IN THIS ISSUE :   Annual General Meeting – Chairman’s Report;   Christmas Party;  Cobham Hike;

                 Everdon Estates Hike

hh01360_ CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – ANNUAL GENERAL MEEGING 2010

 

Good  evening  Everybody and a warm welcome to you all to the MHC 2010 AGM.                          Dave Sclanders

This time last year I was in the UK on a hiking holiday, and was in  Scotland – rain and rain and cold. It is very difficult to try to realize that a year has passed so quickly. At this super fast passage of time,  I feel that I have a very limited time left before it is all past.  What can one do to get the most out of this precious commodity called – TIME ???

As our life rolls on, everyone seems to get busier and busier, with no time left for - maybe some of the more important things of life. At a function at Amber Valley recently I overheard a conversation amongst a group of more mature ladies talking about all there was to do at Amber Valley -  the days weren’t long enough said one. Another said “ unless I put it in my diary – then and there when I hear about it – I don’t get there” , and these are “RETIRED folk” 

I think that sums up a lot of us. We rush here, we rush there – and then we run out of time for some of the fundamentals of life – like taking time out for yourselves. Resting the mind, working the body and soul in good fresh air, and some silent, quieter, quality time  - does wonders for oneself.  ONES SELF is very important in today’s rushed life, yet we seldom pay ourselves that respect.

Committee and Leaders : I am going to come up front this evening to say “THANK YOU” to your committee and hike leaders for the work and time that they have put into your club again this year. The dedication they have all shown is remarkable, especially considering the rush of today’s life. The hike leaders must plan ahead 3 – 4 months now for the hikes that they are prepared to do, so that our newsletter’s can get the information out to you. I can hardly think of an outing that has been cancelled due to a leader having another “more important commitment” that may have come up in the meantime. That shows great dedication to our club, and your outings.

This year we have had a some changes in the committee , and it is great to say that the new committee has jelled well , and we seem to be on top of the situation, with new and diverse portfolios meshing together to get the club running smoothly..

 

I must take this opportunity to thank Allison (Vice Chair) for her exceptional contribution to the committee and to the club over the past years. Unfortunately events away from the club made it impossible for her to continue her very active  role in the club. She has remained as a leader and club member.

Thank you Allison, I can assure you, you are sorely missed by all of us.

My thanks to those committee members who opened their homes to us for our meetings, and for the tea/coffee and snacks provided to us.

From all our members, thank you, you guys are doing a great job for the club.

Membership : Our membership numbers are still high – 148 . We lose members at the end of each year, but through the hard work of others, new members join to swell the ranks again.

Membership numbers are important, we have fixed costs like this venue, our web site, newsletter  Xmas venue etc.

If membership drops, we have some options , increase the subs, or stop doing some of the things that we are doing. I think all would agree that our subs are very reasonable indeed for what the club offers .

This year your club has offered :

1.  Week end and longer outings      24  outings    - of which 11 were berg hikes

                                                                10  from campsites, berg and beach

                                                                  4  from  berg cottages

2.   Day hikes                       25 outings  - berg/beach and in between

3.   Club Social talks            We have had 4  invited speakers on a variety of topics

                                               As well as a Line dance evening.

4.  Xmas social .                   Was well attended by many who really enjoyed the day.    

                                   

I am sure I can say without hesitation, that all those who took part in any of the above will agree, that they enjoyed themselves. I know that from many of these outings a number of NEW members joined the club. A number of new members were also recruited by the Club  Website.                                             

Without a doubt, we need new members to join the club, and to actively take part in the clubs activities.  As you all know, a number of our outings have been shared by members of the Mountain Backpackers , and Durban and PMB Ramblers clubs. This was done to try to get more people on outings, I know this has been very successful, with some large numbers attending some of the meets.

I would mention again, that the leader has the final say in who may go on the outing with them. They know where they are going, and what level of fitness will be  expected, so please bear with this. Also please let the leader know a few days in advance that you are coming, it is important for the leader to know how many people to expect for the trip.   I would also mention again, this is NOT a get fit club, we expect a certain fitness level from the hikers/walkers. Please don’t bring a friend of a friend if they are not fit. It really can spoil the day for all.                                       

MHC Website : www.gohiking.co.za  - the best hiking club web site on the web.

