

NEL’S CAVE

There is on Towerkop a cave
A magical cave
On whose walls is written, from eons past
The words, “C J NEL”, intrepid and brave.

From here the views are breathtakingly vast.
There is water that drips cool and clear,
To refresh at least 8 hikers, most times of the year.

Further along the face after a short comfortable stroll,
Is a small black cave that is called the “Black Hole”.
Here you will find a plaque in his memory
For CJ Nel has gone down in history.

Exactly who was this CJ Nel
Whose memory is so hard to quell?
A husband to Grace,
And Father of five,
grandchildren were twelve, Of whom I am one
and this I can trace.

To all generations his mountain stories are being passed down,
Such as picking mountain proteas, for folks in Ladismith town.
So passionate was he for Towerkop’s fame,
That in May 1935 for King George V jubilee to acclaim
He climbed to the cave, and his fireworks display gave locals great delight
But this pales in comparison as to why this Buttress and Cave bear his name
For he enlarged the cave by using sticks of dynamite!

Written by Lorraine Harty April 2012 © All rights reserved

Towerkop Mountain is 2189m and is one of the 5 major peaks in the Klein Swartberg range and is the landmark for the town of Ladismith, Western Cape, South Africa. Towerkop's famous split divides the summit into 2 pinnacles. To the South of the main pinnacles is Nel’s Buttress where Nel’s cave is located at its south face. Pack your hiking gear, wear long pants and gloves and get ready for an overnight adventure in a cave. Definitely can’t go by bike. For those who enjoy hiking, there are quite a few in this vicinity. Stanley’s Light and Seweweekspoort, to name a couple.Go to www.towerkopinfo.co.za.
Currently there are no access restrictions to the mountain but parking area is on Mr le Grange Volschenk’s farm so please call him to let him know how many hikers in your group or leave your name and number and he will call you back. 028 5512037. Park your car and start walking round 6am in the morning. Will take 4 hours to the hut where you can top up the water bottle. Then 4 hours up to the cave. There is water available in the cave but do not scoop up out of the small water pool, but rather let it drip from the roof of the cave into your mug. It takes about 15mins to fill a mug. If not much water dripping in the cave then you need to walk round to the Water Cave. See photos and maps on www.towerkopinfo.co.za. Enjoy the spectacular views, as well as sunset and sunrise, making a fire, and a good rest. On your hike don’t forget to enjoy all the beautiful flowers such as proteas and wild lavender growing on the mountain. Rub your gloves on the lavender and enjoy the fragrance.
Ladismith was quite a poor community and in the early 1900’s CJ Nel would climb the mountain (they said he used to run up), pick bunches of proteas and then sell them down in the town of Ladismith. Today of course this is forbidden. I know the urge is strong to pick a protea but please leave all fauna and flora as is. Towerkop Mountain is the landmark of this town and is also the logo for the local School which has a National Monument status. The school can be visited even during school hours.

Today CJ Nel’s ashes rest in the Black Hole (not a hole in the ground, but it looks more like a black cave in the side of the rocky mountain) and there is a plaque in his memory. Climb up and take a pic of yourself next to the plaque and post it on the geocache site. In May 1935 for King George V Silver Jubilee, CJ Nel climbed the mountain to the cave with his 8 year old son, Madoc Nel (who was the youngest of his 5 children) to let off a whole bunch of fireworks to celebrate this event. Our Uncle Madoc has climbed the mountain about 100 times since 1935, and his last climb was when he was 80 years old. The Nel clan is growing and every year they get together in Ladismith about Easter time, sometimes to climb to the cave and sometimes just to meet and enjoy fellowship and friendship.