Membership
Our membership
numbers have reached a record number again this year , from last year . In July
last year we had 144 members, and due to non payment of subs the numbers
dropped to 121, and over the year rose to our present level in July of 149
members. Thanks must go to all those who
encouraged new members to join, especially Keith Ashton who “empowered” a
number of these new members to join. I
would ask you all to make an effort to get new members to join. I have met a
number of people who do not know that we are here. That is despite having our
week end hikes in the paper – thanks to Margaret. So please, tell anyone you know about us. New members may bring new leaders, and we
desperately need new leaders.
Honorary Life members
Warwick and
Brenda Keating were made Honorary Life members of the club for there dedicated
and high contribution to the club. On a
sadder note Warwick was involved in a cycle accident which has left him and
Brenda a great amount pain and suffering. We hope and pray that Warwick will
recover fully from this sad accident.
MHC Website
I would like to
extend my thanks, and those of all the members of the Club to Rod Hart and his
family for the incredible club website that he has put together for the
club. The site is very user friendly,
has a great deal of information, and is kept up to date with all the events
with which Rod is updated. Remember –
Rod cannot put something on the web if he has no info – so please, if you are
on an outing, write a few notes, and send it to Rod. That way we can keep our site up to date,
and possibly attract new members as well.
Some photographs will also be appreciated. Thanks Rod and Sam for your great
contribution to our Club.
Past Years Activities
Going through the
last year’s fixture list just made me very aware of the great opportunities to
get out into the open, that this club has to offer any club member who wishes
to take part in the activities offered.
From the 2 day hikes and longer
we have had week ends in luxury, to week-ends
in wet tents and windy caves. From easy
campsite day hikes to the more strenuous adventures.
Mary’s and
Keith’s mountain cottages have always proved popular with luxury of a mountain
cottage, and good long day walk. There
have been excursions from Cobham camp site, Monks Cowl, a Bushman’s Nek 3-day cave hopping experience, 2 Giants Castle exploration trips to find old
long ago used caves. Cathedral Peak
area, Garden Castle, Highmoor a number of times –
and Mountain Shadows camp site.
There have been
the longer trips such as the Half Mini Traverse at the AMPHITHEATRE area,
incredible sights, and wind. The longer Mpumalanga Sabie and Blyde River – where the
buying of a 4 wheel drive vehicle became important, and some of the
trail was not as good as expected. There
was Fish River Canyon experience, where wonderful scenery and flowers were seen
– but a long trip there and back. Then
the just
completed Nauklift/Namibia trips. By the sounds of things, the Nauklift hike was a bit more than expected. So backing these last 3 trips up we will need
to have a few evenings of slide shows so that we can see these new places, and
enjoy the experience of the participants.
Mountain Backpackers
2006 – Grand Traverse Hike – South to
North. This ultimate 13 day hiking challenge
– the greatest hiking challenge in South Africa – covers 220 km
across the top of the berg, and in that time hikers will climb twice the
height of Everest, have all sorts of nice and nasty weather, and experience a body and soul testing and uplifting 23 days.
Keith Ashton and
Craig Bekker from this club, were members of the Traverse team. Keith
did it last year with Philip Grant, and was now going to do it the other
way South to North – the harder route. However
a combination of factors as well as not feeling well before he started put
great pressure on him, and unfortunately at the re-supply at Organ Pipes Pass, he felt it best to come off the mountain. Keith
we salute your effort. Craig, who was
Keith’s tent mate had planned from the beginning to only hike as far as Organ
Pipes Pass, then come off, well done to Craig for putting up with Keith for so
long. At the moment Keith is the oldest person to
have completed the challenge. Our congratulations
and thanks to those brave and hardy club members who climbed up Organ Pipes
Pass in the Cathedral Peak area to re-supply the Traverse Hikers, without
these great people, the grand Challenge
would not be possible, thanks to Allison, Teresa and Irene for taking up this
re-supply challenge.
