Whats On? A job opportunity and some awesome hikes around the Western Cape

Opportunity to work on Gough Island - Urgent: last boat leaves on 23 Nov

"One of the 2 field assistants who went down to Gough Island in September has to return to Cape Town for medical reasons. We have a very small window to recruit a potential replacement - last ship to the island sails on 23 November (2 weeks!)

If any of you know someone who might be keen at very short notice to drop everything and go to Gough until October 2011, please send Richard (richard_cuthbert@yahoo.co.uk) and me (pryan31@gmail.com) their details. Ideally we need someone with basic rope access skills, as part of the job entails ongoing control of Sagina on the cliffs adjacent to the base.

The balance of the work includes seabird monitoring and some research as well as work with the land birds (checking them in captivity in the lead up to a potential mouse eradication attempt). There is another field worker on the island who will be able to lead the team.
Please send this on to anyone who might be interested.

Many thanks
Peter Ryan
Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology
University of Cape Town


Friday, November 19
Don Jepson will show Trail hiking in the Swiss Alps combined with early winter snow - September 2010 (Hosted by Gill Gimberg)

Weekend, November 20 & 21
The HIGHLANDS TRAIL is a two-day circular route (37km) in the Kogelberg Nature Reserve. The walk starts in the forests between Grabouw and Kleinmond. The first day descends to Botriviervlei and then continues along the beach to Kleinmond. We'll overnight at a hut in Kleinmond and return the next day via Perdeberg Peak. Maximum group size of 10. Convenor Bruce Spottiswoode 084 548 8220. Book from 8 November. Co-convenor Christina Jongens 072 241 8530.

Saturday, November 20
(Conservation)
Meet at the top of Price Drive, Constantia at 2pm. Jos de Gendt 021 712 7506

Weekend, November 20 & 21
SCORPION AND TARANTULA PEAKS, WAAIHOEK MOUNTAINS. Leave early Saturday morning for 2 long days of big walking over rough mountain terrain, so a high level of fitness required. Full overnight gear required. Convenor Chris Goodwin 083 310 1747 before 8pm. Book from 8 November. Co-convenor Mark Middleton 082 924 5605.

Sunday, November 21
RIGHT FACE / ARROW FACE. Table Mountain classic with some B grade scrambling and moderate exposure. Suitable for the not so fit as the pace will be “unhurried”. (Dave’s not so good with uphill any more!) . Convenor Dave Wolfaardt David@WeDrive.co.za anytime, or call 082 378 5072 from 15 November between 6-8pm. Co-convenor, Jenni Fitzell.

Thursday, November 25
(Classic rock) MUIZENBERG RECESS (E grade). A most attractive Muizenberg trad rock climb with a delightful traverse and face climb on the first pitch. Numbers limited. Convenor Eric Harley 021 712 3642. Book from 22 November. Co-convenor Jose Heitor 082 460 9858.

Thursday, November 25
OPPELSKOP RIDGE - DEVILS PEAK ‘B’ scrambling. Meet at Tafelberg road parking under the bluegums below the Saddle zig-zag path at 07h30. NO NEED TO BOOK BUT don’t be late else you will miss us because we will leave promptly. Bring clothing for all kinds of weather (ie for hot and cold), and enough food and drinks for morning tea and lunch. We hope to be back at the cars by mid afternoon so don’t come if you have to be home before that. We will do something no matter what the weather, but may amend the route depending on conditions. Convenors Mike & Doreen Scott.

Friday, November 26
Bushveld Khaki Fever by Jane Goodfellow
Gill Gimberg will introduce Jane Goodfellow, who will give a slide presentation and tell us how her mid-life crisis led to her spending 6 months in the bushveld and two months in Namibia amongst wild animals, and will explain the dangers of khaki fever!

