CS Lewis said that ‘the road to hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.’ In this case, the road to the Hell is a rocky dirt road with steep slopes, sharp switchbacks, ups and downs, dropping a hair raising 3000 feet down into a valley.
This race proudly is the first MTB stage race in South Africa. The views while riding on these historic roads are extraordinary, jaw dropping and nail biting all in one. It is known as the longest mountain pass in South Africa.
The overnight stop in The Hell means everybody stays together, which makes for a great atmosphere. The uniqueness of the race village is ‘captured’ within the shear remoteness of Gamkaskloof, no electricity, no cell reception, no TV, not even radio reception.
It was in 1995 that the first To Hell and Back took place. It came about from the love of riding and to popularise The Hell. Due to limited accommodation and facilities in The Hell, only 500 participants are allowed.
What a great way to sum up an awesome weekend!🚵♀️🚵♂️⛰️TO HELL AND BACK (GAMKASKLOOF) – November 2018
If you ever want to experience nature at its finest you have to do this route. Not necessarily on a mountain bike like hubby, but you will definitely need a proper off road vehicle. Preferably a 4wheel drive with diff lock and traction control. Please be aware that this is a very long post.
On Friday we only managed to get away late as we still needed to pick up our Ford Ranger 2.2 Double Cab 6speed Bakkie for the trip. We did not want to pack this on with the normal town car that I drive and my hubby’s long distance road car is not made for this type of off roading.
We arrived at De Hoek Mountain Resort at about 19:00 and had to quickly make sure hubby is registered and set up camp for the night before the dark set in. We had an enormous tent that housed our 2 single bed blow up mattresses, 1 bag with some clothing, and obviously the cherished mountain bike that was chosen for the race. The rest of the luggage had to stay on the back of the Bakkie as I needed to leave very early on Saturday morning before the first truck left.
We had a little bit of rain during the night, so packing up in the morning was a bit of a schlep as we had a wet tent. We got up at 4:30, packed up, hubby made his breakfast and we were set to be off. After his final check on his bike I was ready to take on this mountain with this really big Bakkie, and a lot of nerves.
As I hit the dirt road I switched on the diff lock and the traction control (not that I have any idea if this was the right thing to do, but hey it got me back alive). The fog was thick, the road was narrow and winding, and I was scared. I put on some tunes to try and calm the nerves but that did not help much.
I reached the turnoff to Gamkaskloof Traveling time 2 hours. I pulled off for a car to pass me and just as I started to drive I noticed a board on the left that said
“Dangerous Road for 48km! Use at own risk!”
As if this was supposed to make me feel any better. But I had no choice. Hubby was on his way and I was to meet him in “The Hell”.
I drove and drove and drove some more. The road felt never ending, probably because I only went at like 20km per hour. But the view was gorgeous. And the stress from the last couple of weeks just blew away with the wind over the open land. I felt calm and relaxed, in a weird way, as I was stressed about the road. Then I reached Heartbreak Hill. Where are the boards? I searched and the more I drove the less I saw. I so wished to see the notorious boards that hubby always talks about. But do yourself a favour and look at the photos taken by Peter Kirk (www.facebook.com/peter.kirk.7393) as he does have some there. (I have also added some of his photos to this post.) And then you reach the terrifying descend into “The Hell”. The narrow, downwards, switch back road that goes down into the valley. It is magnificent. It is scary. It is something to experience.
And there I reach the finish line for the To Hell and Back MTB Stage Race. Glad that I made it down alive. Dreading tomorrow when I need to drive this ginormous Bakkie out of this Valley again.
I make my way into Cape Nature (www.capenature.co.za/reserves/swartberg-nature-reserve/) where we have booked a house for the night. We stay in Freek and Martha house that is a lovely little cottage that sleeps 4 people and has a lot of space. You are very secluded and don’t see the road from the house.
After packing everything off the Bakkie, and opening up the tent for it to dry out, I head back to the finish line to meet hubby. I hope that he makes it down alive, as I know how he loves to fly down hills and these downhills don’t have any barriers to keep him from flying down them literally.
