It’s
a shocker – for those of you who had made a mental note to the effect “ That
I/we must do a club hike, or go to a monthly meeting - next time”. Well, next time has come and gone, only 38
days to Xmas. Where have you been this
year?????
Once
again our year has come and gone. It
seems the only way to get things done is to put the date in your diary, in
permanent ink – and don’t change your mind.
There
is so much to do, and so little time that one has to be firm and
controlled. I ask again, to give your
club at least one day a year of your time, support your leaders. Those brave and hardy souls, those
magnificent people who are prepared to give up of their time for you. Their time is not just one day a year, it is
all the planning, the telephone calls, the committee meetings they attend, the
dedication to plan three months ahead to MAKE time for the club. Then nobody pitches. Without support, no committee is prepared to
carry on “Banging their heads against a losing battle”. They are prepared to support you, you in
turn should be prepared to support them.
Having said all that, we still are a growing club. Our paid up subs are at an all time high
??? WHY??? Maybe its because they have such a good
looking committee- !!!!!!!!!!!
As
many of you know, we have changed our meeting venue. This change, your committee believes has
been a positive move, as it gives us a venue where we can come early, bring a
few refreshments – the club provides tea/coffee – and the ladies bring a plate
of something, and there is time to meet other members of the club. So if you have not been yet, please come and
spend some time with us at a club social.
There
are members of the club who have been very active hiking the Fish River Canyon.
Others hiking the very hard Naujkuft, and just to
prove it both trip leaders, and members of their parties have presented two
slide shows at the club already. For
this we must thank Allison (leader) and Chantel
Beattie for their Fish River Slide show, and Keith (leader) and Chris Dobson
for the Naukluft Trail show. Both excellent, informative and where many
lessons were learnt. The newsletter,
and our club website will give you all the info for you to catch up on the
past.
In
my opening paragraph, I did say that some of you may have missed the boat this
year in supporting your club. Well I
was not quite right . YOU –yes you –HAVE
ONE MORE CHANCE TO SUPPORT YOUR CLUB.
The CLUB’S Christmas Social is happening on SUNDAY 3 DECEMBER at Mark and
Mary’s farm in the Karkloof. This has always been a fun day, and this
promises to be better, with a much more relaxed atmosphere. WHY – no more WAR CRIES – so the shy peeps
can now come and enjoy the day. COME
AND JOIN US, CANCELL EVERTYTHING ELSE, AND SUPPORT YOUR CLUB FOR THE FINAL ACT
OF 2006. See you all at the Christmas Do.
Dave
NEW MEMBERS
The
Chairman , Committee members, leaders and club members welcome the following
New Members to our club - Brian Checkley; Darshan & Radhika Dwarika; Astrid
Fraser;
Anitha Jaipal; William (Billy) Kirkman; Donald & Jennifer McArthur; Gert Nel; Jenny Owen;
Jack
Rock; Lisa Scriven.
CHRISTMAS PARTY
As
our Chairman has said the annual Christmas Party is scheduled for Sunday,
3
December, at “Chiarella” in the Karkloof
area, the home of Mark and Mary. Time
of arrival 10h30 for 11h00. The morning
will be spent socializing followed by an early lunch commencing at 12h00. Braai fires will
be ready. Members please bring meat,
salads, rolls and drinks or whatever is your fancy, for lunch, plus table,
chairs, cutlery, plates and glasses. As
a shield against the sun and hopefully not the rain those members who have
gazebos and/or umbrellas these would be most welcome. After lunch fun events will be organized
between selected teams. A further fun
event for which each member is requested to bring a small gift to the value of
±R15 will follow with Santa handing out the gifts. Please bring a small plate of cakes/biscuits
to share for afternoon tea. Prizes will
be awarded for the various events. A
special this year will be the announcement of the winners of the Best Article
in the Newsletter and the photographic competition.
If
you are unsure of directions to the venue please contact either Mark or Mary on
082
826 2526 or 083 700 6199 or 033 330 2703.
Please advise them of your attendance.
We look forward to seeing you all there.
REPORT ON NAMIB-NAUKLUFT
HIKE, NAMIBIA Peter ‘Peg’ Wedge
12 – 26 July, 2006
This is
considered one of the Big 3 in Southern Africa and Keith Ashton had (in his
usual very efficient and comprehensive way) put together the trip involving 11
stalwarts – although all travelling separately or at least in 4 different
parties. These were:
Keith and
Margaret Ashton – leaving Howick on Monday 10th
and away from home for 5 weeks altogether.
Chris Dobson, Margret Kirsten, Margaret Brown,
Luciano Colombo & Peter Wedge - leaving
Hillcrest/Pietermaritzburg/Howick on Wednesday the 12th.
