IN THIS ISSUE:   From the Chair;  New Members;  Cheers & Thank you;  Annual General Meeting;  Hilton College

                         Hike;   Gwahumbe Reserve;  Bushman’s Nek & Swiman Hut       

                     

hh01360_ FROM THE CHAIR:                                                                                Brian Henwood

 

Our Constitution – Some 18 years ago a group of friends with a common love of the outdoors came up with the brilliant idea of forming a club that would attract like-minded enthusiasts. On 4 August 1993 a small group of members of the newly-formed Midlands Hiking Club held their first Annual General Meeting. They set the annual subscription for ordinary members at R25 and for junior members between the ages of 13 and 18 at R15.   It was interesting that they had the foresight to accommodate the youth that was obviously aimed at encouraging them to participate in outdoor activities and to develop an awareness of nature at a young age. 

They also set a fee of R5 for guests and non-members who wished to attend hikes and other club activities; something I feel we need to revive to encourage potential new members to join our club.

The aims and objectives of the club as contained in the Constitution are, to:

·                     promote hiking and backpacking activities

·                     foster good relationships between hikers

·                     promote nature conservation

·                     train members in skills and competence for leading groups of hikers on trails

·                     encourage the development of awareness of nature and respect for God’s creation

·                     liaise and work with other hikers or backpackers clubs or associations, and

·                     to make recommendations for the improvement of facilities, trails, trail markers etc for hikers and    backpackers to nature conservation bodies.

 I was recently at Nsikaba on the Wild Coast for a week where we shared a beach cottage with friends.  Nearby was a tented camp run by Drifters Adventures and we spoke to a group of 10 or more mountain bikers who had just completed a ride along the coast from the Wild Coast Casino.  I also chatted to a mountain biker in the Mkhambati Nature Reserve who was staying at the River Lodge.  My point is that mountain biking is becoming a very popular outdoor activity, not only for the young but also for active senior citizens.  The Mkhambati Nature Reserve, Cobham, Didima, Mountain Shadows, Blesberg Farm and Cumberland Nature Reserve are examples of suitable venues for both hiking and mountain biking.

Maybe we should consider an amendment to our Club Constitution to include casual mountain biking as another of our activities.      

Annual General Meeting – You are reminded that our AGM will take place on Tuesday 16 August.  One of the important reasons for an AGM is to elect the management committee for the ensuing year.  During the year Rose Dix resigned from the committee while Irene Wisdom, Libby Deysel and Noël Harper have recently indicated that they would also like to step down.   All four have actively assisted with the management of the club and have made valuable contributions over many years. We need to elect willing members to fill these four positions and some members that have been approached are showing a keenness to serve on the committee.

Nevertheless if any member would like to get more involved in our club management please contact me at 082 655 6359 or brian@hn.co.za. 

Happy hiking and we hope to see you at the AGM.

NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to Brian & Marie Drury and Gale Morrell  all of whom recently joined the Club.   We wish you a long and happy hiking experience in our company.

 

CHEERS & THANK YOU

Come the AGM I will be standing down as your News Editor after 11 years to the best of my ability disseminating the news to members.  It has been enjoyable, sometimes frustrating, but never dull.  To the Chairmen who have served during this time, my thanks for putting up with my badgering to get their Reports out in time.   To all those who have contributed to the Newsletter, my grateful thanks for your support, without your input there would be no Club Newsletter.   I wish your new Editor every success and hope that he/she enjoys compiling it as much as I have.   Regards and thanks to Everyone.                                                                                                        Noël Harper

 

ANNUAL GENRAL MEETING

Members are reminded of the Annual General Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 16 August 2011, in the Church of Ascension Hall, Brindy Road, Hilton.   A Finger Supper will be served after the meeting.   In order to facilitate catering arrangements members are requested to advise Irene Wisdom on 082 575 4978 or alternatively via e-mail whether they will be attending.   Full details are listed on the attached Notice of Meeting and Agenda.   Please make every effort to attend the meeting and have your say.   It is your Club and your input is important.

 

HILTON COLLEGE HIKE                                                                                                         Brian Henwood

May 2011

It should not be surprising that there are many similarities between the Cumberland Nature Reserve and the Hilton College Conservation Area.   They both have majestic north-facing sandstone cliffs on the high ground with good quality grasslands and indigenous forest on the slopes down to the Mngeni River on their northern boundary.   But what made the Hilton College Conservation Area so appealing were the cliffs, the caves, the four waterfalls on the Gwenspruit, the abundance of cycads and aloes, and the well maintained forest trails.

Our group of 10 lead by Teresa Whitfield left the cars at the shady picnic site and headed upstream through riverine forest to the top of Gwen falls.  The return route was along a contour path passing Pinnacle rock and Falcon Hut which finally descended through grassland to the shady thorn trees on the banks of the swiftly flowing Mngeni River.   The 8km hike was comfortably completed in just over 4 hours.

The Hilton College Conservation Area is for the exclusive use of the present and past students and staff of Hilton College.  It was a privilege to be able to hike through this beautifully scenic and well-maintained conservation area lead by one of our members, who is also the accounting teacher at the school.

 

 

GWAHUMBE RESERVE                                                                                                          Carolee Thomson

26 June 2011

 Gwahumbe is a private game reserve and spa, located near Mid-Illovo and is named after the river which encircles the reserve.

