Montrose Falls – Park and Huck

 

With the extreme race during the Blyde Festival on the Saturday being over and done with, we decided to check out Montrose Falls. It would mean a slight detour but we had the whole day and weren’t in a hurry. Paul Hay had told us that the dam was releasing water for the farmers so we were in luck, big time!

Driving around the dam again we turned off towards Bourke’s Luck potholes and shortly after that, took a turn via a dirt road to Pilgrims Rest. We grabbed a lunch in Sabie and carried on up. With the drought still hanging heavily over the country we were happy that the Kwena Dam was releasing water but we still had our doubts. All doubting was quickly dispelled as we heard the roar of the water, a short walk through some long grass and it was confirmed. The level was very nice and I would later confirm it to be about 8 m^3/s. Not bad at all considering this is a reasonably small river.

 

 

The pool below the falls looked vacant, as we didn’t want to be running the falls into the open jaws of an angry hippo. The hippo on this river has been the subject of much debate over the last year or so, concerned parties being paddlers, mostly, and also farmers and nature conservationists. For more information or if you wish to join in the fun, leave your reply HERE.

 

With video and still photographers getting position, we scaled the near vertical walls river right of the falls and hoisted the boats up with a throw bag. Unfortunately the sun was not in our favor and the quality of the video and photos is not the best. An early morning run of the falls would produce far better photographs.

 

With Luke running Thrombosis Falls the last time first, it was my turn to do this one. As I got my boat into position to just upstream of the falls, I noticed that my drain plug was missing. How could this be! My darling creek boat had been violated by someone, or some way. I looked upon my poor boat with a deep sense of loss… J When we left the ferry after the Blyde event, the boats remained behind and that’s the last we saw of them. I guess someone must have helped themselves to it. It is possible that is got ripped off somewhere but unlikely. I always make sure it’s tight as I know people love loosening them in eddies as practical jokes. In any case, what’s done is done. Enough analysing the past!

 

I seal launched into the pool, without my drain plug, and was amazed as to how cold the water was. (for South African standards). This time I wasn’t that nervous compared to Thrombosis and my heart wasn’t really beating too much at all. I lined up and paddled straight. The water coming from above the lip, from another drop, hit me on the head and obscured my vision. I didn’t really expect it to block my vision that much and I got a bit of a fright when all of a sudden I was looking at the pool far below. You can see in the photo my paddle is perpendicular to the boat and I’m leaning back a touch, I guess that was because I was a little surprised. I managed to tuck still and got some excellent down time. I love going down and hearing the water roar. It’s such an incredible feeling and I suppose only a master story teller like Wilbur Smith could leave you with a similar feeling.

 

Adrian Tregoning running it first, a little surprised. Photo by Luke Longridge.

 

Luke Longridge running Montrose Falls in his Fluid Flirt Large.

 

Adrian Tregoning with some better form. Photo by Luke Longridge.

 

Luke and I ended up having three runs each. All three good runs and I managed to come out upright all three times but my final run was not the best. I ran a little too far left and hit the protruding rock with the bow of my boat on the left hand side. It rotated me a little in the air but my landing was still alright, going under but coming upright.

 

Luke Longridge again.

 

Montrose Falls is roughly nine meters high and almost a really steep slide. It is very easy to run and there is no suck back at the bottom. Just line up nice and accurate before the lip and then you’re sorted. There is a rock about a meter and a half down on the left and you want to miss this. To the right is more of a slot. So in between the two obstructions, so to speak.

 

If you’re new to running waterfalls then this is a good one to run. A lower one, at about 5 meters is the last waterfall on the short waterfall section on the Umzimkulu. An awesome drop and perfect for freewheels. At higher levels it forms a biggish hole at the bottom that can beat you. Then the next waterfall could be Montrose. Less than 300 km from Johannesburg and not too dangerous. When I say not too dangerous, you could always hit the rock on the left, boof it, land flat and end up in a wheel chair but chances are you’ll be killed in a car accident on the N4 with all the maniacs driving at 200 km/h + before. No big drop is ‘safe’ and there is always a small danger but nothing the average kayaker can’t handle.

 

As Grant Morshead explained to my mother the one day, you’re driving your car at 120 and the car coming from the other side may be doing a similar speed. If you move across in front of the other car, you’ll probably be killed but you don’t. You know the rules and stay in your lane and play by the rules too. As a maths teacher, Mr Celliers, (ironically enough J) always told us, “mathematics is a game, just play by the rules.”

Same as kayaking, just play by the rules.

 

A good day was had by all and we watched Ernest (UndaG E) run the drop as well as Craig Eksteen. Sweet runs by all. Back to good old Johanesburg. Ernie and Craig managed a speeding fine of around 200 bucks and then another one, right in front of the tunnel at Waterval Boven, for 750 for over taking on a solid line. Nice guys. And that concluded our park and huck.

 

Directions to the falls:

I have decided to add some directions to this spot as I scouted it with my girlfriend in the winter and I battled a wee bit. To save yourself the trouble keep reading… Take the N4 to Nelspruit. Go past Belfast. You’ll notice the N4 splits up then. I always take the southern loop via Waterval Boven. These roads join up again and EXACTLY where they join, there is a dirt road leading off to the right (when coming on the southern loop). At the moment there is big sign saying something about land for sale to build a hotel. There are some abandoned buildings. Go past them on the dirt road and go downhill. Take the right split in the road to get downstream of the falls and then at the next split, either left or right as it is a loop. Follow the foot path down. Simple, when you know how. Check out the video below:

 

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I have also included some photos at a much lower level as a comparison. These were from 2006/08/05. Enjoy.

 

The view from the drop above the normally run drop.

 

First drop, only run once or twice. Very serious.

 

First drop. Viewed from water level.

 

The rock on river left on the second drop, clearly visible at this low level.

 

Low level. The second drop, very popular to run.

 

If you're in the Sabie, don't forget to have a look at Lone Creek Falls. Awesome!

 

BY: Adrian Tregoning.

Photos by Adrian Tregoning unless otherwise stated. Thanks to Luke Longridge for his contributions.