Chris recorded 2355 kms from Hillcrest to the Naukluft fork.
Julian Hitchcock and Stuart Dawsett - leaving
Durban - somewhat earlier than Keith & Margaret and coming in from Luderitz. Brendan McGuirk and Andrea Gutfreund -
flying from Johannesburg early on Friday 14th to Windhoek and then
hiring a car and driving the 3-4 hours or so to the Namib
Naukluft Park the same day. They had some difficulty with mislaid
baggage but eventually made it to base by around 19h00.
All of us
therefore arranging to meet at the Namib Naukluft Park at Hikers Haven on the Friday 14th. Keith and Margaret had arrived the day
previously. Chris and team at base
around 14h00 with Julian and Stuart arriving a little later. Brendan and Andrea as mentioned around
19h00.
This was to
be our introduction to the Naukluft (narrow gorge)
area and our last night in a decent bed prior to the adventure so we had a
party (of sorts) with a braai and plenty to
drink!! Hikers Haven has hot showers
and the admin office about 1km down the hill has beers, wine etc. Also photos of the trail including the last
and major chain ascent. A bit sobering
for most of us! Most of us then to bed
by 22h00 thinking about the next 8 days to come.
After a
reasonably hearty breakfast and signing of Park forms etc – all away by
08h15. Initially in a dry river bed
plenty of bird life – we saw a flock of rosy faced love birds nesting in a
cliff face within the river bed. Later
we came across a recently dead hyaena in the river –
no obvious cause of death but you realise how big they are close up. They have the most powerful jaws of any
predator, size for size and are of course fearsome animals at close
quarters. A fairly stiff climb followed
with weather around midday quite hot. Margret K taking some strain but recovering quickly.
On the
descent to Putte shelter we spotted two klipspringers
looking at our party from a nearby hill before leaping away in that peculiar
bounding gait. We got to Putte shelter – no more than that - around 15h30. 14kms today but seemed longer. Fire at night – quite chilly – all in
sleeping bags by 19h30.
DAY 2 OF HIKE
– SUNDAY 16 JULY
As we were
now at 1700m the chilly weather was not too surprising – 2 degrees in the
shelter itself so quite uncomfortable during the night. We had some difficulty in finding the start
of the trail after a quick breakfast but then some good brisk walking on the
escarpment for about 5 or 6kms with some great views of the plains below
us. We had a lunch break at a big sociable
weavers nest in the river bed about 2kms from our overnight stop at Ubusis hut
First of the
dreaded chains now approaching after Cathedral fountain. The latter is a long cascade of calcium
carbonate deposits (or Tofa as known locally) within
the very convoluted river bed. This
would be spectacular in the summer months with the river in flood.
Margaret
Brown having done the hike previously knew what to expect from the chain
descent but a degree of anxiety amongst the rest of us. There are 5 altogether with 2 long descents
of about 15 – 20m. However all through
safely without too much drama. As we
approached Ubusis overnight stop we saw evidence of a
leopard kill in the kloof. A lot of recent blood on the rock beneath a
tree where the cat had dragged his prey.
We arrived at
Ubusis very late around 17h00 so not a lot of time to
socialise after a quick evening meal.
The overnight hut was once a holiday cottage – there is a 4-wheel drive
track to the hut – however the showers were not working and one of the 2
toilets was blocked. The river water
was however surprisingly warm – almost tepid – so an opportunity for a wash of
sorts. We also had beds and mattresses
so a good nights sleep.
Andrea now
not feeling well with a heavy cold and flu having developed over the last 24
hours. All in bed early again, some
thinking about the ascent of the chains the following day! Ubusis Hut is on a
sort of dogleg off the circuitous route so you have to face the chains twice!
All off early today by 07h30 and at the first chain by
09h00. All of us through by 10h00 so not
bad going but all glad to have it over with!
We were out of the kloof
including the ascent of Cathedral Fountain by 10h30 (the ladies taking a quick
dip and the younger guys mooning).
Klipspringer seen on the horizon.
These are incredibly delicate and acrobatic animals -also we were quite
lucky to see them as they are normally shy and secretive.
We arrived at our next overnight shelter Alderhorst by 14h00 so this was great with plenty of time
to relax and have a fire! Brendan,
Stuart and Andrea off to collect wood – they came across a leopards’ lair with
parts of a zebra and also hyaena droppings.
Nice social evening around the fire with all of us
discovering a bit more about each other.
First reading by Brendan of “Spud” when we were all in bed. This is an account of a “students” life at Michaelhouse quite wickedly funny. 12kms only today
(To
be continued in the January Newsletter ….
