ROUTE
PROLOGUE #cangocarnival
Hewn by millennia of underground rivers flowing through Precambrian limestones the Cango Caves provide the unique starting point for the Dryland Traverse. Heading underground, from the start ramp, the Prologue time trial takes trail runners on an unforgettable underground adventure. Magical photo opportunities beckon for the less competitive while the racers will have to watch out for low hanging stalactites in the first subterranean kilometre before emerging into the afternoon sunlight and following the Grobbelaars river uphill towards De Hoek over the remaining 8.5 kilometres. Rocky Klein Karoo running, through stands of ancient Acacia Karoo thorn trees and the spekboom super-plants, set the scene for a carnival of trail running over the coming three days.
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FINISH
Mountain resort
DISTANCE
ELEVATION GAIN
STAGE 1 #Swartbergsugarbush
New trails await atop the spectacular Swartberg Mountains, as do veritable forests of the Swartberg Sugarbush, Protea montana. Starting at Ou Tol the first 1.5 kilometres are on the Swartberg Pass and then Die Hel gravel roads. After a leg loosening opening the trail and the climbing begin as the race takes on a Cape Nature footpath that ascends to 1 900 metres above sea level. From the highest point the Dryland Traverse has ever visited a technical descent takes trail runners down to Die Top, the summit of the Swartberg Pass, and onto the established Stage 1 route. The jeep track to the Bothashoek mountain hut thrills with untouched fynbos; while the descent to De Hoek offers views, across the Swartberg foothills, of unrivalled beauty. The final 7 kilometres, of the 27.3-kilometre stage, may be downhill but their technicality will demand conditioning and effective energy management.
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ELEVATION GAIN
STAGE 2 #lenteindiekleinkaroo
To misquote Koos Kombuis: “dit was lente in die Klein Karoo… al die drawwers het baljaar.” Starting at De Kombuys Stage 2 is a day of undulations and trails through ever changing scenery. Showing off the diversity of the Klein Karoo, after a wet winter, the route winds through the bushveld towards the brimming Raubenheimer Dam. There the climbing begins in earnest, ascending a koppie and dropping back to De Kombuys. The final 10 kilometres of the route trends uphill, passing Cango once more and following a mix of jeep and singletracks back to De Hoek through farm lands, along the Hoeksrivier and across low ridgelines vegetated with spekboom.
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ELEVATION GAIN
STAGE 3 #sundayshakeout
After Saturday night’s Deep-Sea Jamboree, Stage 2.5, Sunday’s Stage 3 is a short shakeout. The 10 kilometre loop heads south east towards Drupkelderkop, without the exertion of summiting the peak before dropping into the Grobbelaars river valley. Running up river the course resembles a school cross-country circuit, through a poplar grove, before tracing the foot of a craggy cliff back towards De Hoek. A low but steady gradient provides the final 500 metre drag uphill, making for the ideal place to sprint for the final finish line. Across the line, Biogen recovery drinks and Bavaria non-alcoholic beers, complete the weekend’s festivities.
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