Sometimes a meet leader specifies a date for participants to confirm attendance well in advance of an outing. This is if advance booking of accommodation etc. is required.
In all other cases where a specific advance confirmation date is not specified, and you intend taking part in an outing, please contact the meet leader by the Thursday evening preceding the weekend hike, or otherwise two days before to arrange participation.
Where possible the meet leader will advise you about shared transport arrangements.
Non members can approach a meet leader to be included for a hike or outing. The meet leader will want confirmation that a non member understands the degree of difficulty of the hike, and any particular challenges it may present, and is confident of his or her personal ability to take part in it. If accepted, the non member has to complete formalities to become a temporary member of the club for the duration of the outing. Meet leaders can advise you in more detail.
Sunday 6th May PASS-2-PASS SKY LOOP RETURN Bill Uren
Grade 3 044 533 2943 082 825 2635 billhodge.uren@gmail.com
Meet at the sputnik at the top of theOuteniquaPass at 08h30. The hike takes one to the top of the ridge where one has stunning views of the Outeniquas, 4 Passes, George and the coastline. There is some rock scrambling, hence the level 3 grading.
One then picks up the Pass to Pass Trail and returns along it to the start. The minimum elevation is 550 m and the maximum 1215 m and total distance about 9.3 km. One to two litres of water, anorak and normal hiking gear should suffice. We should be back at the start by 15h30.
Saturday 19th May GOUKAMMA TRAIL – BEACH WALK & KAYAK MEET David Scott
Grade 0 – 1 044 533 6285 082 566 0138 dbscottfam@telkomsa.net
08h15: Meet at theGoukammaNational Parkcampsite. From the N2 turn onto the Buffelsbaai road, turn right into the Cape Nature Goukamma campsite. Entrance is free with a Wild Card even with your own kayak, without a Wild Card the cost is R30 per person. Meet at the parking lot at the hike start. Parking is safe.
After a short walk, we cross the Goukamma River by self-operated pontoon. Thereafter, follow a sandy path to the beach where we will walk 7 km westwards to the 120 000 year-old fossil footprints on the dune rock (Grade 0). Take a snack break at the foot prints rocks and then return to Goukamma on the lower dune trail (Grade 1). Then paddle (optional) up the Goukamma River to the N2 bridge for about 7.5 km, inspecting the fossil footprints in dune rock on the way. Take water as there are no streams. Light shoes are suitable for this outing. Picnic or braai in the campsite between hike and paddle for those who wish to do so.
Launching your own kayak/canoe is free. Canoe hire (on site) per day is R 60 for a single (6 available) and R 100 for a double (5 available).
Sunday 3rd June LOSBERG Anton Kleinschmidt
Grade 2 044 343 1188 083 991 2313 kleinschmidt@telkomsa.net
Meet at Witfontein Forestry Station at 08h30 to sort out transport to the quarry near North Station at the top of the MontaguPass.
We hike from the quarry near North Station to Losberg and back. It offers great mountain views on all sides without the high exertion levels associated with Cradock /GeorgePeaks. Distance about 7 km with some fairly strenuous up-hills, expected time about 3 to 4 hours, depending on party. A reasonable level of fitness required. Paths may be slippery so wear good boots.
9 – 10 June FORMOSA HUT Jane Luck
Grade 0 – 2 044 534 8381 083 256 0841 dr.luck@global.co.za
The Formosa Hut belongs to the Eastern Capesection of the MCSA and is situated on the edge of the Lottering Plantation. It is accessible by car (lower parking) or by 4×4 (upper parking). The hut sleeps 10 and has an indoor fireplace if the weather is bad and a big outside fireplace for braaing. There is no shortage of fire wood. A few small tents could be pitched outside between the rocks. Suitable even for young children: there are easy walks and some more challenging peaks close by. A lovely swimming spot (150 m walk) is located on the Lottering River– July water temperature may make use of this facility optional.
Arrive Saturday, settle in, and chill out in the mountain air. On Sunday we will explore the unnamed peak between Grenadier’s Cap andFormosa, which should give great views of Formosa. There is no path so be prepared for bushwhacking through fynbos.
To get to the Formosa MCSA hut take the N2 towards PE, after the toll gate take the first off ramp left to ‘Cold Stream’, follow the road for a couple of kilometres until you see 2 phallic-looking gate posts built from large rounded pebbles, turn left and drive to the forestry station. Keep straight past the forestry station and follow the signs to SANPark’s ‘Keurbos Hut’. The lower MCSA hut parking is a clearing on the right. Park here and follow the path up the hill to the hut on foot.
Booking is essential, as permits with vehicle registrations need to be issued and submitted to the forestry station.
Please bring gardening tools such as secateurs or gardening saws, as controlling alien vegetation is an ongoing problem around the hut. Any help would be appreciated.
Sunday 24th June HEARTBREAK HILL GORGE Anton Kleinschmidt
Grade 2 044 343 1188 083 991 2313 kleinschmidt@telkomsa.net
Meet at Witfontein Forestry Station at 08h30 to sort out transport to the quarry near North Station at the top of theMontaguPass.