 

We were running a bit late, so there was no time for a Swedish massage.  Instead the 7 of us, Bushy, Pat, Brian, Mark, Dale, Libby and I, set off along the river route, on a beautiful winter’s day.  We were given a map of the reserve and a mammal check list.  Unfortunately the rhino and giraffe were evasive but we did pass Zebra, Impala and Wildebeest.  The highlight was a close viewing of the family of 3 hippo in the green hippo pool, from an old wooden viewing deck.  The many Egyptian geese loudly announced our arrival and we also spotted different species of duck and a hammerkop.  It was a case of who was eyeballing who, as the hippo periodically peeped up at us from beneath the water.  Their lunch of Chinese spinach was between us on our exit route from the pool, which we discovered on leaving the area!  

 

The flat topped Acacia trees, and the beautiful orange flowering aloes, made us appreciate that we have all this on our doorstep!  There is also a very challenging 4x4 route, to sober up anyone’s testosterone levels!  On the climb up we stopped off at "Thirsty's deck", a great viewing platform, to look back down over the valley and hippo pool.  Except for a bit of a climb back up, it was an easy 13.2km hike, with a refreshing beer/drink in the Lodge pub, to end off a perfect day.

 

BUSHMANS NEK                                                                                                                     Margret Kirsten.

30 May – 5 June 2011

Keith and Margaret Ashton, Margaret Robberts and Margret Kirsten

A stark blue sunny sky greeted us when we arrived at Bushmans Nek.  With that also a hard, icy, cold wind but having been invited by Keith and Margaret in their time share was luxury.

No sooner had we settled in when we had to move as the kitchen sink drain was blocked.  Later on we gathered in the hotel lounge for a welcome word, drinks and snacks.  The wind was so strong that the spray from the swimming pool blew against the lounge windows.  How are we going to enjoy hiking in such weather we thought.

The tops of the mountains were covered in snow from the previous week's bad weather.   It looked like fairy land. But the following morning we wrapped ourselves warmly and braved the wind which had subsided somewhat. We took a leisurely walk to Twin Pools, leaving Margaret R. behind as she was recovering from an operation the previous week .  She was given some duties though....making sure the kettle was boiling on our return, which she did diligently every day.

Relaxed the rest of the day. In the evening lovely hot Glühwein was appropriate I thought and enjoyed by all.

Wednesday the weather had improved as there was little or no wind but still bitterly cold.  Keith suggested, we must explore Sherry Cave for possibly sleeping in it in July.  We left at 08h00, the first  ¾ hour we walked in shade, it was at least -3⁰C even the fast walking did not warm us   Eventually we reached the sunny hills and our frozen noses began to drip and the temperature became more comfortable.  We passed Painters cave then crossed a frozen stream before climbing the steep hill and soon found the cave.   Sussing it out we thought there would be enough space for 8 hikers.

Satisfied with the findings we had lunch and then returned in lovely sunny weather.   Margaret R. had also done some walking close by and enjoyed herself.   In the evening we played Rummy-cup which was new for the Asthon's but they learned quickly.

Thursday we ventured in the same direction but after an hours walk turned onto an old Jeep track discovering that this must have been the old Giant's Cup Trail path before the present hut was built.   Some rocks with white footprints were still lying around. The Jeep track must also have been quite old and had built-up retaining walls in the corners of the track. We came across fascinating rock formations which made a change from the path and scenery we walk on nowadays. We got to the river eventually which was low enough to cross easily.

Arriving 'home' Margaret R. was sulking much better and insisted that she would walk with us the next day.  Her daughter had strictly instructed me that she should NOT walk too much.

SWIMAN HUT

Friday was moving day to Drakensberg Gardens, although less luxury, still very pleasant.  Max had arrived and in the afternoon we walked to Pillar Cave, allowing Margaret R. to come with us, we did not want her sulking again, it's not her nature really.

In the evening Brian and Marie (visitors) also joined us.  We had a very pleasant evening in front of

a big log fire and lots of chit-chat.

Saturday, Keith took us into Hidden Valley to another cave, he also calls Sherry Cave!!   Margaret R. who had had a 'rest day' had noticed that one of the tyres on my car was low. We did not worry that day and hoped that she was wrong.  A young couple from the Czech Rep. had arrived, they were doing the Giant's Cup Trail, and joined us in the evening in front of a big fire.

Sunday morning we noticed that the tyre was right down.   The able bodied men saw to it that the wheel was changed.   Many thanks chaps, especially Max.

The Czech couple had gone on their last leg of the Giants Cup, Brian and Marie decided to go home and Max aimed for Pillar cave in order to climb Rhino the following day.   That left the four of us, Keith and three Margarets.   It was a beautiful morning and decided to aim for Sleeping Beauty Cave and if that was not enough we carried on to Engagement Cave, two of us had never been there but how disappointing, I would certainly expect to be taken to a better place in order to get engaged!!! It's windy and very open, space for 2 only and uncomfortable, maybe that is why it got it's name.

We returned at about 15h00 when we sadly had to head for home after a fantastic hiking week.  I am sure Margaret R. joins me in thanking Keith and Margaret most sincerely for a super week and the company.