Houtkapper Trail Run
ENTRIES ARE OPEN
This trail run offers 3 routes of varying lengths and difficulty. Taking runners through the forests made famous by Daleen Mathee (the late authoress of Circles in the forest, Fiela’s child, Moerbeibos and others), runners will pass through Krisjan-se-nek (where Daleen Mathee’s ashes were scattered), the Daleen Mathee memorial and the site of the 880 year old Yellowwood tree known as the Daleen Mathee Big Tree.
The 15km and 27km routes have been chosen not only to challenge the intermediate to experienced trail runners but to provide them with an opportunity to experience the deepest secrets at the heart of the Garden Route National park. Single track and terrain to excite trail runners of all ability including an easier route for the beginner trail runner of 9km. Water can be drunk and bottles/hydration packs filled at the various water crossings – don’t be put off by the colour (tannin).
23 June 2024
Quinta da Montahna
27km
- START TIME:
- CUT-OFF:
- MIN AGE:
- ENTRY FEE:
- Mandatory SanParks Fee
- 08H30
- 5.5 hours
- 18 years
- R340.00
- R116.00
15km
- START TIME:
- CUT-OFF:
- MIN AGE:
- ENTRY FEE:
- Mandatory SanParks Fee
- 08H30
- 3.5 hours
- 15 years
- R310.00
- R116.00
9km
- START TIME:
- CUT-OFF:
- MIN AGE:
- ENTRY FEE:
- Mandatory SanParks Fee
- 08H30
- 2.5 hours
- 14 years
- R220.00
- R116.00
ENTRIES OPEN
1 April 2024
ENTRIES CLOSE
19 June 2024
ORGANISER
Gavin Leon Scholtz
CONTACT DETAILS
houtkappertrailrun@gmail.com
Held under the rules of ASA and ASWD. All competitors must comply with the rules, regulations, and instructions given by officials, marshals, and traffic officials. Non-compliance may lead to disqualification. The Race Referee’s decision is final.
MERCHANDISE
R325 each - Available to order with your entry only
Race rules and Info:
- No refunds
- No substitutions, upgrades, downgrades will be allowed
- Race packs must be collected from Knysna Nissan, Waterfront Drive Knysna. Runners will NOT be allowed to run if race packs are not collected on Saturday. Registration open from 10am to 3pm.
- Positive proof of ID must be shown in order to collect your race pack, NO THIRD PARTY PICK UPS ALLOWED.
- No need to wear Club Clothing
- Only the event race number will be worn on the front of the vest that contain tear off strips
- Immediate disqualification if a runner:
- – tampers with route markings
- – is caught littering
- – damages the trail or any vegetation
- – disobey marshals
- Minimum age for entering is 14 for the 9km, 15 for the 15 km and 18 for the 27 km
- Parking at Quinta da Monanha
- Medical, Rescue, Marshall’s, and organizers decisions is final.
- Closing date for entries is as soon as entry cap have been reached for each race
- The runner arriving before you at a technical section determines the pace. Do not hassle or crowd a runner while an obstacle is being negotiated.
- The trail is designed with ample overtaking opportunities before and after obstacles. Do not “race” the technical sections.
- Remain in the order of arriving at obstacles as some queuing will be needed at certain obstacles.
- Water-points will have refreshments. All refreshments must be enjoyed at the table and no cups may be removed from the points or be carried onto the route. Runners are advised to carry backpacks with water.
- No on the day entries.
- No Smoking or carrying of lighters anywhere from you leave the start point
- Spectators are requested to remain at the Start/ Finish area.
- Your race pack will contain the final race rules and race instructions.
- Start and finish venue is at Quinta da Montanha, Bibbeys hoek, Rheenendal. Parking marshals will assist with parking. .
- Cutoff time for the 9 km is 2h30min.
- Cutoff time for the 15 km is 3hrs30min.
- Cutoff time for the 27 km is 5hrs30min.
- First 3 spots on races will earn prize money for men and women. Winners must be present at prize giving to receive their money.
- Gold medals to all finishers on the 27 km Trail within the cut off time
- Silver medals to all finishers on the 15km within the cut off time
- Bronze medals to all finishers on the 9 km within the cut off time
9 km Trail Run
This route is best suited for beginners and first time trail runners. Do not be fooled by the ‘beginners’ description though. Runners will have to deal with a challenging 2km uphill, often referred to afterwards as ‘that never ending uphill’. Once at the top of the hill you will find renewed energy knowing that all the climbing is done and the rest of your race is easy and downhill running back home. Walkers welcome on the 9km.
15 km Trail Run
This route is best suited to the intermediate and stronger trail runner wanting to gain further trail experience. The route includes single track through breath-taking Knysna forest, water crossing, a waterfall and some hills that are guaranteed to get the heart pumping.