We hike from the quarry near North Station to the start of Heartbreak Hill and back. Great mountain views on all sides without the high exertion levels associated with Cradock /GeorgePeaks. Distance about 8 km, 3-4 hours. Reasonable level of fitness required. As paths can be slippery, wear good boots.
14 – 15 July KLEIN SWARTBERG: ELANDSBERG (2127M) CLIMB Greg Devine
Grade 2 or 3 044 871 4755 083 378 2587 devine@mega.co.za
This will be a three-day meet, Friday to Sunday, and will have as its objective the peak shown as Toringberg on the 1:50000 map (3321 AD), but better known as ElandsPeak. We will drive to the Swartberg near Ladismith on Friday and hike to our base camp up the Buffelskloof. On Saturday we will hike up to the peak with daypacks and return to our camp the same day, returning home on the Sunday – Grade 3.
The views of the Klein Swartberg and the gorges in between, from Towerkop toSeweweekspoortPeak, are stunning. The hike is quite strenuous at 8 to 10 hours and 1 500 metres of steep ascent on the day, and no real path.
An alternative we can consider is to stay over in Ladismith and still do ElandsPeak, but utilising part of the Stanley’s Light Trail. Less fit folks can do the shorter Stanley’s Light Trail (Grade 2), about 7 to 8 hours and 1 420 metres.
The final decision on route/s will depend on interest shown.
21 – 22 July Hoeberg and Witbakensberg recce
Maretha Alant
Grade 2+ 083 455 4050 maretha.alant@sanparks.org
Assemble at 15h00 on Saturday at the Farleigh Parking Area (start of Mountain Bike routes and parking for the Outeniqua Trail Platbos overnight hut). Travel together to Windmeulnek Hut (4×4 only). Braai and overnight at hut. Depart at 08h00 to climb Witbakensberg (1263 m) and Hoëberg (1424 m) via the ridge route (if feasible). Departure Sunday at 16h00. Bring protective clothing as some bundu-bashing is guaranteed. Bring Wild Card. Hut fees to be communicated closer to the time.
4 – 5 August NOETZIE – SINCLAIR HUT RETURN Fred van Berkel
Grade 2 or 2+ 072 112 6507 sc.mcsa@gmail.com
The little known Sinclair Trail starts at the Noetzie River estuary and wends its way eastwards through dense indigenous forest, ending at the Sinclair hut – the overnight hut of the Harkerville 2-day Coastal Hike.
One-day option,Saturday 4 August: Walk theSinclairTrail (7 km). Leave a car at the Sinclair hut to ferry folks back to Noetzie. Grade 2.
Two-day option, Sat-Sun 4-5 August: Walk the Sinclair trail and overnight at the Sinclair hut. Return along the coast, initially using a section of the Harkerville 2-day Coastal Hike to DiakenhoutblokBay (4 km) and thereafter follow fishermen’s paths along the coast to Noetzie (4 km). Grade 2+.
Details for this hike still have to be firmed up with SANParks and will be communicated closer to the time. Costs involved are the normal Conservation fee of R18 and for those choosing the overnight option, there will be a hut fee.
18 August NATURE’S VALLEY: SALT RIVER-RUGPAD-KEURPAD David Scott
Grade 1 044 533 6285 082 566 0138 dbscottfam@telkomsa.net
Meet at 08h00 at the west end of NaturesValleyTownship (takeForest Road to the end), park at the beach access and restaurant/shop. The 12 km hike will do the route clockwise on the Salt River route. At approximately 0.5km there is a nice view site over Nature’s Valley before we wade across the Salt Riverand at approximately 7 km we cross the gorge again. This river is an isolated ecosystem so has some special insects (will get info) and we can relax in the shade for a short time (plenty of little frogs here). Then a climb out of the gorge (there was a camera on the path) followed by a flat walk and the longish descent back to Salt River. Snacks probably best in the gorge. Finally fromSalt River we will take the coastal route to the start. There are fossils in the shale atSalt River. Expected time is about 5 hours. We can have a beer at the restaurant if we wish and their burgers are quite OK.
This is quite a long walk with at least 3 hill climbs, so good boots and plenty of water. Most of it is shady. At the start we have to wade through the Salt River(at high tide waist deep and at low tide knee deep) but can swim in the river mouth later anyway so be prepared.
Saturday 25th August CRADOCK & GEORGE PEAKS Fred van Berkel
Grade 3 072 112 6507 sc.mcsa@gmail.com
Meet at Witfontein Forestry Station at 07h15. Start at 07h30 and follow the standard route. There is a well maintained path.
The hike to Cradock has a short scramble just below the peak, hence the grading of 3. The walk up GeorgePeak is not too difficult and is graded 2+. The total distance for Cradock return is 17.5 km and 19.5 km if we include GeorgePeak. Total time depends on the fitness level of the group but may take up to 10 hours. Sunriseis at 07h00 and sunset at 18h00 on the day: 11 hours of daylight.
Good boots and all-weather gear essential as the weather on our higher peaks is unpredictable. There is water available at various places on the route but carry at least 2 litres.
