MCSA PW June 2021 News

Have a hike or a hacking meet in mind? please contact Nardus - more leaders = more exploring + more opportunities for everyone. 

At the AGM Honorary Membership was bestowed on Deon Rossouw for his work whilst manager of the Limietberg Reserve and the support and goodwill he bestowed on the Section during this time. At the last Hut work meet we had a handover ceremony and celebrated his contributions. Thank you Deon!  

The MCSA have been fortunate to have a long history with Kirstenbosch Gardens (Journal 1915 #18, p 18). However it seems that COVID has put a toll on the garden and hence SANBI is revisiting arrangements of historical nature. Until further notice card-carrying MCSA members can only access the mountain via the garden free of charge via the Rycroft gate before 08h00 in the mornings. Please proceed directly to the mountain. Thank you to all those who brought this to our attention.

It might be useful to know that with the MCSA membership card you are eligible for discounts at Mountain Mail Order/City Rock, Cape Union Mart, Drifters and ForeverFresh.

Thirty members responded to our request for being available on the “Reserve List” for Mountain Rescue: thank you! A letter with more info will be sent out shortly. I believe this creates awareness around our own safety whilst hiking and allows quicker responses and safer mountains in our own backyard.

PW Section's library has moved from Olive Glen:

• The journals are mostly hosted from 9 Kamp Street in Paarl (please contact Riaan/Kari). A second set of journals will be moved to the Hut where we plan to build a protected book case.

• The books and remaining journals are now at the Green School in Paarl. Please contact them if you want to take out a book (+27 10 025 2210).

A complete list of books is available on the website along with where to access them.

Mini Camp planning is well under way and bookings are open for our Hawequas base camp. We are looking forward to a week of great hikes and fantastic memories: the opening on Monday kicks off with a cheese and wine evening and closes with the Annual Dinner on Saturday. A variety of hikes are planned to cater for the young / old and the adventurous. For the not-so-adventurous the camp site has several trails with spectacular views for minimal effort. Join us for a day or for the week, or for the Dinner. 

More information is available on our website. 

We have surpassed the 300 mark in members! It is inspiring to see families and younger members joining. I believe this is due to a great membership base with exciting people! And on that note, welcome to our new members:

Peter Otzen, Riecus Smith, Wikus en Somia Hanekom, Jacomi Hanekom, Nicolize en Daniel Stigaard, Cleeve Robertson, Martin Jooste, Matthew Hart, Carl, Tenzin and Beukes, Andries and Shudete Liebenberg, Frances Kierman, Ruth Wimble, Stefan Engelbrecht, Claire Murray, Christian and Finn Rank, Elouise Fuls, Carel van der Merwe, Bob Lafite, Johan Muller, Gerhard Nel, Jesca, Caleb and Joshua Olivier.

Fooie - baie dankie aan almal wat alreeds betaal het. Dit help ons ongelooflik dat fooie so vroeg moontlik inbetaal word. Plakkers kan opgetel word by die volgende lede:  Paarl - Riaan Doorduin, Wellington - Elsie Oettle, Plattekloof / Durbanville - Gaye Hosking, South Peninsula / Cape Town - Kerry Feldman, Pos - secretary@pw.mcsa.org.za 

In memorium - Ons het verneem dat ons geliewe lid Horst Klump oorlede is. Almal wat hom geken het sal weet dat hy ‘n besonder man was. Ons harte gaan uit na Elsa in hierdie tyd en ons gaan hom verseker mis.

2019 Journals have arrived: If you were a member during 2019 please arrange collection of your journal with Riaan Doorduin (Paarl), Elsie Oettle (Wellington) or Gaye Hosking (Plattekloof / Durbanville).

The 2021 Journal will be available in digital format for all Members. Members can choose to add a printed journal to their subscription (R100 extra).  When you pay your member fees, please indicate whether you want a printed journal.

Past journals are available (never collected) so if you have a gap in your collection, you are welcome to pick up one from Riaan. We have 2005-2013 and 2018 journals.

We have had two hut weekends recently – both weekends had good turnouts and a great set of skills on offer to get jobs done. Thank you to all who have pitched up, rolled up their sleeves and got the job done -  while a lot of fun was had!  Some of the jobs completed:

• The new east stoep has been resurfaced over the two meets and then one more day to complete it

• A new charger, new batteries and new lights with a timer switch have been have been fitted

• All window frames were repainted and missing putty replaced.

• Three outside walls have been coated with a Nono Sealer to keep the hut dry – we still need to do the front wall

• Weeding around the hut and water run off channels were improved

• The hut and toilet doors were varnished

• New gas cookers were installed replacing the old gas system

• The kitchen unit was scrubbed and repainted

• The water system was serviced

What next – there are plenty of projects to go on with, some of which are:

• Lights to be fitted upstairs

• Setting up an emergency VHF radio in the hut – via DFW repeater

• Sealing of the joint between the chimney and the hut

• Nano sealing the front wall

• Painting of the fresh putty on the windows

• Repairing putty on the top windows

• Sealing gaps inside between floors and walls

• Clearing a fire break around the hut before summer

Dreaming –

• Putting in a cold water shower outside

• Constructing a porch over the front stoep

• Constructing a “Dormer Window” between the two front translucent panels upstairs

• Constructing a Jacuzzi with a donkey for hot water adjoining the stoep

• Constructing an EcoLoo above the hut.

Hut Bookings:  Thank you to Elsie Oettle who has handled Hut Bookings over the past 8 months.  We welcome Brenda as our new Hut Booking coordinator. For more info about the hut and to make bookings, please visit the website or email kromriverhut@pw.mcsa.or.za.

MCSA PW 2021 COMMITTEE CONTACTS
Chair: Riaan Doorduin - chairman@pw.mcsa.org.za
Vice-Chair: Kuba Miszewski - vicechair@pw.mcsa.org.za
Secretary: Elsie Oettle - secretary@pw.mcsa.org.za
Treasurer: Petrus Claassen - treasurer@pw.mcsa.org.za
Meets: Nardus Cronje - meets@pw.mcsa.org.za
Outreach: Cobie Martins - outreach@pw.mcsa.org.za
Mini Camp: Gaye Hosking & Nick Mentoor - minicamp@pw.mcsa.org.za
Hut Bookings: kromriverhut@pw.mcsa.org.za
Hut Maintenance & Warden: Kuba Miszewski - kromriverhut@pw.mcsa.org.za
Communications: Kerry Feldman - comms@pw.mcsa.org.za