The 15km will follow the same ‘never ending uphill’ as described in the 9km above. Once at the top of the climb the 15km route will split from the 9km. Runners will have time to recover while running about 3kms downhill before turning into the very popular “Circles in the forest” hiking trail. Runners will be treated to a waterfall at the very lowest point of this route. Caution needs to be exercised on single track and stream crossings as rocks and leaves can be very slippery. Pay attention to Marshals as sections of the route must be completed in single file. As to be expected after a long downhill runners will be faced with another long and never ending uphill. The word ‘vasbyt’ comes to mind! The 15km trail run requires the same effort as that of an average 21km road run.
The routes will be clearly marked and marshalled. Most of the route will be under a full tree canopy.
27km Trail Run
This route is best suited for the experienced trail runner, or the long distance road runner.
Along with the breath-taking beauty of the indigenous forest runners will travel through ‘Jubilee Creek’, ‘Natbos’, ‘Jubilee bush’ and sections of the ‘Outeniqua’ and ‘Circles in the forest’ hiking trail. With close to 16km of single track to make your heart sing. All that Knysna’s indigenous forest has to offer is included – giant tree ferns, river, stream, waterfall and ancient Yellowwood trees of over 800 years old and more than 40m+ in height… All the streams in the area were also the source of the yellow stuff that resulted in the Mill Wood gold rush.
Caution needs to be exercised on single track and stream crossings as rocks and leaves can be very slippery. Pay attention to Marshals as sections of the route must be completed in single file.
The routes will be clearly marked and marshalled. Most of the route will be under a full tree canopy. Move at a speed that falls within your capabilities and we will all have a great day in Mother Nature.
This route is not highly technical with mostly single track and hiking trail. Caution needs to be exercised on single track and stream crossings as rocks and leaves can be very slippery. Pay attention to Marshals as sections of the route must be completed in single file.
Runners can expect challenging climbs with the highest point fairly early. The Knysna Nissan King and Queen of the mountain will be reached at the 8km mark already.
King & Queen of the Mountain proudly sponsored by Knysna Nissan.
ROUTE MAPS
15 km profile:
27 km profile:
PARTNERS & SPONSORS
Running through gold in the forest
Goudveld the new home of the Houtkapper Trail Run is an old mining town in the lush afromontane forests of the Garden Route National Park. This popular hide-away is 22 kilometres from Knysna. Nestled in the lower slopes of the Outeniqua Mountains the area has a magnificent variety of fynbos, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammal species.
‘There’s gold in them thar hills’
The Goudveld forest reserve, which includes the Sour Flats and the Millwood forests, is the new home of the Houtkapper Trail Run, in the lush afromontane forests of the Garden Route National Park. This popular hide-away is 22 kilometres from Knysna. Nestled in the lower slopes of the Outeniqua Mountains the area has a magnificent variety of fynbos, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammal species.
Alluvial gold was discovered by James Hooper along the Karatara River way back in 1876. Later, in 1887, more discoveries were made in the nearby Millwood Forest. The gold mining village of Millwood in those early days had hotels, a church, a shop, a surgery, a bank, school and a Post Office. The evidence of gold mining is still visible.
The Goudveld area is also where many woodcutters (Houtkappers) lived until they were relocated to the margins of the Sour Flats forest in the 1860’s. Renowned author, Dalene Matthee, writes much about the lives of these woodcutters. Early Woodcutters were of all races; descendants of the First Peoples as well as the early European settlers, who settled in this area in the late 1770s.
They led difficult and isolated lives, mostly in primitive huts, until settled in small woodcutter settlements in 1882. Bibbey’s Hoek, on the margins of the Sour Flats forest, is one such settlement. They worked extremely hard but remained poor due to exploitation by timber merchants.
Refer to the book ‘The Woodcutter Settlements of Knysna’ by Philip Caveney, 2018
5 things to do in the Goudveld/ Millwoood area
- Dalene Matthee Memorial & Big Tree
- Homtini Mountain Biking Trail
- Drupkelders: Means ‘overhanging cliffs that drip water.’ It is a 45 minute climb down to the Homtini River. It is one of the secret gems of the Knysna forest
- Jubilee Creek: A picnic site with a pure clean streaming running through it. It was named after Queen Victoria’s Jubilee year in 1887.
- Outeniqua Hiking trail: Multi-day hiking trail
Where is Goudveld: Goudveld Road, Bibby’s Hoek, Rheenendal, 22 kms from Knysna.
Contact: 044 389 0252.
GPS coordinates: S33° 55.726′ E22° 57.310′ (-33.92877, 22.95517)
This area is part of the Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park, for more information, please visit: www.sanparks.org/parks/garden_route/ for more information regarding activities and accommodation in Wilderness and or also follow us on twitter: @SANParksGRNP
‘Adventure is in our nature’
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