At 11:16 hubby rocks up at the finish line with a completed time of 4:16:40 and reaching a spot of 168. He bettered his time from last year with about an hour. Sooooooo proud. We spent some time at he finish line. Went back to our house, took a nap and then went to Die Hel - Fontein Gaste Plaas for dinner. We had a braai with 3 meats, 3 salads, and rooster koek. It was divine. After dinner we retreated to our house where we started getting our things sorted for the next morning. Packed all our stuff up and made sure only the necessities were out. The rest had to be on the Bakkie. We needed to be up by 4:00 on Sunday morning.
Early morning rise, pack the last of our things and going over the bike for the last time. We set off for the Fonteine again to pick up our breakfast and then off to the start line. Hubby checked his tyres, made sure his brakes are working and eventually I set off to concur this mountain in front of me. But then it happened, my worst fear, a truck pulls in right as I start to take off and I am stuck behind it all the way to the top, down Heartbreak Hill and then only could he pull over and give me space. It was bad. It was scary. The dust was so much that I had to stop as I could not see where this road is in front of me. But then he pulled off and the road was clear and I could drive. And it was a clear day and I was comfortable. And I had tunes playing. I was going to fight this fear and had a blast. Just then and there I decided maybe I should become a rally diver. I am sure this will be for me. So if you know anyone that needs a second, I am willing to go along for the ride and work myself up to become the next female rally driver. Or maybe I should just get hubby to build me a car. That is if he has time between all the mountain bike riding he does.
I reached the end, parked the Bakkie and then started to wait for the big return. It seems like everyone had a hard time getting back as the fastest rider took over 3 hours back, 16 minutes slower than the fastest rider in. Hubby returned back at 11:45 taking 4:45:54 and reaching 162 place.
We packed up the bike and started making our way back home. We stopped at Headlines Restaurant for lunch in Oudtshoorn. And then had coffee at Donkey Shed in Barrydale. They have really nice date slices.
I hope you enjoyed this very loooooong post, sorry if I bored some of you, but this was such a great weekend and did not want to leave anything out. Please visit and support all the people I have mentioned in this post they were amazing and really worth your time.
Travel love till next time.
David Welman Edelweiss Coetzer-Welman Naomi Du Plessisnaomi kyk na die laaste foto. Julle al 3 is daar.
To Hell and Back MTB Stage Race 2018 – Peter Kirk Photo Story
tohellandback.co.za
It’s a hell of an adventure cranking over the Swartberg Pass into a place where few have ever ventured! And even fewer on their bicycle going like a bat out of hell for leather for the Spur S…Results are up 👉 www.tohellandback.co.za/#tab-id-10
Grueling race but I loved every minute!!!!! Loved making Heartbreak Hill cry this year! Not the other way around!
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zane@ecobound.co.za2017-11-21 08:55:382017-11-21 08:56:40Fire & Ice...To Hell and Back 2017
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zane@ecobound.co.za2017-06-01 05:58:062017-08-30 09:15:17To Hell and Back MTB Stage Race Entries Open 2017
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Admin@GoApp4Ecob2015-12-07 13:23:512017-08-30 09:15:182015 To Hell and Back MTB stage race – Press Release
Day 1: Over the Swartberg Mountains, Into the Hell
| Start: | Entrance Gate of De Hoek Holiday Resort |
| Distance: | 60km |
| Ascent: | 1790m |
| Avg Time: | 4:30 |
| Water tables: | 20kms, 37kms, 52kms and at the finish. |
The first ± 4km is tarred road whereafter participants turnoff onto a gravel road snaking through the farms in the Cango valley. After a steep climb this road links up with the main road at the base of the Swartberg Pass (860m). From here the route follows the Swartberg Pass to the top (1560m) where the Gamkaskloof turnoff is taken 3km further. The route follows this road to Gamkaskloof where the first day’s riding end at the base of Elandspad (560m) at the camping site.
Day 2: Up Elands Pass, Out of the Hell
| Start: | Entrance of the First Campsite |
| Distance: | 60km |
| Ascent: | 1969m |
| Avg Time: | 4:30 |
| Water tables: | 12kms, 23kms, 40kms and at the finish. |
The second Day starts with the gruelling 4km climb up Elandspad. Riders will follow the same route back to De Hoek, turning each awesome downhill from the previous day into climbs, changing the character of the route completely. The race will finish in the campsite of De Hoek.
