{"id":313343,"date":"2026-03-20T16:47:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T14:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/?p=313343"},"modified":"2026-03-23T14:49:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T12:49:50","slug":"eric-mclaren-fish-river-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/eric-mclaren-fish-river-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Avid hiker of Fish River Canyon writes guide book on challenging trail"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What makes one going down the feared steep descent of the Fish River Canyon hiking trail in the vast chasm Namibia for 31 times?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For 62-year-old Eric McLaren of Somerset West, a certified adventure guide specialising in the Fish River Canyon, it all started 12 years ago in 2014 when he was invited along by his late friend Colin to join their group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The Fish River is widely regarded as one of the continent\u2019s premier hiking challenges. Spanning approximately 72km over five days, it demands physical preparation, logistical planning and careful risk management,&#8221; he says.&#8221;It was my first multi-day hike, and it just happened to be the Fish River Canyon. I knew from the outset that it would be a serious undertaking, but also an adventure too significant to turn down,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;One hike led to another, then another, and before I realised it, I had completed it 31 times \u2014 most of it as a guide taking down groups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;It\u2019s difficult to put into words. The canyon has a way of drawing you back \u2014 each descent feels familiar, yet never the same. I suppose once it gets under your skin, that\u2019s it. You don\u2019t really decide to go back, you simply find yourself returning,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Since being a child, growing up near Devil\u2019s Peak in Cape Town, we often ventured into the mountains and played around the Devil\u2019s Peak quarry. Ever since then I\u2019ve been an outdoor person,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-never-just-one-moment\">Never just one moment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When McLaren, a legend in Fish River Canyon circles, starts to talk about the experience of hiking the Fish River Canyon, one feels the urge to put on your hiking boots and join in on the adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Asked about highlights over the past 12 years, McLaren says it was never just one moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The whole adventure is the highlight. It is the combination of people and place. The groups I guide are always special, but so are the hikers you meet along the way. There\u2019s something about the canyon that strips things back, everyone is there for the same reason: to walk, to test themselves, and to experience something real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;There\u2019s something about five days in a canyon that strips life back to the essentials,\u201d McLaren notes. \u201cYou become very aware of what you truly need, physically and mentally. That awareness stays with you long after you climb out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The terrain itself is constantly changing. From rocky descents and river crossings to wide open stretches and narrow sections. No two hikes ever feel the same. The light, the heat, the pace of the group, it all shifts,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;But if I had to narrow it down, it\u2019s the calibre of people the canyon attracts. Genuine, grounded individuals who are willing to step out of their comfort zone and embrace the challenge. That shared purpose creates something quite special.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-hardest-part\">Hardest part<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What is the hardest part? For most hikers, it\u2019s the initial descent and the first day and a half in the canyon, he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;That section includes the narrow stretch known as the Boulder Field in the Fish River Canyon. Here, progress is slow and deliberate. You\u2019re constantly climbing over, around and between large boulders, which demands balance, focus and steady foot placement, especially with a full pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The heat adds another layer of difficulty. Many of the boulders are dark in colour and on hot, sunny days they absorb and radiate heat \u2014 significantly increasing the temperature at ground level. Combined with the physical effort of the terrain, this can make the first stretch particularly demanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Once hikers move beyond this section, the canyon begins to open up, the walking becomes more rhythmic and most people find they settle into their stride &#8230;,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-preparation-makes-or-breaks\">Preparation makes or breaks <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Over the years, I\u2019ve learnt that preparation makes or breaks this hike. Early on, I didn\u2019t emphasise fitness and pack weight strongly enough. A few hikers underestimated what the canyon demands, which made it tough for them, and understandably frustrating for those who had prepared properly. &#8220;That experience sharpened my approach. Today, I\u2019m very clear about required fitness levels and realistic pack weights before anyone commits. Fortunately, I\u2019ve never had a major incident,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One situation that does stand out happened in 2023. Two sisters struggled on the descent and began showing signs of nausea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We still had several kilometres to cover that day, and it was clear pushing on would not be wise. I made the decision to call the ranger via satellite phone and arrange an extraction. It\u2019s never a decision I take lightly. But leadership in the canyon is about judgement, not pride. The priority is always the safety and long-term wellbeing of the hikers,&#8221; he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-endless-questions\">Endless questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Over time, I\u2019ve met so many people with endless questions \u2014 about the booking process, what to pack, where to camp and what to expect. Yet there\u2019s no single guide that really answers all of those questions in one place,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This made him decide to write the guide book <em>Thirty Times Down: A Hiker\u2019s Guide to the Fish River Canyon Trail<\/em>, which was recently released. The 128-page practical and narrative book is a companion to one of Africa\u2019s most demanding multi-day hikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;My hope is that this book will do exactly that. Since that first adventure in 2014, I\u2019ve now hiked the canyon 31 times. I know that one day, I\u2019ll have to hang up my boots and stop guiding groups, and that\u2019s really what inspired me to write this book. This is my way of giving something back to everyone who will still hike it in the years to come,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-distance-matric-chart\">Distance matric chart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I\u2019ve put together a distance matrix chart for the trail that I have found incredibly useful out on the trail. It covers 27 key points of interest, including campsites, landmarks, and shaded trees \u2014 those small but important spots you really appreciate during the day,&#8221; he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McLaren\u2019s book focuses on what hikers need to know before stepping onto the canyon floor \u2014 from pack weight and pacing to food strategy, terrain realities and day-by-day planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The book draws on my experience leading 30 expeditions through Namibia\u2019s Fish River Canyon and offers a practical, experience-based perspective on one of Africa\u2019s most demanding multi-day hikes. Blending detailed route planning with field-tested insight, it is positioned as a working companion for serious hikers rather than a traditional travel memoir,&#8221; he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The target readership includes backpackers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts with a solid base fitness level who are considering the Fish River Canyon trail, as well as past hikers who may recognise their own experiences in its pages, McLaren says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-detailed-hike-planner\">Detailed hike planner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At the centre of the book is a detailed hike planner that breaks down each stage of the route, offering practical timing guidance and insight into terrain changes. Rather than presenting the canyon as a dramatic backdrop alone, McLaren examines the small decisions that shape a successful trek: how much water to carry between points, how to manage blisters before they escalate, and how group dynamics shift over five days of sustained effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The book can be ordered from McLaren directly or is available at CityRock in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria, and online at www.argaiters.co.za or www.sat4rent.co.za.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Contact Eric McLaren on info@capetownhikes.co.za or 083 627 1563.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ThirtyTimesDownFRCV_18929.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The cover photo was taken in 2025 by a hiker, Geoff Tennant, at Barbel Pools, just behind Four Finger Rock \u2014 one of the most reliable water points.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/TimesTimesDownCover_00793.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">At the centre of the book is a detailed hike planner that breaks down each stage of the route.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What makes one going down the feared steep descend of Fish River Canyon hiking trail in the vast chasm Namibia for 31 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McLaren with his guide book Thirty Times Down: A Hiker\u2019s Guide to the Fish River Canyon Trail.","article_media_icon":"1","article_template":"news","author_byline":"Esm\u00e9 Erasmus","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"The guide book to hiking the Fish River Canyon is now 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