33rd Blantyre Three Peaks Walk, Malawi.
Saturday, 24th June 2017
Gordon's
report
Three
Peaks Walk 2017
‘Rupert ‘West Face’ conquers 3 Peaks, or
‘Chicken makes 2 Peaks’
It was a
difficult choice for the title. Rupert
Roschnik, famous in Mountain Club circles as the first person to climb the West
Face of Chambe Peak, hence his nickname for over 30 years, OR the chicken. More later!
It was a
reasonable chilly but not cold morning when the walkers came together for this
year’s 3 Peaks. I had a feeling we would
have less than the 71 and 72 that came in 2015, 2016. These numbers were incredible and more than
previous years. I was right, 46 walkers,
a great number. I wonder if the facts
that last year I had no back marker (Fanuel was a no show), and the short cut
path was not cut wide enough, had anything to do with it.
This year I
was better prepared; I made sure Fanuel made it by forcing him to stay at my
place overnight, forestry did a great job on cutting the Michiru short cut, and
Fanuel sorted Ndirande Gully and Soche out.
I still forgot the lime though.
Off we
started, bang on 5.00 a.m. as usual.
Great to see Maggie with us, and some people who walked last year, such
as Chinga, and Manuel Da Silva (could he make it again after nearly being
destroyed last year?). We only had 5
teenagers this year, four of whom had done the TPW at least once. Lovely walk to Chilomoni in the dark,
torchlights flashing into the eyes of drivers so they would slow down.
I was
slightly concerned as to what was going to happen on the walk because of the
minibus strike the day before, which saw a policeman killed. Luckily we would get to the township before
6.00 a.m. so the next possible problem spot would be Chirimba at the market. As
I was walking up the Michiru path with sunrise showing the gorgeous views towards
the escarpment, I was relaxed and happy that the walkers all seemed fit and ‘up
for it.’ I deliberately tried to keep to
my pace, staying behind the front group, who had walkers who knew the way,
and made sure possible wrong routes were
covered, and I knew Fanuel was at the back.
The front group arrived about 6.50 a.m. (see Rupert’s times and
distances and altitudes at the end – this will be used on all future walks – as
now we have accurate distances – or do we?
Rupert’s 48.6 km including a toilet stop so we knocked a couple of 100 metres
off – we could debate this as most people did go to the toilet, especially in
Soche School, so we could argue the distance is 48.6 km.
I arrived bang
on time at 6.55 a.m., not bad for 10 km in under two hours, and a peak in the
‘bag’ as well. Is Michiru getting
easier? I don’t think so BUT Maggie
mentioned that a cow had followed her almost to the summit a few weeks
before. I can’t believe it really UNLESS
the cow was in the MOOd for it.
Apologies for that joke. Just a
load of BULL – oops sorry again. I am
sure you’ve HERD jokes like that before.
It was on
the way down to the breakfast stop at Forestry that I discovered what was to
sustain me on this walk, more than once; a green cream soda FIZZER, usually
thought disgusting and sticky by me. But
what a sugar rush they give. It was too
sticky to unwrap so I ate the whole thing including the paper and spat out the
few paper bits remaining in my mouth. Passing
people a few times and then stopping to bar alternative routes with large
branches, I spotted Reuben Patel almost out of sight on the wrong route. You owe me, Reuben (and he delivered later
with his ham sandwiches), as I whistled him back.
Everything
was going just great. Phil Pile, my
super support for the last 16 years or so (this is my 17th time of
leading and Phil has been my support in all except the first time I led it),
had the kettle boiled, all the ‘katundu’ out on the side, and lots of biscuits
and crisps for the taking.
By the time
we were due to leave breakfast the last walkers arrived, which was a first for
some years. That was great news – some
walkers had already started off; they obviously wanted to get going. There is a ‘danger’ in this as they can easily
get lost, and the onus was on me to catch up; luckily so as they did not know
the turning at Swiya, over the river, and the start of the walk through
villages to Chirimba. I made an arrow
but agree that lime would have been better. It was inevitable that someone at the back
would miss this and keep on walking.
HELLO Ronald Tsamwa – whose favourite record has to be the one by Dione Warwick
‘Walk on By.’ APT. The next time I saw Ronald he was in a car at
Nkolokoti looking surprisingly fresh, not so surprising since he was driving
and not walking J.