Saturday, November 27
TOUR OF TABLE MOUNTAIN! Start at Constantia Nek, follow the contour path to the base of Platteklip Gorge, with a detour via Newlands Ravine. Ascend Table Mountain via Platteklip (or Left Face B, weather permitting) and then make our way to the TM hut where we spend the night. The next day we either return straight to the Nek (easy option) or go down via Llandudno Ravine, and then follow the trail that takes us towards Myburgh’s Waterfall Ravine, but we drop down to Farrier’s Way at that point and hike back up to the Nek via the pipe track on the other side of Constantia main road. Reasonably fast pace, with grade of B+ if we take Left Face B. Party limited to 12. Convenor Guy Meredith 084 615 4370 or email guy.meredith@amberjack.co.za. Book from 22 November. Co-convenor Jonathan Mylrea.

Weekend, November 27 & 28
ARRANGIESKOP 2-day trail overlooking Robertson. This includes a tough ascent rewarded by the king of hiking lodges at the day’s end. Nervous Sunday slope shuffles in the morning are followed by easy country downhills. Convenor Dave Wolfaardt David@WeDrive.co.za anytime, or call 082 378 5072 from 1 November between 6-8pm. First six paid up applicants only (price TBC). Co-convenor Jenni Fitzell.

Saturday, November 27
(Outreach) END OF YEAR OUTING: NEWLANDS FOREST (early due to school holidays). Please volunteer to help with the day's activities, hikes and preparing the food. Convenor: Urs Huber (H) 021 559 7947 or 084 713 5545.

Source: Mountain Club South Africa (Explore - Discover - Protect - Connect) 

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Warning Attacks on Table Mountain

Hi all,

I have just received a message from Table Mountain Safety Action Group via Cape Town Hiking Club.  Looks like these guys / criminals need to get nabbed asap.  Its likely that they are the same 2 people attacking hikers.  Please do not walk alone.  Im always so frustrated when I hear about the hikers that venture off into the hills on their own.  Apart from being a perfect target for abuse by a potential criminal, if a snake bites you or you twist your ankle, you put yourself into great danger. Spending the night alone on the mountain can almost predict certain death.

The idea is to join a hiking group that will suite your hiking style. There are hiking groups being created all the time.  Some people like to walk fast, others like walking slower (sometimes avid photographers), others like talking, some dont... find your perfect hiking partner/s and go out and enjoy the mountain.  Never think you are safe, always make sure you know how to defend yourself when approached or attacked.  Best thing is to try and run away of course, but if that is not possible, try to at least prepare yourself for if it happens to you.  Good luck friends!  and hope to run into you sometime on the mountain too :)

OK, im done moaning.  Im really sorry to hear of this terrible experience that these people endured and hope they catch the criminals soon.  We always carry a shocker and a mace spray on us... you just never know.

Regards, Juanita

Just a warning notice that there have been two attacks in this area over the past 10 days or so.  Not much detail is available but we understand that the more recent attack (last day or two?) was particularly nasty.  We are going to ask TMNP for more detail on this one.  It may also have been picked up by the press so check the Cape Times today / yesterday. More on this one later, hopefully.

The other attack occurred in Newlands Forest specifically - about 10 days ago or so.  Here is the text we received with regards that one:

From a Facebook entry:  is traumatised after being attacked in Newlands Forest yesterday by two men with bottles that they broke on a stone and used as weapons. After that spent whole day looking for Josie (the dog) who ran off scared as a mouse, shame, found her again with the help of amazing friends. Such is life in South Africa. But South African men must be applauded for the way they step up in a crisis!

If anyone knows more, plllleeasse let us know.  This way we can get the facts out soonest to warn others.  Especially with the weekend coming up.  We need locations and any form of description.

Regards Andre TMSAG

Climb the Himalayas all expenses paid

Climb the Himalayas with Mike Horn’s Pangaea environmental expedition – apply right away!

Anyone between 15 and 20 years old can apply to join Mike Horn’s Pangaea environmental expedition, a round-the-world adventure that will be exploring the Himalayas in May 2010. There are no costs attached – all you need is a passion for saving the planet. The emphasis is on showing youths the beauty of the Earth, so that they grow up to be its custodians.