)
27
August 2006
On
a lovely fresh spring morning six of us, under the leadership of Selvyn, set off to explore Ferncliffe
Nature Reserve. We moved carefully
through the mist belt forest as the going was soft and fairly slippery after
the recent rains, Selvyn pointing out interesting
plant life as we moved along.
A
steady climb brought us out at Breakfast Rock from where we enjoyed a
magnificent view of Pietermaritzburg and far
away distant country.
On
our return route we passed Bat Cave, and as we peered down into the deep black
hole, deciding very definitely NOT to go down there, we saw moving lights, and
heard the cheerful voices of two young women from the university who were doing
research on the bats in the cave.
When they emerged they carried bags with specimen bats, two types which
they showed us and told us about. Who
would have thought those little creatures would be so interesting?
We
moved along, up and down and climbing over rocks until we heard running water,
and we came to a lovely waterfall, cool and refreshing.
When
we arrived back at the car park we examined the ancient cottage of Jesse Smith,
a lovely tranquil spot, and Selvyn told us something
of the history of the place and the original people who lived there. We were all home in time for a late,
well-earned Sunday lunch.
UMGENI VALLEY NATURE
RESERVE Yvonne Engelbrecht
10
September 2006
Just
a stones throw away from the hustle and bustle of Howick
centre you are able to relax and enjoy an amble through this Nature
Reserve. For me it was a first
time. I had no idea that there was a
Nature Reserve so close to home.
I
awoke to a beautiful Sunday morning, fetched my friend and off we drove to Howick and then with the given directions arrived at our
destination to meet the other hikers out to explore and enjoy the beauty of a
Valley that starts at Howick Falls following the Umgeni River, thus the Umgeni
Valley Nature Reserve.
We
were introduced to all present, Erica, Martin, Peter, Gerhard, Linda, Jeff,
Margaret, Lyn and Jean (visitor), paid fees, a quick visit to the loo and then set off for a day walk with Margaret as our
leader. Due to the heat Margaret
decided it best to stick to the trail on the upper section of the valley as to
hike down in the valley would be too hot.
Our
starting point was from the car park where we made our way towards the Cascades
Falls and then followed the path adjacent to the road until we reached the
Saddle which is the start of the Inkonka and Black
Eagle Trail. The trail allowed us to
walk at a relaxed pace, chat and share memories and ideas with one
another. This path brought us out at
the Indulo Car Park where we were able to cool off,
splash our faces with water and fill our water containers. From here we hit the escarpment until we
reached our lunchtime destination - a huge rock, a table and benches and a big
shady tree, with a most spectacular view.
Here we all unpacked our special little treats and snacks brought for lunch and had a feast while
appreciating the beauty of God’s Creation.
They
say there are 270 bird species to be found in Umgeni
Valley, 20 or more types of mammals, as well as many butterflies and
reptiles. For tree lovers there are a
variety of species available. On our
walk we came across Burchell Zebra, Blue Wildebeest,
buck and some of us were lucky enough to spot a Giraffe. A yellow butterfly joined us for lunch.
The
walk back kept close to the road to Inkonka Car Park
where some of us walked down to join the trail at The Saddle and others kept to
the road back to camp. Due to the heat
and as a means of cooling off Gerhard and I decided to have a swim at Cascades
Falls before heading back to camp and our vehicles. So guess who had a swim with all her clothes
on? Life sure is great when you are
having fun and enjoying nature! Umgeni Valley, I will be back to tackle another trail and
to tell another tale.
A
pamphlet with map is available at reservations, as there is plenty on offer at Umgeni including Environmental Education for people of all
ages. Accommodation ranging from 10
chalets, 3 cottages, dormitories and 4 bush camps is available. There are 6 walking trails, and swimming
spots are indicated on the map. So if
you want to take a break or to get away for a day or two, don’t drive for
kilometers when you have a beautiful valley right on your doorstep.
CAPE COLUMBINE
On
a recent trip which included a visit to the western Cape, we dropped in at Pater Nosta which has grown
somewhat since a last visit many years ago and then on to Cape Columbine where
we sussed out the camp sites located amidst huge sea rocks next to the ocean, on
reasonably well grassed sites. Although
there are no electrical points on sites, the ablution blocks which are well
maintained boast hot water, as well as all the necessary facilities like
basins, toilets and showers and electric plug points. The views are splendid and at the time of
the visit all the flowers were out which added to the beauty of the scene.
Unfortunately
there was no one on hand to provide written details but as I remember the costs
pasted up on the window of the office were very reasonable.
January
Newsletter the continuation of the write-up on Naukluft
Trail together with Mboyti and the cottage
week-ends. Plenty of interesting
reading from our members.