OD11 digital HR - Flipbook - Page 53
EPIC
EPIC REPORT:
16 DAYS OF GLORY
The 18th edition of the Epic, held late last year, saw 144 boys
– almost the entire Grade 10 class – heading north into the Cederberg
for the traditional Bishops rite of passage. Although it has evolved
considerably since the days of the Adventure Course, this remains one
of the defining school events for many of the boys – and their dads.
We asked Theo Forsyth, now in Grade 11, to report back on Epic 2024
T
Wolfberg Arch, a landmark that
has guided the way for so many
Bishops boys over the years.
he 2024 Epic benefited
from late winter rains,
leaving the Cederberg’s
rivers and dams full,
and the landscape rejuvenated
after the 2023 fires, explained Epic
director Graeme Klerck in his postmortem review. Hiking routes were
adjusted to take advantage of the
revitalised mountain terrain, while
“near-perfect weather” ensured
optimal conditions for the boys’
experience. Some of the boys,
it seems, may dispute that
description, especially if reports
of a group sneaking into a farmer’s
barn to take refuge are to be
believed… Either way, it sounds
like it was another remarkable
wilderness experience.
Preparation remained a key
focus, with training talks, practice
hikes and workshops ensuring the
boys were ready for the physical
and mental demands ahead.
Structured rotations between
four base camps allowed them
to immerse themselves in a wide
array of activities, from abseiling
and viewing cave art to community
outreach and the defining 24-hour
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