From the applications, about 20 youngsters from around the world will be selected to attend a training camp in Switzerland. From those, about eight will be chosen to join the Himalaya climb. All expenses are covered and there is no cost to participants for either the training camp in Switzerland or the Himalaya climb.

The Pangaea expedition is a four-year, seven-continent journey. Those who join the expedition, called Young Explorers, join in different places to Explore, Learn and Act. So far groups have visited Antarctica, New Zealand and Borneo.

Applications close soon! (The application deadline has been extended to after Christmas and is not 20th Dec as stated on the website.) For more info visit www.mikehorn.com or click here to complete an application form, or email Adelle Horler direct.


Many thanks,
Adelle Horler

A note from Adelle: My email is there as an alternative if anyone wants to apply and can’t find what they need. I was part of the expedition crew aboard Pangaea in Borneo, and part of my job as expedition journalist is to spread the environmental message and get more young people involved. I can vouch 100% for the expedition, Mike Horn and his sponsors (the main ones of which are Mercedes-Benz, Gerberit and Panerai). The expedition has been underway for a little more than a year; its patrons are Prince Albert of Monaco and Gaynor Rupert, wife of Johann Rupert.



Source: Mountain Club of South Africa - Cape Town
97 Hatfield Street, Cape Town 8001

Interviewing Newly elected MCSA President

Its refreshing to see that the MCSA's newly elected President will be focusing on bridging the age-gap of its membership. The Mountain Club of South Africa is really an amazing club for one to belong to, but its natural for people to want to associate with their peers.

The current membership base have aging members with hardly any youngsters wanting to come on board - for various reasons (non of which are bad, mostly because they cant find relation to join - so they end up joining other smaller or maybe even more 'commercial' hiking / climbing groups). The members have the knowledge and experience that younger generations would love to learn from. I trust that the leaders at MCSA will find ways for their current members to pass on their wisdom, experience and knowledge for the generations to come.

PS: The MCSA have a kick-ass website going live soon, and even better communication technology which they are putting together to keep the communication channels open for its members. All of this is headed up by Tony Heher and his team of IT volunteers. Well done to all of them for a great amount of effort going in to proving to be great results!

See Interview for the New MCSA President below.


Source : Mountain Club of South Africa - Cape Town Section

Interview with the newly elected President of the MCSA, Dave Jones September 2009

Bill Turner, a Cape Town Section member of long-standing, was asked to interview the newly elected President of the MCSA, Dave Jones, who he has known for some years.

Bill: Congratulations, Dave, on your election as President of the MCSA. We have read an account of your mountaineering activities in your CV for the UIAA, published in our national newsletter. Despite your disabled leg as a result of the accident when you were a student, you have engaged in many hard outdoor activities in addition to carrying your children and family rucksacks up and down the mountains. Please tell us about your marathon running.

Dave: I have always pretended that I don’t have a disabled leg. I used to be a marathon runner until the wheels came off permanently. I enjoyed the challenge of it.

Bill: What marathons have you run?

Dave: I have run two Comrades and about seven Two Oceans, and all the qualifying marathons that go with that. It was only for about a 10 year period, and then the crocked leg said “stop!”

Bill : You also have an interest in sailing and canoeing...

Dave: When I was younger there were not so many outdoor activities as there are now. I have always been a sailor. When I was a student I enthusiastically planned to join the UCT Mountain Club. Then I got hit by a car and so sailing was the other thing that I could do. As a student I was part of the UCT Yacht Club and I have been an active sailor ever since.

Bill : And now you are the Commodore of the George Lakes Yacht Club, where you and I have often crossed tacks while competing in our respective Laser dinghies.

What is your vision for the MCSA in the future?

Dave : I find that a very interesting question. I have been a member of the Mountain Club for over 40 years and I have never actually had a view - I haven’t felt it necessary. As an ordinary Mountain Club member I've had lots of opinions, but vision? That was for the high and mighty, I always thought.

Bill : Nevertheless, you must have some ideas about certain really important aspects, one being our access to the mountains...