The day hikes have been busy,
with hikes at “Howick Meander”, Umgeni Valley, Mid Illovo, Bulwer mountain, Bisley, Cedara, Cumberland, Highmoor. There have been a number of hikes in the
Boston area – usually combined with the Mountain Backpackers Club, and we have
had a number of outings in the Karkloof area.
Club Evening Socials
Your committee
decided to introduce finger and wine evenings to a number of our club social
evenings. This was to encourage members
to come to some of our evening functions, as well as to give something back to
the members. We had a number of very interesting speakers
at our meetings, as well as a number of slide show presentations on trips done
by club members. Interesting speakers
were Professor Michele McLean on the Gorillas of Ruwanda. Franz Prince on the History of the Drakensberg Bushmen.
We also had an excellent quiz
evening organized by Allison and Teresa . This was a most enjoyable fun evening.
The great Xmas
party at Mark and Mary’s house on the farm was another great success, and
enjoyed by all who attended. The weather was great. The very “hard orienteering” course laid out
by Mark and his committee was attacked with gusto and much enthusiasm. However, it was noticed that the winning
team had some members of the planning committee in it – one has to
wonder?????!!!
Then we had the
magnificent Mother Xmas and her lovely fairy helper arrive to give out the many
Xmas presents. Thanks so much to Bushy
and Pat for a wonderful fun filled afternoon.
Then of course was the incredible
“secret weapon present” which – no names no pack drill – was unveiled to much
mirth and – may I say “naughty thoughts“ by some.
A great day to end off 2005.
So all in all a
lot of interesting hiking, walking
sharing, talking, learning time was offered by your club this past year
to all its members.
Club Subscriptions
We will be
discussing this is shortly. However there are certain aspects which we now
have to face, and it is starting to affect all clubs who need a meeting
place. Up to now we have held our
meetings at venues where we have had the free use of a room at that venue, on
certain “unwritten” understandings. One
was that we support the bar, and/or dining room in lieu of the use of that
room. As a hiking club, we have not really done
that. In starting the quarterly “snack” evenings,
your committee hoped to show some support to the hotel, however now on two
occasions, “our” venue has been lost to us at very short notice due to someone
else needing a venue, for which they have paid,
and the supply of food and drink to that party. One can understand the situation from the
venue providers side. That does not help us with our meetings, and
consequently the committee has agreed that in order to have regular meetings at
a regular venue, we will have to be prepared to pay for the venue. So arrangements have been made to hire the
Anglican church hall, just down the road. Here we will be able to bring our own drinks
and snacks to make a more sociable evening.
Secondly, we now have the cost of hosting our own website on the
internet. We believe that this site is an asset to the
club, and must carry on at this time. So
please bear this in mind when we discuss the sub’s issue later in the evening.
Committee and Leaders
Once again,
I must thank your committee and hike
leaders for the time and effort that they have put in this past year to keep
the interests of the club up. We have
had a number of committee / leaders
meetings in between our normal monthly functions, and these have all been well attended.
To all the
leaders, who offer their time to decide on a trip to lead, plan and organise
the trip, and take the responsibility of leading that trip, a big thank you. Believe me, in these times it is harder and
harder to get folk to volunteer to get involved in any committee, let alone
take the responsibility of leading hikes into the “unknown, nature driven environments
of our outdoor recreational areas”. I often hear the remark – I would never be a
leader, there is too much responsibility. In the same vein, I would appeal to one and
all, especially those who do not hike that often with this club, please be upfront
with your leader – more so on the harder, longer hikes, be clear on your ability, and hiking fitness.
Don’t tell the leader what you think he wants
to hear so that you can join the hike. Having done the Otto Trail 3 years ago, and
nothing much since, does not qualify you as a hiker. Present day fitness and experience is the
most important issue.
The tricky part
again is to name and thank certain people for their contribution to your club.
Brian Henwood, for standing in as chair when I was away from
certain meetings, and his calm way of summing up situations and offering
advice.
