Baboons Pass - Roughrider - Winter June 16th 2012

**Roughrider** · 2012/05/27, 06:17 PM

Well, a revisit of our 16th June 2011 Winter, snow, minus 7 degrees memorial trip and our 1st June 2011 Jeep recovery trip, twice in fourteen days. Jan, whose Jeep we recovered (Sakkie, myself, Willie, George, Ian and Jan, three vehicles) decided that we have to undertake a memorial trip to Baboons on the same June the 16th Date, this year. Well we are leaving for Baboons and hope this time we dont hit the snow, and good weather prevails. Jan is taking his Jeep and I will take the Smurficon, I do believe that Willie and Sakkie will be joining us, a formidable team. This time the the journey should be a breeze.(Famous last words) Looking forward to it, a good strong team with lots of experience

**HeinrichC** · 2012/05/27, 06:24 PM

Good luck, I am sure you will enjoy it with the Smurficon!

**Sakkie** · 2012/05/27, 06:28 PM

Everything working out, I'll be competing in the fundi event somewhere in the Free State on the Saturday 16th, meaning we can only get to Ramabanta late Saturday evening.

At this stage it's 99% sure that we'll be there.

I hope there will be falling snow. I want to wake up because the snow is collapsing my tent

**Dirk** · 2012/05/27, 06:30 PM

Well good luck and have a jol!

**Roughrider** · 2012/05/27, 06:53 PM

Some pics of the rescue in July 2011 to wet Sakkie's palette - I hope it will be snowing as well, this time a good snow fight, it will be lovely to see you guys again, Jan's wife's water broke tonight, he assured me he will still be bok to meet at Ramabanta, we are travelling from PE together.

**Roughrider** · 2012/05/27, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by Sakkie

Everything working out, I'll be competing in the fundi event somewhere in the Free State on the Saturday 16th, meaning we can only get to Ramabanta late Saturday evening.

At this stage it's 99% sure that we'll be there.

I hope there will be falling snow. I want to wake up because the snow is collapsing my tent

A sleeping bag full of snow sounds good, we will arrange it....

andre` · 2012/05/27, 07:01 PM

Journey should be a breeze. First 16km is maintained. There`s a Mercedes 1517 truck coming down the pass every morning. Last 8km is still the same.

**Roughrider** · 2012/05/27, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by Dirk

Well good luck and have a jol!

Thanks Dirk, it will be a new challenge doing it with a manual and not an auto.

**Roughrider** · 2012/05/27, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by HeinrichC

Good luck, I am sure you will enjoy it with the Smurficon!

Hope the Rubi outperforms the Sahara,

**jande7777r** · 2012/06/01, 08:37 PM

``Waking to falling snow`` NOW that is getting me going, that would make it a perfect trip.

Having to clear the snow to make a braai

I hope there will be falling snow. I want to wake up because the snow is collapsing my tent[/QUOTE]

**Sampie** · 2012/06/04, 05:54 PM

Andre,

Are we meeting at Ramabanta on Friday or Saturday late evening,
when will we start the trail?, are we going to sleep over?,
Talk to me!!

**Roughrider** · 2012/06/04, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by Sampie

Andre,

Are we meeting at Ramabanta on Friday or Saturday late evening,
when will we start the trail?, are we going to sleep over?,
Talk to me!!

see PM

**OFFROAD ADDICT** · 2012/06/04, 07:04 PM

Hey Roughrider, long time no hear,

Blue smurf

must be ok now.
The Protons have made a highway up there now i hear.
Seriously go and enjoy and post some more of your amazing photos.
ORA

**Sampie** · 2012/06/09, 08:45 PM

As dit so koud is hier gaan ons volgende weekend vries op baboons!!

**Sampie** · 2012/06/10, 06:13 PM

TJ gepak en gereed vir diè naweek se trippie,

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Oubaas Sakkie, moet ek maar die sneeukettingkies regkry?

**Sakkie** · 2012/06/11, 05:16 PM

Myne is klaar in die plestiek box.

Ek het gister op gery van Durban af na Saterdag se rugby. Kan jy glo al die vlugte was vol. Moes maar kar huur om terug te kom. Op Ladysmith al het van die bergtoppe klompie km in die suide wit gelê van die sneeu, en aan Harrysmith se kant presies dieselfde. Die berg pieke daar is so tussen 2900 en 3400m. Op Baboons slaap ons op 2400m, en die bo punt draai so rondom 2700m as ek reg onthou. Dis laer as die sneeu wat ek gesien het van die N3 af, maar 170km meer suid, so moeilik om te sê presies wat voorlê.

Ek gaan voorbereid asof hy snot glad ge-ys is....ek stel voor jy doen ook so

**Henris** · 2012/06/15, 02:11 PM

Nou kyk nou.

Ek is van die lug af vir 2 weke en julle gaan speel.

Damn damn.

**HeinrichC** · 2012/06/15, 06:38 PM

I flew from JHB to PE earlier today, there is quite a bit of snow on the Lesotho mountains, good luck to you Guys!

**HeinrichC** · 2012/06/17, 09:30 PM

Are you Guys back yet?

**Sakkie** · 2012/06/19, 06:06 PM

Yea we're back, and what a disappointment. Baboons have been turned into a dirt road. I'm serious.

In 2008 we went up to the school at Ha Mpepe, and that 14km took us 12 hours. 12 hours of rocks, rubber, sweat and....no, not tears, but a lot of blue finger nails, sore backs, etc, etc. Everything related to a helluva lot of hard work.

We left Ramabanta at just short of 10, stopped a LOT for photos, and reached the school in an hour and a half, driving a dirt road. I'm not kidding. There is not a single rock to negotiate. The planned sleep-over place just short of "Slide-your-arse" we hit at 12H00. At this point I just wanted to get home. We really wasted serious preparation, and drove over 500km to experience a farm-style dirt road.

At least the reunion Saturday evening made up for the dissapointment. It was really great seeing you again Jan, and meeting the other two Port Elizebetonians.

Here is a pic of the new Baboons...