Day 1: 60km 1790m
Day 2: 60km 1969m
Due to the limited accommodation and facilities in The Hell, Cape Nature has placed a limit on the number of participants allowed to enter. Entries are processed on a first come first basis and will close when capacity of 500 entries are reached.
| PRICE | INCLUDES | EXCLUDES | REMEMBER |
| R2500 |
|
|
Bring your own:
|
| R2100 |
|
|
Bring your own:
|
| DATE | TIME | EVENTS |
| FRIDAY | 16:00 | Registration at De Hoek Nature Resort |
| 19:00 | Evening Pasta Meals | |
| 21:00 | Registration closes | |
| SATURDAY | 05:30 | Registration Starts |
| 06:15 | Registration Closes | |
| 06:15 | Luggage Truck departure from De Hoek Campsite (and all other vehicles) Please ensure that your luggage is on the correct luggage truck |
|
| 07:00 | Race Start At the entrance gate of De Hoek |
|
| 14:00 | Bike Workshop at Campsite 1 Available till 16:00 |
|
| 18:00 | Dinner – Braai At Campsite 1 |
|
| SUNDAY | 05:30 | Breakfast Only for Campsite 1 |
| 06:15 | Luggage Truck departure from The Hell (and all other vehicles) | |
| 07:00 | Race Start At the 1st Campsite (Race Village) The First 200 riders will be seeded |
|
| 13:00 | Prize Giving atDe Hoek Nature Resort Will take place at the finish line or in case of rain it will be in the hall |
The pre-race evening accommodation is not included in any entry fee and must be arranged by yourself.
Night before Race
De Hoek Holiday Resort – 044 272 8214 (Race venue)
Wilgewandel – 044 272 0878
Oudtshoorn Tourism – 044 279 2532
Private accommodation during Race in Gamkaskloof
Cape Nature – 021 483 0190 www.capenature.co.za
Die Fonteine – 023 5411107 / 087 808 5730 www.diehel.com
Bicycle Transfers
Do you want to have your bike delivered to the start of the event?
From Pretoria – Bicycletransport
Joggie Rautenbach
Tel 082 4465141 082 4465141
E-mail: joggie@bicycletransport.co.za
Website: www.bicycletransport.co.za
Cost is R1200 per bike.
Call using Skype Send SMS Learn more You’ll need Skype CreditNo Skype credit required
Conservation / Environmental:
The event is taking place in a Nature Reserve – Standard Nature Conservation rules and regulations apply.
DO NOT LITTER – anyone observed littering will be disqualified and banned from future races. Large items such as tubes can be left in the road to be collected by sweep vehicle other items must be taken out.
Smoking or the lighting of fires is forbidden at all times on route during the race.
Do not camp along the river in the hell. Washing of apparel and equipment in the river or streams is forbidden at all times during the race. Please use water sparingly in The Hell.
Strictly adhere to the “leave no trace and take no souvenirs” policy.
Support / Outside Assistance:
No Support / Seconding Vehicles will be allowed.
Competitors may assist and be assisted by fellow competitors / race official.
No Supporters will be allowed to travel to The Hell, unless they have booked accommodation in a Cape Nature cottage.
On Route:
All traffic rules apply. Please obey all officials and marshals.
NO Helmet, NO ride! Bicycles must be in good order, especially the brakes.
Along the route there are extremely sharp and hidden bends, serious injury will result if you go over the edge. Riding on this route comes with inherit risks that participants accept upon entering the event. The finish on the 1st day is on a steep downhill, be careful.
Your race number must be visible at all times on your handlebar.
Most of the course will be clearly marked (follow the marked course route) however basic common sense may be required to find the route on certain sections. No taking short cuts.
Tampering with Route Markers will lead to disqualification. Misplaced or damaged event signage must be reported to the next race official immediately.
Respect other participants when passing – keep left and pass right, be aware of blind spots and slow down when you need to.
The first 200 cyclists (on day one) will be seeded for the start of day two in the Hell. Everyone else to line-up behind these seeding blocks – adhere to this.
Make way for any official / medic vehicles. Unfortunately it will be unavoidable to prevent certain official vehicles to pass cyclists – please bear with it. This will be limited as far as possible.
Withdrawal: Should you need to drop out of the race, inform the nearest race official. If you leave the course and fail to notify race officials, you will be banned from participating in the future (unless assisted from the course by Medics). Sweep vehicles will be available to act as pick-up vehicle for those that withdraw.
The organisers reserve the rights to change the routing and format at any time during the event.