Keith Ashton for
all his time in keeping the clubs membership data up to date, his in depth
organising and reporting structures, as well as all his efforts in organising
the many – far away hikes that he has organised.
Then especially
to Allison Gunning who has stepped in as a new leader, and led a number of
trips this last year.
To Noël, Irene, Ossie, Margaret, thank for the work thank you have done for
our club .
Also to our
leaders Mary, Graham, Philip, Bushy, Mark and Selven
– without you guys the club could not operate – thank you.
All that remains
now is to thank you all for coming to share and contribute to this AGM this
evening. The club looks forward to your
continued participation in the new club year, whether it be hiking, club
socials, introducing new members or whatever, your contribution is important to
the continued social role of this MHC.
May our new
hiking year be happy and fulfilling for all of us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2006/7 MHC COMMITTEE
|
Chairman |
Dave Sclanders |
Vice
Chairperson |
Allison Gunning |
|
Secretary |
Keith Ashton |
Treasurer |
Ossie Deysel |
|
PRO |
Margaret Ashton |
Activities |
Irene Wisdom |
|
Editor |
Noël Harper |
Website |
Rod Hart |
|
Member |
Brian Henwood |
|
|
MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS
For those of our members who were unable to attend the
AGM, membership subscriptions are now due for the year 2006/07. As approved at the AGM these have been
increased to R90 for family membership and R60 per single member. They may be paid either by cheque mailed to the Treasurer, Ossie
Deysel, or by direct deposit into the Club’s Bank
Account at Nedbank Hilton Branch, Bank Code 151-925, Account
No 1519007299, with a copy of the deposit slip, including your personal
details, to Keith Ashton at 033 330 3763.
Thanks members for your co-operation.
SOCIAL EVENINGS :
PLEASE MAKE A SPECIAL NOTE
Please check the Fixture List at the back of this
Newsletter for details of future Social Evenings and the new venue. To reach the hall from Crossways follow the
road past the Hilton Quarry Centre, through the robot, towards Hilton Village. Pass first left turn-off to St Anne’s
College, pass the next left-hand turn to the Church, turn left at the next
turn-off signposted Church Hall into Brindy Lane,
second entrance gate to the left. Bags
of parking available. A collection of
R2 per car for the Car Guard will be made.
CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Christmas Party is scheduled for Sunday, 3
December, at Mark and Mary’s home, “Chiarella”. At this function apart from various events,
the prizes will be awarded for the best photograph submitted to our Website,
and the most interesting write-up appearing in the Newsletter over the past
year. Folks you still have time until
the end of October to get your photographs in for judging. Please submit either on a disc with your
digital entries or prints, to Rod Hart for inclusion. In the meantime watch this space in the
November Newsletter for full details of activities and mark your diaries.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HIKING IN MPUMALANGA Peter ‘PEG’ Wedge
31 March – 9 April 2006
(continued …….. )
All meeting for
coffee and then to Paradise Hut for the start.
This was a total misnomer.
Alcatraz would have been more appropriate. There wasn’t anyone on duty – although some
evidence of a caretaker’s presence at the back.
The building was in very poor shape. Decision taken by all 4 drivers to
take the vehicles to the end of the trail – old Mine Hut at Bourkes
Luck Potholes and hopefully get a taxi back – about 35 kms
in total.
Whilst the
drivers were away – a young German couple arrived and after a brief
introduction and search for the start of the trail – not at all clear by any
means – they got away by around 14h30. Drivers back shortly afterwards and then on our
way. This was a very short 4 km –
actually nearer 5 although the trail blurb said 3!
Arrival at our
overnight stop – Watervalspruit Hut - we called this
C. Max. It had a look of a prison cell
arrangement. Not too bad inside but
toilets grotty and the dorms not really clean.
The site itself could be delightful if the grass had been cut. However not to whinge too much. A guy appeared suddenly with a barrow load
full of firewood. (Presumably the
caretaker). Peter immediately engrossed
again. Whilst majority of party to a
waterfall and pool close by. Noël
losing her watch (and finding it again).