The website continues to draw a lot of visitors, and from these visitors we have had a number of new members join us.  We also have a number of people enquiring about the berg, where to hike, and many berg related questions. I see that as one of the very important functions of the web site. This web site offers people who do not know the berg, a place to get information on the berg, and maybe to let them have a great time in our magic berg.    As so many of you know, any website is only as good as it’s “up to dateness”.   If the site is not updated, people don’t come back , or tell others to look at it. News,  photos and write-ups from members is important to our club website.  To do a write up, and send the pics and stories to Rod takes time,  I thank those who do take the time for our website. Without your input the site would close. Please this is not the work of a chosen few, we welcome contributions from anyone, even if there are no pictures.   Once again, I would like to extend my thanks and those of all the members of the Club to Rod and Sam Hart  for the incredible club website that they run for us

Thanks Rod , and Sam for your great contribution to our Club.

 

Past Years Activities : I am not going to go into detail about all the hikes and activities that the club has offered, and done this year. Suffice to say, that there have been 49 opportunities covering all sorts of events offered to club  members over the year. 

A great achievement by our hike leaders and committee members

 

Social Venue – Bi - Monthly Tuesday evening Club Nights:  As you are aware, we cut down the number of Social evenings over the year. This was due to several reasons, like poor attendances, the cost of the hall, and the cost of the car guard.   This was a difficult decision, as by reducing the number of  socials, we reduced the number of opportunities to meet one another, and pass on the happenings of the next month to the folk at the meeting. It also meant that if one missed a meeting, they would be out of the loop for another 2 months.  I feel this may have had an effect on the number of hikers at some of the outings.

My thanks to the ladies who have provided tea and biscuits , and done the washing up after the meeting.  Very often , it is the little things that make a big difference to a “happening”  I am convinced  ‘The tea and coffee and biscuits” contribute greatly to the success of the social evening.

Xmas Party : As expected, this party went off very well. Thanks to all who attended, and a special thanks to the folk behind the scenes who made it happen  The venue is great, and very easily accessible .We experienced  good weather, and the great    company of relatives and friends. Once again, your committee did themselves proud   on a well organised  day. Once again thanks to Bushy and Pat for the great roll they play on this day.

I would ask you all to make a special effort to attend this next Xmas party, it is a great time to mix and mingle for one day in the clubs year.

Club Subscriptions : We will be discussing this is shortly.

 

General : I will be standing down as chairman of the club, and take this opportunity from my part t o thank all past committee members and hike leaders for the hard work and enthusiasm  that they have shown over the last years at our meetings and outings. Great committee members make it very easy for a chairperson to run a club. 

From me, thank you all for a great job.

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?

I would like to thank Brian and his family for the snacks that you are about to enjoy at the conclusion of this AGM.

Enjoy the evening.

 

 CHRISTMAS PARTY 

 

Please check the Fixture List for full details of this function.   Sounds like fun!  -  Remember 5 Decembner 2010.

 

COBHAM HIKE :  9 – 11 July 2010                                                           Brigitta  & Chris Simpson

 

Participants: Rose, Christie, Libby, John F, John S, Max, Brian, Dave S, Jenny, Astrid, Darryl & Melissa, Harry & Stella, Brigitta and Chris.

 

The weather forecast promised that the weekend ahead was to be an icy cold one.  And it was at night.   In spite of  the cold weather predictions, Saturday proved to be a glorious sunshine day which  increased the level of enthusiasm amongst the hikers.   Some members of the “team” had arrived the previous afternoon at Pholela hut and so Rose, Christie and Max already had a solid hike under their belts.

 

But no firewood or gas at Pholela hut, and no water at the campsite!   During the afternoon we hassled the camp staff for firewood and in the evening we moved the campsite gas bottle to the hut in Brian's car, and everyone showered at the hut.  The hut of course is "beautifully maintained" and the showers are a sight to behold - recommended for hardy hikers only.

