go hikingmidlands hiking club news volume 2 no. 15 31 july 2013 go hiking midlands hiking club...
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MIDLANDS HIKING CLUB NEWS
Volume 2 No. 15 31 July 2013
go hiking
MIDLANDS HIKING CLUB COMMITTEE
Chairman: Brian Henwood ([email protected]) Vice Chairman: John Fourie ([email protected]) Treasurer: Sven Jager
([email protected]) Secretary: Carolee Thompson ([email protected]) Activities Organiser: Debbie Jager
([email protected]) Newsletter Editor: Brigitta Simpson ([email protected])
Website: Rod Hart ([email protected]) Membership Officer: Peter Rippon ([email protected])
Member: Mark Nellist ([email protected])
CONTENTS A CHAMPION FOR THE FRAGILE EARTH; CHAIRMAN’S CHATTER; EDITOR’S LETTER; WE HIKED TO LOST
CAVE, MONTEBELLO, ALVERSTON, ROCKY BAY; YOUR OUTDOOR LIBRARY; YOUR OUTDOOR MOVIE;
CARTOONS JUST FOR YOU.
Page 1
A CHAMPION FOR THE FRAGILE EARTH
My father taught me that nothing is impossible if you had a mind to go after it. What seems beyond you is only un-
reachable if you believe it. Lews Gordon Pugh
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oh
ikin
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a
Envromentalist Lewis Gordon Pugh, 40, wore just
trunks, goggles and a swimming hat to swim 1km (0.62
miles) across Pumori Lake. The icy lake lies 17,000ft
(5,300m) up the famous mountain near the Khumbu
Glacier and its waters are around just 2C. He says if he
had gone too quick he could have lost energy and
drowned but if he had been too slow he would have
suffered hypothermia.
His epic dip has become the first ever long distance
swim to be completed under the summit of Everest.
AGMAGMAGMAGM
28 August
17h30
Chairman’s Chatter by Brian Henwood
Page 2
Bria
n
The End of our Financial Year is Ap-
proaching Our financial year ends in
July and is followed by the Annual
General Meeting in August. That im-
portant event in our annual calendar
will serve not only to wrap up the cur-
rent hiking year but will also serve to
launch us into the new year. This will
be characterised by new energy and
enthusiasm.
Our outdoor club is fortunate to have a
stable committee where each member
knows their responsibilities and simply
gets on with it. Yes we do make mis-
takes and sometimes things do ‘fall
between two stools’ but we are not
ashamed to pick it up and run with it.
In preparation for the AGM our com-
mittee members have indicated whether
they would be making themselves avail-
able for re-election. We have also dis-
cussed options for our new committee. I
am pleased to be able to share with you
that we have a keen and committed
bunch with only the chairperson and
vice-chairperson indicating that they
wish to stand down.
remind us of the good times we have
spent together during the year.
Editor’s Letter
I am sure that it is with great
regret that we are almost say-
ing goodbye to Brian as our
chairman. During his term in
office, he proved to be a very
efficient chairman and lead the
MHC with vision and high
regard for every member of
the club. Thank you, Brian,
for all you have done over the
past three years.
To the new chairman and
committee: wishing you only
the best of the best for the
coming hiking year.
Keep hiking!
Brigitta
Visit the MIDLANDS HIKING
CLUB on facebook!
S O S If you are not receiving the regular
e-mail reminders of upcoming events
and other notices, please make sure
you are on the mailing list by sending
your e-mail address to
Christie
I sent an email to a club member indicat-
ing that we were searching for a good-
looking intelligent and streetwise person
for election to our committee. In a re-
sponse to my suggestion that the mem-
ber may have the credentials to qualify, I
was presented with a long list of ques-
tions including a request to see
the Constitution. After some polite dis-
cussions and not much force I am
pleased to say that we now have two
club members who have indicated their
willingness to stand for election. This
does not mean that we will not consider
any other nominations. What it does
mean is that you can attend the AGM
and be at ease knowing that you will not
be bullied into agreeing to stand for
committee.
We are hoping to see a good turnout of
members at the AGM on Wednesday 28
August. The AGM will be followed by a
light supper with the choice of curry and
rice or a chicken dish followed by tarts
and cakes. Also please bring along a
couple of your favourite hiking group
photos, each printed on an A4 page. We
will pin them on a board at the AGM to
My top of the range Salomon Boots size 9 (male fit) are now for sale at
Bush and Bundu. They are selling them on my behalf. They are brand new, worn once in soft conditions. Too big for me.I
paid R2200 for them and I am sell-ing them for R1500 AND can be bought with a Credit Card from
Bush and Bundu. An absolute bar-gain!
Do YOU know the answer?
What is a yak? Send your answer to
[email protected] and collect your prize at the
AGM.