Vehicles on Route:
No vehicles on route. Vehicle access to Gamkaskloof is limited to house/cottage bookings only and controlled by Cape Nature when you enter The Hell. Ensure that you obtain your permit at registration and that the permit token is displayed in the window at all times.
Make way for official vehicles on route. Ignoring official & emergency vehicles may lead to disqualification.
Important: Vehicles MUST depart with the Luggage trucks each morning at 06:15 and drive straight to the finish. Vehicles leaving later than this will be kept behind the cyclists & Sweep Vehicle.
No unofficial vehicles will be allowed between cyclists. Riders of these vehicles will be disqualified.
Bag Service (Luggage Trucks):
A Bag service is provided for participants to get their personal belongings to the overnight accommodation in The Hell.
Ensure that your Bag is on the correct luggage truck (in De Hoek campsite) by 6:15. Trucks will be leaving at 6:15 sharp on both days.
Trucks will be marked according to race numbers:
Limit luggage to the minimum and ensure that it is well marked and packed in a dust free, waterproof container such as a black bag.
Categories / Minimum Age:
Open Men / Open Women – Prize money is not given at this event.
Minimum Age: The minimum age for riders is 18.
All ages are calculated using the age you are on 31 December.
Results:
Preliminary results will be available within 24hrs on the website.
Final results (should there be corrections) will be posted on this website within a few days of the race, if applicable.
General:
The use of band performance Enhancing Substances is not permitted during this event. Event organisers reserve the right to test participants for Band Substances. Participants failing to provide a sample on request will be disqualified from the event.
Racers wishing to make a protest must notify a race organiser within 60 minutes of finishing the race. Protests will be considered by a three person committee consisting of the race director and two race organisers. Decisions of the committee are final.
Bad sportsmanship and abuse towards officials can lead to disqualification. As participants please show your appreciation for their efforts to help you finish the race by thanking and giving a smile to our volunteers.
Weather:
The event will take place irrespective of weather conditions unless intervened by Disaster Management.
The event organisers reserve the right to cancel the race at any time and the race can be cancelled due to any circumstances. Serious considerations will be taken before this happens and the decision will not be taken lightly.
Lost and Found:
Any personal items left after the race will be donated to a charity or to other local runners in need. We will not ship items to you.
Refund policy and cancellation:
All refund requests must be made in writing via email. The date the email was sent will determine the refund amount.
Please see below refund scale:
Once your substitution /replacement / cancellation have been arranged, this must be notified in writing via email to the EcoBound offices for Registration and Event Administrative Logistic reasons.
No credit towards another event will be given.
Cancelling the Event:
We (the event organisers) reserve the right to cancel the race at any time and the race can be cancelled due to any circumstances. Serious considerations will be taken before this happens and the decision will not be taken lightly. If the event is cancelled, no refunds will be made.
Latest Results
CLICK here to view 2018 RESULTS
Previous Results
CLICK here to view 2017 RESULTS
CLICK here to view 2016 RESULTS
CLICK here to view 2015 RESULTS
CLICK here to view 2014 RESULTS
CLICK here to view 2013 RESULTS
CLICK here to view 2012 RESULTS
CLICK here to view 2011 RESULTS
1995 – A Legend is Born
Die Hel (The Hell) is the colloquial name for a remote green valley in the Swartberg mountains. Twenty-five kilometres long and half-a-kilometre wide, the valley was once home to a thriving community of self-sustaining farmers whose only access to the outside world was a sketchy bridle path on the western end of the Gamkaskloof and the rugged Gamkapoort itself. It was only in 1962 that the first “real” road, and the one used currently, was built into the valley. It remains the only road, and its twisty hairpins form the route for the infamous there-and-back two-day sojourn that is the To Hell & Back Extreme MTB Tour.
It was in 1995 that Wikus Van Der Walt and his colleague, John Sharples, decided after riding the route themselves, that it would be a great idea to organise an event to Gamkaskloof and back as a way of promoting this remote valley. At that stage, Wikus and John were still government officials working for Cape Nature. In 1996 Wikus left Cape Nature and started an environmental consultancy called EcoBound, with mountain-bike eventing as a small sideshow, and To Hell & Back the only event in the portfolio at that stage.