Dave : Yes, you are quite right, Bill. I mustn’t be flippant about it. I joined the Mountain Club for many good reasons. The main reason was the access it gives you to wonderful mountains. The importance of the Mountain Club in my life can’t be underrated.

Bill : And this of course ties up with ownership of mountain land by the Mountain Club...

Dave : Yes, this is a very important aspect of the Mountain Club, although it has an element of concern for me. The responsibilities that go with any land ownership are becoming more and more significant. I hope, as the Mountain Club, we can weather possible storms that may lie ahead. I am confident we shall. Certainly I am in favour of the Mountain Club owning mountain land, it needs to be protected and we are the best to do it.

Bill : How can we improve our relationship with authorities in charge of mountain land?

Dave : It is one of the sad facts about our recent history that we have lost stature as an association, as a mountain club. We were consulted by government bodies in the past. Now, if anything, we tend to be ignored, and I think in some ways it has been our own fault. We have continued as if there was no need for change, and yet the country has been changing. We haven’t been contributing enough actively to broadening what we do with the greater community. What I mean by that is there are considerable opportunities for job creation and skills training - especially in the tourist industry - for people who are experienced and know the mountains. I don’t think the Mountain Club is doing what it could be doing to exploit these opportunities. I think if we were a bit more proactive we might be listened to a bit better.

Bill : Of concern is the perception that the Mountain Club is dying of old age. How can we attract those many younger active climbers, who are at present not members, to join the MCSA?

Dave : The fact that we have an aging membership and virtually a static membership in the Mountain Club is a matter of concern. What many people forget is that it actually is a reflection of the population group that traditionally the Mountain Club has served. This group is also aging, and their numbers have fallen. If the Mountain Club was more attractive and offered advantages, or training, and offered accessibility to job opportunities, I think we would see a very different demographic makeup and a very different age makeup. At this stage of our development the people we should be attracting are the people who are in the game, particularly the young climbers, because young climbers often become very good older, mature hikers in the Mountain Club. I think that the Mountain Club has at this stage to really make itself accessible to the young and adventurous. So I, personally, am all in favour of new developments like competition climbing, although I have never done it. If we are going to represent mountains and mountaineering in this country, we should be actively seeking to represent sports climbers on the international stage. I think they are our future.

Bill: Why do you think we really need a mountain club?

Dave: You need some sort of direction in any activity. We need some sort of representative body. Individuals can join or not, that’s not really relevant. Unless there is some sort of central vision, almost control, we’ll be like a whole lot of wanderers in the darkness. So I think a unified body in a country like South Africa, which has beautiful mountains and has people active in climbing and hiking, is essential.

Bill : Going on to the world stage, how important is the UIAA membership for the MCSA? After all it is rather expensive...

Dave : I personally think it is one of the most important developments in the Mountain Club. After a period in the wilderness in the bad old apartheid years, we became reaccepted into the international community. Previous presidents - I think Andre Schoon was the front runner here - made sure that we were not only accepted internationally, but accepted as full members of the UIAA, the International Alpine Association, and I am very proud of the fact that we are active members of that association.

Bill : Do you intend to attend UIAA meetings?

Dave : Yes, if we are members of the UIAA we should be contributing, we should be attending the meetings, so, yes, I am. I’ll be going to my first one in October this year and I am looking forward to it, not because I can make a contribution yet, but because I should become au fait with what it is all about and how it works, so that I can contribute.

Bill: Finally Dave, in a nutshell, how would you like to see the club develop during your term in office?

Dave: I should like to see the MCSA strengthen its position as a unified, central voice for all mountain related activities, for conservation and for mountain access; that it continue to forge international links by active participation in the UIAA; that it seek to regain some of the stature it appears to have lost with the authorities as a legitimate consultative body in Mountain Policy Planning; that its membership become more inclusive; and that it pay more attention to aspirations of the young and adventurous to encourage them to become members.

Bill: And now I’d like you to join me on a canoeing trip down the Breede River .

Dave : Good idea. When?