AGM
28 August
17h30
R25 pp
We hiked to … Lost Cave Exploration Central Drakensberg uKhahlamba
World Heritage Site 24 – 26 May 2013. by Dave Sclanders.
Page 3
The firebreak burners had
been this way, but had
seemed to have left gaps of
unburnt grass along the
way. The colours of the au-
tumn grasses are always ex-
citing, changing constantly
with the moving of the sun
and time. In the middle of
nowhere we came upon
the “green steel trunk”, se-
curely locked and fixed into
the ground. One must won-
der – what secrets lie and
locked forgotten green
box ??????????
Not far from the tents
we crossed a stream and
filled our water containers
for the night. In the darken-
ing, black hollow of the
stream, a bright red floret of
some plant stood out in stark
contrast to the dark sur-
roundings. Later that eve-
ning as we prepared to go
to bed, a group of patrolling
Field Rangers passed our
tents. They were as surprise
at seeing us, as we were of
seeing them. After greetings
and introductions I asked
them about “the cave”.
One of them said he
thought he had seen a
cave on the other side of
the crest from that which we
had been looking at, half
way down the valley with a
stream not far off.
We were up early, and
climbed a nearby hill to
watch a beautiful sunrise
on the mountain tops. Then it was breakfast, and
we headed off first to the
area indicated by our Field
Rangers. In this part of the
and steep – not for the
feint hearted. We dropped
down into the valley
crossed a stream and bat-
tled across the side of the
slope, and eventually
came to the area – but
again , not what we were
looking for. Climbing back
up, we took time to catch
our breath and enjoy the
incredible views around us.
We now headed
down the other side of the
crest to the area we had
seen late yesterday after-
noon. Again, after some
hard cross country walking,
we eventually came within
sight of our rock face. As it
was some distance down
the slope, Keith offered to
go down and investigate,
there was a cave, it could
sleep up to 5 people, it had
water, but it was not the
cave we were looking for.
So after another long day,
Back at the tents we en-
joyed a magical sunset. It
was time to head home.
My report for the hike
"Injisuthi Exploration" 6 – 8 April
2012, described a 3 day hike
we did last year to find the
“lost cave” noted in a Dra-
kensberg book written in 2003.
The cave was described as
large, well protected, and situ-
ated close to water. Our 3 day
search last year did not yield
any fruit, but on the last day,
we saw what seemed to be a
promising cave area far
across the valley from where
we were, and as I said in the
Newsletter, we would head
into this area next year.
Again it was with great
excitement that my 3 hiking
partners and myself set a date
for our trip, unfortunately, due
to an accident, John could
not come with us so 3 of us
started our quest – all of us
young minded (average age
of 70), fit and strong hikers –
ready to explore another un-
known area.
It took us some hours to
get into the area where we
would pitch our tents, then,
head out with day packs to
look for this “cave” in the mid-
dle of the vast Drakensberg
wilderness. On the way up into
the berg we passed a pair of
rare and endangered Oribi
antelope, and a group of fire-
fighters starting to burn the
winter firebreaks.
However further down
the valley and some way
away was another very likely
overhang, that would have to
wait for tomorrow.
It was now time to head back
to our tents. Walking along the
slope was now tiring, and we
were feeling the long day that
we had had.
Go to
www.gohiking.co.za
for the final lines as to
what happened
next…
&
Magnificent photographs
Alverstone Wildlife Park
14 July 2013
by Brian Henwood
With mild weather and a
cool breeze Sandy Miles
lead a well-attended hike
through the privately-owned
Alverstone Wildlife Park at
Assagay on 14 July 2013. This
was a new hiking venue and
an unfamiliar experience for
most of her group of 18. Im-
pala, wildebeest and bles-
bok were plentiful on the
upper flat grassland areas
although the wildlife were
somewhat timid in our pres-
ence.
We descended quite
steeply into the valley,
crossed the stream below
the dam and ventured
along a circular route which
lead us through indigenous
forest and back to higher
ground. Once we had
climbed out of the valley it
was time for a relaxation
break. The short grass
around the upper dam
was an ideal place to rest
and enjoy the company of
our hikers in the tranquility
of the wildlife park. Look-
ing south across to Hillcrest
and beyond, if it were not
for the hazy conditions I
am sure we could have
seen the ocean.
Once back at the boma
the fire was lit and 13 of us
tucked into our braai
meat and salads before
drifting off to enjoy the rest
of the day in the comfort
of our homes. Some weary
hikers would probably
have fallen asleep in front of
the 'tele'.
