There is no better festival of trail running than the Dryland Traverse. It is unquestionably fun on and off the trails. From the Thursday evening Prologue to Saturday night\u2019s fancy dress party and on to Sunday\u2019s celebration of singletrack\u2026 the whole weekend is action packed from start to finish.
\nIts no surprise then that so many trail runners return year-after-year. Camping or renting cottages together in clusters of friends. In fact, some of the most dedicated Dryland Traversers spend more time on their party outfits than they do on their physical preparation for the running. Though that is perhaps not the best strategy.
\nFor the 2023 edition the routes have received a revamp, with significant changes to Stage 1, 2 and 3.
\nThese will bring more technical trail running into the course, but will also reward with pristine fynbos, proteas in bloom and spectacular views from the highest ridgelines of the Groot Swartberg. Fun on the trails is further guaranteed by Dryland\u2019s famous hospitality and the camaraderie of the competitors; who know that the tough running is followed by delicious food, Rhodes Quality juices, Beer and Barrel craft beers, Bavaria non-alcoholic beers and Wellington Wines. As well as great post-
\nstage chats too.
\n\u201cStage 1 is a bit longer and more technical, initially, but it takes in trails we\u2019ve never used before,\u201d Race Director Bernard le Roux confirmed. \u201cIt will start at the Ou Tol just to the north of the summit of the Swartberg Pass and loop to the west before climbing to one of the highest ridgelines in that part of the Swartberg Mountain Range. From the top there are incredible views across the Klein Karoo to the south and along the Swartberg to the east, north and west.\u201d
\n\u201cWe then follow the ridge east, crossing the Swartberg Pass, and rejoining the traditional Stage 1 route along a valley filled with proteas and down the technical trail to De Hoek Mountain Resort,\u201d le Roux explained. \u201cStage 2 has also received a refresh. It still features the beautiful run along the Raubenheimer Dam but now includes a few trails through the hills and valleys between the dam and De Hoek, through private land, which we last used five years ago.\u201d
\nThe most important announcement, which trail runners looking to take part in the 2023 Dryland Traverse were waiting for, is the fancy dress party theme. \u201cThis year it\u2019s Deep-Sea Jamboree,\u201d le Roux smiled. \u201cLet your imagination run wild and join us at our Stage 2.5! I don\u2019t have to tell anyone who has been here before, it\u2019s a jol. For those running their first Dryland Traverse, bring your dancing shoes as well as your trail shoes\u2026\u201d
\nAfter Stage 2.5 and the Deep-Sea Jamboree, the final stage starts at a civilised 09:00. Stage 3 mixes some new and some familiar trails. It is also only 10 kilometres long, so even those who are feeling a little worse for wear will be able to power through the last day.
\nWrapping up a fantastic four days of trail running with beers and a guaranteed good time. \u201cThe Dryland Traverse is a challenging but manageable run,\u201d Le Roux concluded. \u201cBut the real highlight is the vibe. It has to be experienced to be fully appreciated.\u201d<\/p>\n
2023 Dryland Traverse Route Descriptions
\nPrologue | #CangoCarnival
\n2 November 2023
\n9.5km with 250m of climbing
\nStart: Cango Caves
\nFinish: De Hoek Mountain Resort
\nHewn by millennia of underground rivers flowing through Precambrian limestones the Cango Caves
\nprovide the unique starting point for the Dryland Traverse. Heading underground, from the start
\nramp, the Prologue time trial takes trail runners on an unforgettable underground adventure.
\nMagical photo opportunities beckon for the less competitive while the racers will have to watch out
\nfor low hanging stalactites in the first subterranean kilometre before emerging into the afternoon
\nsunlight and following the Grobbelaars river uphill towards De Hoek over the remaining 8.5
\nkilometres. Rocky Klein Karoo running, through stands of ancient Acacia Karoo thorn trees and the
\nspekboom super-plants, set the scene for a carnival of trail running over the coming three days.
\nStage 1 | # SwartbergSugarbush
\n3 November 2023
\n27.3km with 1\u00a0200m of climbing
\nStart: Ou Tol
\nFinish: De Hoek Mountain Resort
\nNew trails await atop the spectacular Swartberg Mountains, as do veritable forests of the Swartberg
\nSugarbush, Protea montana. Starting at Ou Tol the first 1.5 kilometres are on the Swartberg Pass and
\nthen Die Hel gravel roads. After a leg loosening opening the trail and the climbing begin as the race
\ntakes on a Cape Nature footpath that ascends to 1\u00a0900 metres above sea level. From the highest
\npoint the Dryland Traverse has ever visited a technical descent takes trail runners down to Die Top,
\nthe summit of the Swartberg Pass, and onto the established Stage 1 route. The jeep track to the
\nBothashoek mountain hut thrills with untouched fynbos; while the descent to De Hoek offers views,
\nacross the Swartberg foothills, of unrivalled beauty. The final 7 kilometres, of the 27.3-kilometre
\nstage, may be downhill but their technicality will demand conditioning and effective energy
\nmanagement.
\nStage 2 | #LenteInDieKleinKaroo
\n4 November 2023
\n24.1km with 850m of climbing
\nStart: De Kombuys
\nFinish: De Hoek Mountain Resort
\nTo misquote Koos Kombuis: \u201cdit was lente in die Klein Karoo\u2026 al die drawwers het baljaar.\u201d Starting
\nat De Kombuys Stage 2 is a day of undulations and trails through ever changing scenery. Showing off
\nthe diversity of the Klein Karoo, after a wet winter, the route winds through the bushveld towards
\nthe brimming Raubenheimer Dam. There the climbing begins in earnest, ascending a koppie and
\ndropping back to De Kombuys. The final 10 kilometres of the route trends uphill, passing Cango once
\nmore and following a mix of jeep and singletracks back to De Hoek through farm lands, along the
\nHoeksrivier and across low ridgelines vegetated with spekboom.
\nStage 3 | #SundayShakeout
\n5 November 2023
\n10km with 300m of climbing
\nStart: De Hoek Mountain Resort<\/p>\n
Finish: De Hoek Mountain Resort
\nAfter Saturday night\u2019s Deep-Sea Jamboree, Stage 2.5, Sunday\u2019s Stage 3 is a short shakeout. The 10
\nkilometre loop heads south east towards Drupkelderkop, without the exertion of summiting the
\npeak before dropping into the Grobbelaars river valley. Running up river the course resembles a
\nschool cross-country circuit, through a poplar grove, before tracing the foot of a craggy cliff back
\ntowards De Hoek. A low but steady gradient provides the final 500 metre drag uphill, making for the
\nideal place to sprint for the final finish line. Across the line, Biogen recovery drinks and Bavaria non-
\nalcoholic beers, complete the weekend\u2019s festivities.<\/p>\n
image: Stage 1 of the 2023 the Dryland Traverse will feature a route along a high Swartberg ridgeline which provides breathtaking views of the Klein Karoo, far below. Photo by Shift Media Co.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"