The ‘could
be issues with minibuses’ did not arise at all and Chirimba market was fine –
one of my favourite bustling places, full of food and other goods – mind I only
go once a year. I think the locals were
a bit taken aback by some of our Malawian Lady Power Walkers who were pounding
through the market area. Onto the
railway line on the Old Chileka Road, and, wait for it, the deadly railway
bridge with the gaping holes has been repaired – there are only normal gaps between
the wooden blocks. It was here that Sam
Martin decided to take long photos of the bridge etc. whilst some nervous
bridge crossers had to wait patiently behind – he was not to be hurried.
The lovely
Dr. Maria had some hot water ready for the walkers in her gorgeous house and we
gratefully used the loo, had tea, and rested our feet. This was the spot that we have to keep
together and invariably where we lose some walkers.
As we
started our journey through bush to find the Ndirande trail, Millie was to turn
back, Anna was to get lost (and found by Tayne, who by default was not out of
the walk), and Manuel, having started the climb to the gully, had some problems
and had to come down. The gully is
excellent, a short scramble to give some variety to the walk, and not too easy;
a challenge that once conquered gives a feeling of elation and almost second
peak done. The view from Ndirande is one
of the best 3600 in Malawi in my opinion. Great views to Machinjiri and the peaks
behind, over to Chiradzulu, in front to Soche, and Coronation Dam, to the City
Centre, SAIntS large blue gums, and the delineation between overcrowded
Ndirande township, and Water Board or City land that is devoid of any building
at all.
It was here
that Beth pulled out the surprise; yes – she had carried a FULL chicken all the
way to Ndirande and she and her boyfriend proceeded to pull it apart. So the headline Chicken makes two peaks is
quite true, and I suppose you could say that bits of it made it to Soche as
well. It did give us all a good laugh
though. It was only when we had made
Kamuzu View, having said goodbye to Tom after the summit, had lunch, and
started down to Nkolokoti that we realized that about 8 walkers had decided NOT
to do the summit, but walked to the View and carried on. How did we know this? Well – we saw what looked like a walker ahead
of us, limping along using a brush head for a crutch. Who could this be? A walker on the TPW – How?
Imagine my
surprise when I heard the dulcet tones of Kaweme, my old chemistry student, and
now surgeon at Queens, hobbling along.
‘Kaweme. Where did you get the brush from?’
‘I bought
it in Likhubula.’ (Now Likhubula is in
Mulanje where they sell lots and lots of walking sticks.)
You may
wonder why Kaweme decided to buy a brush and then carry it on the TPW, and not
buy a walking stick (something tells me there is another story here). Of course Kaweme was finished by the time we
hit Nkolokoti and he dropped out along with Tim and others who were feeling the
strain.
Not so
Danny Da Silva and Valentine. Valentine,
who looked exhausted, was gamely plodding on.
Could he make it? He was carrying
about a kilo of salt on his forehead from sweating. The white crust could have kept a restaurant
in salt all year J.
The slog to
Soche was a … slog. Passing an acrobatic
homeless man with a puppy (Beth and Lemorah both had to be made to rejoin us
otherwise they would still be there with the puppy), passing Reuben who somehow
had gotten ahead of us (one of the Ndirande eight who missed the summit), and
walking round lots of new housing development near Soche School. Everybody was firing up for the final assault
on the 3rd peak. Tea was
drunk, socks were changed, urinating occurred, more tea was drunk, biscuits and
crisps devoured, and we were OFF. Accompanied
as usual by the lovely little kids from Soche village, it was actually a nice
walk, despite there being no trees at all on the summit. The heady scramble to the summit point was
brilliant – such views – the sun starting to go down, the beauty of Ndirande in
the distance. What an experience the TPW
is.
Now – down
and back to BSC – not so easy if I am leading as I got lost more than once – sorry
my group. Eventually getting back about
6.15 p.m. Thanks for the beer I was
bought. Thanks Fanuel for backmarking. Thanks Phil for your wonderful support. Thanks everyone who came and walked, whether
you made it or not. The facts are below.