The limited accommodation and facilities in The Hell, placed a limit on the number of participants allowed. When the event first reached that capacity round 1997, entry forms were no longer publicly available. The only way participants could get hold of an entry was to provide EcoBound with a self-addressed envelope and stamp, which normally exceeded the allowable capacity. EcoBound printed only the exact number of entry forms, filled the envelopes and posted them back to the participants. The limit on the number of participants still remain the same today.
The secret to experiencing the soul of the event, is to tour and not race the scenic 120km, over the two days. It is known as the longest mountain pass in South Africa, the road either going up or coming down.
The sheer remoteness of Gamkaskloof, no electricity, no cell reception, no TV, not even radio reception creates a unique wilderness atmosphere at the overnight stop in The Hell. Life long friendships have been made in the shadow of the winding Elands Pass. Its majestic ambiance make sure everyone stays humble and get enough rest to make it out the next day.
The true spirit of mountain biking is captured deep in the roots of the To Hell and Back. It is South Africa’s first mountain bike stage race and undoubtedly attributed a great deal to the development of subsequent MTB events, and some infamous riders. It forms an important part of the history of mountain biking in this country and will always remain –
The original. The Legend
Gamkaskloof is a legendary and remote valley situated in the heart of the Swartberg mountains also referred to as the Hell. The history is as fascinating as the natural beauty and splendour thereof. It is almost certain that the first inhabitants of Gamkaskloof were bushmen. Only in 1830 did European farmers first establish themselves here. These farmers farmed with goats, wheat and beans, and later the valley became renowned for the high quality of its dried fruit. For many years the inhabitants were self reliant and essentials such as salt, paraffin and sugar were brought in with pack mules from Prince Albert through the northern gap formed by the Gamka river. This northern access route could later not be used due to the construction of the Gamkapoort dam, which was completed in 1968, and for this reason a road, was built by Kosie van Zyl, in 1963 on the eastern side of the valley to provide the necessary access for the inhabitants.
There were never more than 100 people living in the valley at any given time. In 1915 the first school (Kleinberg) was built and in 1923 a second school followed. The last school was finally closed in 1981 as a result of many people leaving the kloof. The long droughts followed by floods, together with the new access road and the young people leaving for the bigger schools, led to the final exodus of the inhabitants out of the valley.
The largest portion of the valley is currently under the management of Cape Nature. They, with the help of the SA Nature Foundation, Simon van der Stel Foundation and the National Monuments Council, are in the process of restoring the buildings in the valley. Onderplaas is being managed as a traditional farm to uphold and maintain the farming methods and traditions of the valley’s historic past.
When the organisers noticed that there were some riders returning each year, they thought of a way to recognise these diehard fans.
The Old Nicks Club was establish to recognise this achievement and to ‘give back’ to our loyal supporters that complete 10 or more To Hell and Backs.
What happens when you get into the Old Nicks Club?
Old Nicks automatically quality for the event each year – with the limited amount of entries, this is a bonus. They receive a personalised race number (spot them in their blue numbers) and To Hell and Back apparel. Their names are also listed on the Hall of Old Nicks. One of the biggest bonuses is the Old Nicks Race Village in The Hell. Everything is super-sized and made more comfortable than the standard tented camp.
Hall of Old Nicks
| Andre Loots | Hannes Hannekom | Murray Derksen |
| Andrew Marshall | Hannes Neethling | Nick Brummer |
| Andries Grobler | Hennie Van Rooyen | Paul Goedhart |
| Barry Pauw | Herald Basson | Paul Haumann |
| Cecil Baker | Ischen Stopforth | Paul Van Zyl |
| Chris Barker | Jake Crowther | Peter Stopforth |
| Chris Derksen | James Stopforth | Pieter Eksteen |
| Colin Mathiesen | Jerry Aries | Riaan Derks |
| Corrie Muller | Jill Black | Salome Loots |
| Danie Van Tonder | Johan Nicol | Tony Thornburn |
| Dennis Du Toit | John Sharples | Viljoen Thom |
| DeWet Marais | Juan Mason | William Stopforth |
| Dirk Joubert | Kevin Evans | Wouter Olivier |
| EP Du Plessis | Lieb Loots |
A special mention to Paul Goedhart and Tony Thorburn who has ridden ever single event, to date. They have grown with the event and seen it’s many faces and are our ‘oldest’ Old Nicks.
We thank these riders for their loyal support!
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