Theresa leaving her cellphone at the pool (and
retrieving it later). Murphy thwarted
on this occasion! A pleasant evening
meal and fire retiring as usual around 20h00.
Relatively long
hike today of about 14 kms so off by 07h30. Some spectacular vistas en route today. Some climbing but also some nice flat areas
to put a spurt on. Good to be able to
stride out a bit for a change. Lunch by
River Treuw (a tributary of the Blyde
River). Some souls braving the water
again and then Clearstream Hut (we named this Stalig 17). Again
an unfortunate likeness to a prison street but slightly cleaner although the
bog leaked. Two bats had taken
residence in the shower room and took a shine to Theresa (Shrieks from cell No
2!).
A superb swimming
pool close by on the river – fast flowing but very refreshing, very deep –
probably 7 to 8 metres and at least 20m wide.
Two attendants and a fair stock of wood but what do these chaps do all
day?!
Some stargazing
after the evening meal. Quite
magnificent in these parts with no urban light pollution.
SATURDAY 8 APRIL
Last day of the
hike but longest so off again by 07h30.
Lots of prospecting claims in the area (gold rush c 1900). You can picture the scene with dozens of
camps and miners panning for the yellow stuff.
Presumably some still around if you have the time and inclination.
We saw an old
miners hut near one of the waterfalls en route. The rivers had been in full flood earlier in
the year with debris at least 3 – 4m above the existing river level which was
running quite strongly anyway. Lots of
termite mounds around – fast pace through open veldt to Bourkes’
Luck Potholes – hundreds of tourists and then the old Mine Hut with our last
overnight stop.
All wanting a
shower but again water supply playing up and ladies bog overflowing. We managed to get water and a call to the Mpumulanga people in Bourkes Luck
resulted in two guys coming out to further consolidate our efforts. Nice accommodation which could have been so
much better with a bit of effort by the relevant authorities. Generally, the trail was spectacular marred
unfortunately by poor management of the facilities. Could be so much better. Perhaps a not too polite letter from MHC
might be in order! Good fire, alcohol
(at last) and a latish night. Theresa
coped quite well!) made for a nice convivial end to the trail.
Dave and Pooven off early – around 05h30 – the rest of the party
having an earlyish breakfast and all away by 07h30 to
their various destinations.
A great 10 days
with some superb scenery and great company.
Most of the party had hiked together before but good to have new people
with us in the shape of Dave and Pooven.
The 3 day break
in between the 2 hikes was a real bonus and afforded a mini break in Kruger and
surrounding area. At the price we paid
for the privilege this was a steal.
Many thanks to Mark and Mary for this.
Another very well
organised 10 days by Keith – this was really a training exercise for his 2nd
Grand Traverse about one week later – most of us quite happy to have
accomplished the two trails relatively unscathed. Thanks to Keith (and Margaret for her
unwavering support for all of us) and to all members of the team. Great company, great experience. Can’t wait for the next one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RICHTERSVELD
TRANSFRONTIER PARK Noël
Harper
20 July – 10 August 2006
Left Pietermaritzburg on
Thursday, 20 July, headed for Bethlehem to stay with ex-Pmb
friends, on to Kimberley and Gum Tree Backpackers Lodge (one of the better of
its kind which also boasts an on-site steakhouse), to an excellent Upington B&B overlooking the Orange River and so to
enter the Richtersveld at its central town Springbok. Springbok was ablaze with colour as the semi-desert flowers put on their annual
show. What a welcoming sight!
Proceeding north via Steinkopf to
Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay the road bridge
crossing the Holgat River has been completely washed
away leaving a yawning chasm with absolutely no sign that a concrete structure
had ever existed. Nothing bar a few road rails! With the heavy sea
fog which rolls landwards in these parts, it could get a trifle scary for the
motorist.