I may have names wrong and some
distances etc. You can always put me
right if I have made mistakes. Looks
like 26 out 46 made it. Well done!
|
No.
|
Name
|
Michiru summit
|
Michiru conservation
|
Johnstones House
|
Ndirande gully
|
Kamuzu view
|
Soche school
|
Soche summit
|
BSC
|
Distance travelled km
|
|
1
|
Gordon Benbow
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
2
|
Marcus Rennick
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
3
|
Apryl Rennick
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
4
|
Franca Gut
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
5
|
Myrick Lehner
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
6
|
Sara.loetz
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
7
|
Amick Bhangara
|
ü
|
ü
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13.6 km
|
|
8
|
Maggie O’Toole
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
9
|
Rupert Roschnik
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
10
|
Chinga Miteche
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
11
|
Joseph Nkhoma
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
12
|
Meyer Graaf
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
13
|
Dingani Ngulube
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
14
|
Elizabeth Harrison (Beth)
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
15
|
Adrian Thomas
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
16
|
Danny Da Silva
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
17
|
Valentine Maguru
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
18
|
Kate Gooding
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
19
|
Samuel Martin
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
20
|
Polly Boynton
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
21
|
Lemorah Benbow
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
22
|
Franz Fisher
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
23
|
Fanuel Jarason
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
24
|
Madalitso Kazembe
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
25
|
Maciej Pniewski
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
26
|
Pilirani Chuma
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
48.4 km
|
|
27
|
Lumbani Misoya
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
x
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
46.0 km
|
|
28
|
Doreen Kumbatira
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
x
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
46.0 km
|
|
29
|
Ngamise Gumbo
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
x
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
46.0 km
|
|
30
|
NyembeZitungi
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
x
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
46.0 km
|
|
31
|
Zizwa Gondwe
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
x
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
46.0 km
|
|
31
|
Reuben Patel
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
x
|
ü
|
|
|
|
34.0 km
|
|
32
|
Tim Baker
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
|
|
|
31.2 km
|
|
33
|
Kaweme Mwafulirwa
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
x
|
ü
|
|
|
|
31.2 km
|
|
34
|
Tom Bates
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
üâ
|
|
|
|
|
28.0 km
|
|
35
|
Josephine Langton (Joe)
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
üâ
|
|
|
|
|
28.0 km
|
|
36
|
Manuel DaSilva
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
â
|
|
|
|
|
25.0 km
|
|
37
|
Tayne Barlow
Reece
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
|
|
|
|
|
25.0 km
|
|
38
|
Ann Huber
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
|
|
|
|
|
25.0 km
|
|
39
|
Kamilah Bramsen
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
|
|
|
|
|
25.0 km
|
|
40
|
Anette Chinous
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.0 km
|
|
41
|
Alan Chiwaya
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
|
|
|
|
|
21.9 km
|
|
42
|
Janet Chitalo
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
|
|
|
|
|
21.9 km
|
|
43
|
Enid Mauluka
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
|
|
|
|
|
21.9 km
|
|
44
|
Sara Gondwe
|
ü
|
ü
|
ü
|
|
|
|
|
|
21.9 km
|
|
45
|
John Sekibibi
|
ü
|
ü
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 km
|
|
46
|
Ronald Tsamwa
|
ü
|
ü
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 km
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blantyre TPW 24th June 2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Place
|
Time
|
km GPS
|
Height m
|
Height
|
Total ascent
|
Total up
|
Total down
|
|
|
|
|
|
difference
|
GPS m
|
per stage
|
per stage
|
|
|
|
|
|
per stage
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Start BSC
|
05:00
|
0.0
|
1030
|
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Michiru summit
|
06:50
|
10.0
|
1473
|
443
|
564
|
564
|
121
|
|
Conservation office
|
07:45
|
13.6
|
878
|
-595
|
611
|
47
|
642
|
|
Chileka road
|
09:15
|
19.1
|
950
|
72
|
786
|
175
|
103
|
|
Johnstone House
|
09:45
|
21.9
|
1010
|
60
|
875
|
89
|
29
|
|
Ndirande summit
|
11:45
|
26.6
|
1610
|
600
|
1491
|
616
|
16
|
|
Kamuzu view - lunch
|
12:40
|
28.6
|
1451
|
-159
|
1564
|
73
|
232
|
|
Water stop Nkolokoti
|
13:40
|
31.2
|
1200
|
-251
|
1590
|
26
|
277
|
|
Soche school
|
15:10
|
38.5
|
1298
|
98
|
1692
|
102
|
4
|
|
Mt Soche summit
|
16:20
|
40.8*
|
1530
|
232
|
2042
|
350
|
118
|
|
Finish BSC
|
18:20
|
48.6*
|
1030
|
-500
|
2110
|
68
|
568
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Totals
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
2110
|
2110
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rupert GPS:
|
Moving time
|
10h40
|
|
Max height
|
1610 m
|
Min height
|
837 m
|
|
|
Stopping time
|
2h40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
13h20
|
|
|
|
|
|
*If 48.4 km is accepted as the distance without toilet
diversions, then the Mt Soche distance should be reduced to 40.6 km.