MONTEBELLO
HIKE
23JUNE 2013
by Annie Waterhouse,
photos by
Brian Henwood
The hikers included: Bushy
Kirby (leader), Chris Dob-
son, Rob & Nelly Melis,
Brian & Veronica Hen-
wood, Philip Grant, Christie
Exall, Linda Bruss, Jeff Ma-
yall, Stephanie & Nikki &
Maxine (visitors), Annie,
Carolee (plus Sundae, of
course).
One can always rely on
Bushy to find interesting
and out of the way places,
this was no exception!!! The
longish drive was rewarded
with a spectacular hike on
the edge of Mqeku river
valley. The geology and
geography of the area was
impressive, with steep cliffs
and rocky outcrops. Most
extraordinary was ‘The
Crack”, a deep fissure run-
ning from the top of the es-
carpment to the valley be-
low. Some braver members
ventured part of the way
down.
The return trek took us
through ploughed fields,
burnt sugar cane, gum plan-
tations, and pristine grass-
land always with temping
views ‘just over the edge’.
Many thanks to Bushy, a
great outing enjoyed by all!
We hiked to …
Page 4
We hiked to … Rocky Bay Caravan Park,. Rocky Bay Caravan Park,. Rocky Bay Caravan Park,. Rocky Bay Caravan Park,. Report by Christie Exall, photos by
Brian Henwood
Rocky Bay Caravan Park is
without a doubt one of the
most popular Caravan Parks on
the KZN South Coast. Dave
Coward chose it for a members
weekend away from home be-
tween 19th to 21st July.
11 Members had a very
relaxed weekend and enjoyed
glorious sunny weather. A
beautiful moon, waxing to
nearly full and the ever present
ocean right in front of our
camp site, set the scene.
On Saturday morning we
left for a walk in a southerly di-
rection along the beach to-
wards Pennington. A few swim-
mers braved the sea for a stun-
ning swim, others continued a
little further along the beach
while the hungry found the
beach kiosk for refreshments.
Eventually all of us gathered
there for something to eat or
drink.
Our dear hiking friend,
George Archibald, who hap-
pened to be in the area, came
to greet us all while we were
eating. Hopefully George will
join us on a hike in the near fu-
ture.
A very successful braai
was held on Saturday evening.
On Sunday morning we
drove to Umdoni Park, in the
Pennington Conservancy, for a
short walk. About two and a
half hours was spent walking
thru this pristine Nature Reserve.
We were promised a
lunch at the Umdoni Golf Club
House. The fish and chips for
R50 was suggested. We all
opted for this dish and nobody
was disappointed.
We left for home, well fed
and contented.
Page 5
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YOUR OUTDOOR LIBRARYYOUR OUTDOOR LIBRARYYOUR OUTDOOR LIBRARYYOUR OUTDOOR LIBRARY
Ha
ha
Ha..
Ha
ha
ha ha
Cartoons/Comics just for you!
Lewis Pugh has 10 seconds before he plunges into the freezing Arctic Ocean, where he
swims a kilometre across Antarctica, wearing nothing but a Speedo and a swim cap, a
feat never thought possible. ‘Ordinary’ humans would probably die within minutes in
this icy water! How can his naked body cope with these conditions for so long? And
why on earth would anyone want to do such a crazy thing?
This documentary provides a visual experience of Lewis as he swims to draw attention
to the oceans and raise awareness about climate change. Ice Man documents the ex-
traordinary physiological and psychological journey of Lewis’s long distance swims in
the freezing waters of both the south and the North Pole. With the support of cutting
edge science and an incredible ability to believe in himself he hopes to unify the
potential of mind and body.
He has gone where no one has gone before and achieved a new understanding of the
human body.
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YOUR OUTDOOR YOUR OUTDOOR YOUR OUTDOOR YOUR OUTDOOR MOVIEMOVIEMOVIEMOVIE
Lewis Pugh knows oceans. He was the first to complete a long distance swim in every ocean
of the world, and has pioneered more swims around famous landmarks than any other person
in history. He swam across the icy waters of the North Pole to highlight the melting of the
Arctic Sea ice, and across a glacial lake on Mount Everest to draw attention to the impact of
climate change on the Himalayan glaciers. It was there that he met his first yak.
Trekking behind them up the icy slopes, watching them cross skeletal bridges over dizzying
ravines, and listening to them breathe outside his tent each night, Lewis got to think about
the things he most admires in a yak. And found that those qualities were not unlike the ones
that enabled him to meet his own challenges - and achieve things that people believed to be
impossible.
In 21 Yaks and a Speedo, Lewis shares his ability to dream big dreams, build crack teams,
and get the job done. You'll be inspired by his devotion to excellence, his loyalty to his crew,
and his belief in never giving up.
amazon.com
Iceman: The Lewis Gordon Pugh Story
Quest for the lost cave ...Quest for the lost cave ...Quest for the lost cave ...Quest for the lost cave ...