I was plugging in an old hard drive recently, looking for some work files, when I came across a folder of old photos. Among them were the photos from my Boland 90. I haven’t seen these in years!
A few moments of mental arithmetic later, and I realised this was 20 (!!) years ago. The best part? Before we get into it, let me explain what the Boland 90 actually is… or was.
Ready, go, set.
The race
The Boland 90 was an annual hiking competition held in the Hottentots Holland Mountains near Grabouw. Teams of four hiked for three consecutive days, covering 30km a day and 90km in total, carrying full hiking packs.
The compulsory kit list included a sleeping bag, warm clothes, emergency rations, a stove and all the other things you need to survive three days in the mountains. Each morning, before the start, our packs were weighed to make sure they met the minimum weight requirement. I think it was 20kg or 25kg for the women, but I can't remember exactly. Maybe someone reading this might remember.
On top of the hiking, there were various tasks to complete along the way, all contributing to your final score. I remember a fynbos identification test and a navigation test, among others.
The race followed a cloverleaf format, with the base camp next to the dam, where all the teams camped.
How I got here.
At the start of my second year, in 2006, I transferred from the University of Pretoria to Stellenbosch and joined the Berg- en Toerklub, in short BTK (hiking club). I did my first-ever five-day pack hike with them in April that year.
I can't remember exactly which month the Boland 90 took place, but my enthusiasm far exceeded my experience. By a country mile. Luckily for me, the team needed a fourth member. And I was willing!
Our girls' team was called the Bergnimfe (Mountain Fairies), while the boys were the Bergbokke (Mountain Goats). We were all good friends through the hiking club, and some of our friends came along to crew for us. *Read: cook for us. Which is a VERY important job.
Footcare?!
As a complete newbie, I knew absolutely nothing about foot care or hiking gear. I wore brand-new Hi-Tec hiking boots with brand-new red hiking socks (a BTK-tradition).
Needless to say, my feet were covered in blisters from day one. Our wonderful crew did their best to keep me taped up, but there was only so much they could do.
Knowing what I know now, I have to say that hiking boots might have changed over the years, but holey moley, they're savage. Tough. And not exactly gentle on your feet. Unless they're extremely well worn-in, of course. Which is something you have to earn as a hiker.
Forever grateful
I don't remember a huge amount about the route itself. What I do remember is being pretty impressed, even then, that I'd managed to complete it with so little knowledge or experience.
Without a doubt, the credit goes to the women I hiked with. They supported me, believed in me and got me through it. I remember us taking weight out of each other's packs when one of us was struggling. We got through it together.
Thank you, Bergnimfe.
I'm incredibly grateful for those teammates and those three days helped me fall in love with long days in the mountains and taught me that I'm capable of a lot more than I sometimes think.
And the cherry on top?
We won the women's category!