Security on the Mountain

Mountain Club South Africa - Cape Town:

Please also note that this Friday 17th, in addition to the film, there will be a talk by Kelee Arrowsmith on Advanced Conflict Training which teaches people how to develop a safety plan for themselves and their families. There will also be a demonstration of pepper sprays and an opportunity to purchase.

Cyclist robbed at knife point near Rhodes Memorial

A cyclist riding on the mountain this morning (sat 11 July) - making his way up Plum Pudding Hill from the Cape Town side - was accosted by 2 black men with knives. They wanted his cellphone and money - weren't interested in the bike. They only took his phone and in parting slashed the back tyre of his bike.

Their MO was that the one came up out of the bushes and sat on a rock next to the path. As he approached the guy stood up and showed his knife. Rider stopped and got off bike telling him he could take it. Then became aware that there was another guy behind him also with knife.

They asked for his cellphone and the guy behind opened up the riders back shirt pocket to remove the phone. They also asked for money but he didn't have any on him.

Rondebosch police are looking for two knife-weilding suspects who are very mobile in the Rhodes Mem/ Town area. They are apparently "working" this area up and down mountain.

Please caution walkers and riders - they are not a pleasant pair to encounter.

Source: Mountain Club South Africa

Its wise to never walk alone: (10 Hiking Commandments - that will save your life)
The Walking Buddy group is up and running, so do join if you want to walk with an informal group, or are willing to take people with you. See the article on this for more information.

Tony Heher of the Mountain Club of South Africa

Herewith a personality profile on Tony Heher from the Mountain Club of South Africa:

As you may notice from the articles this week, and the topic for Friday's social, climbing safety is something of an obsession, arising from some of my early climbing experiences. Soon after I started climbing in the 1960's, I was the unfortunate belayer who held a 10m leader fall. Thanks to the good belay and safety techniques that had been drummed into us beginners, the leader survived, but it was a close call. In addition, in the following few years, there were three fatal climbing accidents involving friends or club members. Fortunately I was not on any of these meets, but I saw the impact on their companions and it contributed to me being a cautious climber all my life. This caution served me safely through 45 years of climbing, until in 2006, to my acute embarrassment, I was airlifted off Vlakenberg - for a torn ligament - while walking! This incident, and a couple of others on meets I was on, renewed my interest and involvement in safety matters.




At the University of Natal, where I started climbing, the Drakensberg was our main playground. Sentinel, Pyramid, Column and Mponjwane were some of the climbs we did, using an old Viking hawser rope and a few pitons. In retrospect, terrifying, but that's all we had! With leads of 30-40m with a single piton as protection, climbing well within one's limits was mandatory! Learning that critical holds do grow back again was also part of the Drakensberg 'experience', as was another tip for Drakensberg climbing - if you find a good hand hold, throw it away. As most Drakensberg climbs require many abseils to get down, abseiling became a routine - including retrieving an "illegal" banner off the 10-story library at the University of Natal - which made the front page of the local press. Little did they know what a doddle this was compared to the average rather hairy Drakensberg abseil.

In the early 1970's two years at the University of California provided opportunities to explore the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains. This included climbing three 10 000 ft snow capped peaks - all with a baby on my back! Having a family is no barrier to enjoyable mountain exploits. The next 25 years of climbing were mainly in the glorious kloofs of the Magaliesberg: Tonquani, Cederberg, Trident, Grootkloof and many more. We also enjoyed many extended trips to the Drakensberg to our second home - a family farm adjoining the Drakensberg wilderness.

During this period I helped run climbing clubs at both my son's and daughter's schools in Pretoria. We had a lot of fun together and the first SA inter-schools meet at Tonquani in 1986 helped change perceptions about school kids climbing. Teaching my daughter that shorts were better than skirts for climbing was also a notable achievement - to the disappointment of the boys! The only downside was that the kids were out-climbing me at a younger and younger age every year. Interestingly, and not coincidentally, one of the St Alban's pupils I climbed with was Nigel Basel, the developer of the mailing package that the Club is now using. Climbing creates many life-long connections and friendships.