 

On Saturday morning 16 hikers set off.   Brian informed us that the hike, which one could describe as a rollercoaster  hike, would only be 17 kilometres!   He led the team at a comfortable pace, ensuring that everyone could keep up, and so a jolly hiking day commenced for all.

 

We left Cobham in warm sunshine, heading for Boundary Rock.  The trail initially took us gently uphill with some glimpses of the Pholela river down below.  As we progressed further up the mountain, we were greeted with some spectacular views of the Pholela river valley.  Dave S and Chris swiftly moved higher up to capture some breathtaking sights on their cameras.  Next was Siphongweni cave and  now the trail became steeper and steeper.   Some hikers opted not to go to the cave which is a Ukhahlamba World Heritage Site.   It was a steep and tiring climb, but well worth it once we came face to face with numerous Bushmen paintings.   We spent quite some time there, viewing and photographing the paintings and deliberating as to what they meant and represented. Then it was downwards, joining the others and shortly slogging once again steeply uphill and over the top towards Mzimkhulwana hut.   Brian showed us the way down the other side, crawling and sliding amongst proteas and brambles to the river down below.   At Mzimkhulwana hut we met the two international visitors (Esther and Bastian) who had shared Pholela hut - and our table in front of the fire - with us the night before.   Then it was once again up, up, up … and onto the Giants Cup Trail … then home to our sparkling clean Pholela hut, where it was established that we had in fact walked 18.9 kilometres.

 

The campers said they would make a braai fire for all that night, and Chris wandered down to the tent area after showering to cook our meat.   On arrival he was confronted by a Michelin-Man look-alike contest, and was berated by a few contestants for being unsuitably dressed for the occasion - he won’t make that mistake again! After dinner the rest of the evening was spent in front of a monster fire, under the moon and stars.

Once again Rose and Christy chose to sleep on the hut verandah, but this time the wind pumped, so not as comfortable as the night before, but the starry sky must have made it worthwhile.

 

Sunday morning was a much shorter hike for 8 hardy souls, up By-pass Ridge and back down part of the Giants Cup Trail, about 8 kilometres in all - a short walk as dark clouds were threatening.   So a nice soft landing for a great weekend.

 

Thanks to Brian for leading a great hike, tiring though it was.   Thanks to Parks Board for a lovely hut.

 

EVERDON ESTATES HIKE – 15 August 2010                                                                            Roseanne Dix

 

Leader Cecil Hackney - 37 Hikers

 

Here’s a short version of our wonderful hike at this very popular venue - if you didn’t do the hike last year, please have a look at our comprehensive write-up at http://www.gohiking.co.za/newsletters/200909SEPT/everdon/everdon.htm.

 

As of last year, we were again led by Cecil Hackney - a wonderfully inspiring and knowledgable leader who knows the area so well.  Keith organised and co-ordinated the very large and enthusiastic crowd of hikers from Midlands and Durban Ramblers Club...not a task to be taken lightly, and as hikers, we so appreciate all the work put in by our leaders and co-ordinators.    A big 'THANK YOU' to Jenny from Durban Ramblers who is such a dynamic and enthusiastic co-ordinator.   

 This year’s hike was done in reverse, so avoiding the onerously daunting hill at the end of the hike which saw a few members previously faltering, so we could breeze down back to our cars with ease.  As it was again very hot, the hike was shortened to 13ks - also to give us time to repair to Yellow Wood Cafe for much needed refreshment.

Our grateful thanks to the owner of Yellowwood - Sandra Murphy  - for allowing a rather scruffy bunch of tired hikers to enjoy the late afternoon sunshine on her lawn and to be entertained by a special concert performed by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra and local artists including Jason Hartman.

 Thanks again Cecil for leading a great hike - you have gained some more lady admirers. 

We are so lucky to have such selfless leaders who give up so much time and put so much effort into our enjoyment - and the cost?    Less than an icecream a month and far better for us.