In Alexander Bay visited the Diamond Museum featuring the
history of diamonds in the area plus that of the inhabitants, all overseen by a
most knowledgeable Mrs Mostert who appeared to really
enjoy her job. Outside Alexander Bay left the tar for a good gravel
road, reaching Brandkaros Camp site after 40+ km
where we met up with Keith and Margaret joining us from the Naukluft
trail in Namibia. Camp sites are
grassed, with a nearby gazebo, spotless ablution blocks and loads of hot water.
After a somewhat chaotic entrance into the Trans-Frontier
Park – nobody really seemed to know what was going on - we were on our
way. Perhaps a bit of in-house training
would do the trick!
Richtersveld
Transfrontier Park is an experience never to be
forgotten, The scenery is awe-inspiring, the tracks (definitely not
roads) terrifying having largely been washed away by the recent heavy
rains. The more robust Nissan followed by the CRV handled the
off-road conditions like champions, climbing over rocks, crawling between them
and driving down river beds inches thick in sand, steep uphills
to crest with no forward view to know where the track went or whether in fact
there was a track at all, followed by even steeper downhills. Many of the roads were closed
because they were in such a poor condition, so we were somewhat limited about
where we could camp. 42 Kilometres and 4 hours later arrived at De Hoop
campsite alongside the Orange River looking across at the Namibian mountains,
here we elected to stay. From a perch on the branch of a tree overhanging
the river on the island bank opposite a Grey Heron watched our arrival with
interest. Ablutions, cold water, were
adequate and clean, quite an achievement in itself considering the condition of
the roads. The birds were friendly sharing our meals and even
sitting on feet, particularly the white eyes, although they all appeared to
have no fear of humans. An African Pied Wagtail spent the entire
time on the sun-roof of the CRV trying to bath in its reflection. Heard
the African Fish Eagle but were not lucky enough to see them. A
Black Crake regularly paddled along the river’s edge past the tents. The peace of such solitude restored the
soul. Took long walks, one 20 km to the Richtersberg
campsite where we were supposed to have moved, but were glad that we had chosen
rather to stay where we were as it was overrun with monkeys. De Hoop
is a far more restful and peaceful place. Keith, Margaret and Morris
climbed a 450m steep koppie next to the campsite and
had a bird's eye view of the campsite far below and the scenery for miles
around. Most of the time we were
alone although part of the time there was one other couple camped some distance
away. A large fellow and seven
women in three vehicles came past. We
wanted to know how an “Old Rooster” coped with seven “Hens”! He went into
great detail to explain, one was his wife, one his sister, one his aunt, etc.
etc. All we could say was “Brave
fellow”. Otherwise -
solitude. Each day apart from investigating our surrounds, spent
some time hunting down broken bits of trees for that night’s enormous bonfire
around which we sat before supper and partook of our favourite
tipple. Both helped to keep us warm.
Because of the impassable tracks we were unable to exit the
Park through the southern gate and had to make the return trip back to Sendlingsdrif. It
seemed to be a little less arduous only taking 3 hours to complete the 42km although we did have some slippery times
creeping among rocks along a wet, gravelly
river-bed. Keith spotted leopard spoor on
the banks of a sandy river.
Travelling south stayed again at Brandkaros
only to be kept awake until 02h30 Sunday morning by a large ongoing noisy party
adjacent to the site. The moral of the
story – don’t camp there on a Saturday night!!!
From Springbok onwards the flowers were magnificent, colour
as far as the eye could see. We
were told by the landlady of the Elkoweru Lodge that
they were a month early because of the rains and the best seen for many
years. I cannot believe that having never been to that part of the
country we were so lucky to inadvertently strike it right. From the Richtersveld TFP right down the west coast to Langebaan, where we celebrated Keith’s birthday, across to
Strand and then north through the Karoo on the N1 to Karoo National Park and Sunnyside Guest Farm near Clarens, it was flowers, flowers and more
flowers all along the road. An
experience never to be forgotten.