Climbing in the Cape really only began in earnest in 2006. 200 meets in the last 3 years with the Club and U3A have helped me complete most walking and scrambling routes on TM and the Peninsula and now the country routes beckon. Re-doing old long forgotten routes and opening new routes has been a fun part of these explorations. The only problem is too much to do and too little time!

During the 12 years prior to retiring, much of my work was related to economic development, including the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Park and several projects in Lesotho. This influenced my views on mountain development and use and contributed to setting up the multi-media mountain wiki www.mountain-meanders.com. This has now become a major project - contributions are welcome!

My present involvement with web and IT matters stems from 30 years in the IT industry. Intriguingly, the current use of Web 2.0 technology is directly related to my PhD in Computer Science which I started in California 38 years ago! The more the world changes the more it stays the same... Sharing what I have learnt (and am learning all the time) is a key focus, including establishing a team who can run with the changes the Club is making. If you are interested, do come and join a great team. You will learn a lot about the Club and have fun.

Well done to Tony, you have an amazing story and I loved reading it!
Ed.

Another death on Matroosberg

Published Wed 8 July 2009 by The Mountain Club of South Africa

Many will have read in the press about the 38 year old Italian man who fell to his death on the slopes of Conical peak on the Matroosberg last Saturday. This incident occurred very near the spot where a man (*) fell in 2007 and who's body could only be recovered by rescue services several months after the fall due to the treacherous nature of the ice and snow conditions in winter.

(click on image for a larger view)
Photo showing the area (not sure who took it). Conical peak is on the left. The arrow marking the vehicles shows the nature of the parking area and its proximity to the edge. It also shows the massive scale and the very long fall. The annotation showing the 75ft shorthaul relates to the length of the rope hung beneath the helicopter to which the rescuers are attached.

In Saturday's incident the man had driven up the 4x4 track, along with a horde of other tourists and snow-seekers, and had, together with a friend, moved away from the vehicle, each of them carrying a camping chair, presumably to sit and enjoy the view. For those who have not been to this spot, it is worth pointing out that the road terminates on a small plateau which serves as a parking area at the head of Groothoekloof. This parking area, covered with snow and ice in winter, is bordered on the one side by a vertical drop of several hundred metres.

Both men slipped and fell, but one managed to arrest his slide. The other did not. He fell about 500 ft and came to rest on a small ledge.

His body was recovered by a member of the MCSA mountain rescue team together with another WSAR member, who were airlifted to the site attached to a rope beneath the Skymed helicopter. They packaged the remains and were airlifted out. A difficult and traumatic job.

There is much ongoing debate about the accessibility of this area to vehicles and the experience level of the people who visit this place in the comfort of a 4x4, essentially accessing a high, remote mountain with all its attendant dangers. Many of the folk who journey here do not have the requisite mountain experience, and indeed many would otherwise not find themselves in the mountains at all, let alone in dangerous snow and ice conditions. No doubt there will be much debate on this issue.

There are many ways in which this tragedy (and the previous one) could have been avoided. Proper experience in ice conditions, proper equipment (axes and crampons for instance), and being aware of the nature of the surface (soft snow in places, ice in others) and the concomitant dangers, for example. The ease of access - driving right to the edge of an extremely precipitous cliff - is a serious problem with this place.

The MCSA extends its condolences to the family of the deceased. This is not the last accident we will see here.

Brent Jennings
MCSA Mountain Rescue


* The man referred to in the fall was a very dear friend that I knew, Andrew Johns.

Andrew was playing and sliding on a cardboard box down the snow, when it suddenly turned to ice. The momentum and the speed he was traveling at caused him to be unable to stop himself and he slid over the edge in full view of his wife and son. I still miss Andrew, and wish I could have told him what an amazing person I thought he was.

His body was only recovered 3 months after his death. The message I want to send out, is that if you dont know icy conditions, please be very careful when you wish to go and show your family the snow in the mountains. The people owning the snow filled land are eager to charge for the people who enter their property, but there are no real safety measures in place.

Please be very careful when you consider hiking in snow conditions.

My sincere condolences goes to the Italian mans family for the loss of their beloved one.


ED.