Breadcrumbs
| Perry Refuge |
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A 6 man shelter in one of the most remote reaches of the Hex River Mountains. Perennial water and a nice little dipping pool. Drive Time: 90 mins from Cape Town Location: 1:50 000 TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP 3319 AD CERES Coordinates: Perry Refuge is clearly marked on the map at 33°29'45.50"S and 19°23'4.80"E at altitude 1570m. For more details contact the Convenor (see the Contact us page).
HISTORY In September 1956, a party of young MCSA members were doing a traverse of the Hex River Mountains from Worcester towards Milner Vlakte. Their beacon record on Horseshoe Peak spoke of a clear day, but a strong North-West wind started to blow. They camped that night at Sentinel Camp, the site of the Perry Refuge. Before morning a fierce storm struck and flattened their camp and it was a wet and half-frozen group that started to struggle back to Thomas Hut. Unfortunately one of the party did not make it and died on the screes between Woolworth Building and Pulpit Nek. Because Sentinel Camp is many hours away from safety in any direction, the Cape Town Section of the MCSA decided to erect a refuge at this site, using money donated to the Club for such a purpose. Over the weekend of 14-16 December 1957, about 40 members made the final carry of the hut components from behind Mount Superior to Sentinel Camp and erected the small hut. Since 1957 Perry has offered refuge in inclement weather to many climbers, including some of the original work party, and the efforts of those who planned and organised the building of Perry Refuge have been well rewarded. (See 1957 and 1978 Journals for more historical details). See MCSA Journal 1978, Martha van Zyl’s article on page 39 The hut burned down in 2006 and was rebuilt again by a few young MCSA heros in 2009. LOCATION As Perry Refuge is not a destination in itself, no route description is given, but only the map co-ordinates. Any traverse of the Heksrivier Mountains to or from Waaihoek, Fonteitjiesberg and Milner/Buffelshoek must pass Perry Refuge. FACILITIES As Perry is an emergency refuge, it is not kept locked. Water is obtainable from a stream 10 metres from the refuge.
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