Archive for January, 2011

Week End Hikes

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

If you are interested in booking for any of these please contact  Flo – Cell : 082 785 8165; e-mail : cdc@lantic.net; fax : 086 502 4673

FEB 11 – 13 : KAMEELKOP HIKING TRAIL – MARQUARD FREE STATE

 BACK PACKING, but it is possible to transfer a vehicle from the base camp to the overnight camp

 Many people will have heard of the eastern Free State town of Marquard as a place on a sign board from Winburg. Marquard is in fact the centre of the cattle feedlot industry and is home to up to 60,000 head of cattle. This trail meanders through the beautiful sandstone mountains of the area. The overnight camp is tucked away in a secluded valley.

  MAR 18 – 21 : RHEBOK HIKING TRAIL – GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARK, CLARENS AREA

 BACK PACKING, with camping at the Glen Reenen Rest Camp the night before as well as the Sunday evening

Some of the most spectacular mountain scenery to be found in South Africa is to be found around Clarens. The Golden Gate National Park is situated close to this little town, and stretches up to the Lesotho border. This trail allows the hiker to experience the scenery including the sandstone cliffs that give rise to the parks name.

 APRIL 24 – 29 : AMATOLA HIKING TRAIL – KING WILLIAMS TOWN

 BACK PACKING 6 DAYS

This trail is still regarded as the mother of all trails in South Africa but also one of the most beautiful. Hikers need to be fit; the days are long and the distances far each day, meandering through the mountains, passing numerous waterfalls. This trail is often referred to as the waterfall hiking trail. Care needs to be taken as this area is very muddy and wet throughout most of the year.

  MAY 20 – 21 : SUIKERBOSCHFONTEIN HIKING TRAIL – CAROLINA MPUMALANGA

 BACK PACKING, but it is possible to transfer a vehicle from the base camp to the overnight camp

A portion of the farm has been proclaimed as the Paulina van Niekerk Nature Reserve and this trail traverses this reserve. The area is very rugged and scenic and the trail takes in the most beautiful areas of the farm. The overnight camp is very beautiful and original in layout as it is set among high rock pillars.

 JUNE 16 – 19 : FANIE BOTHA HIKING TRAIL – SABIE MPUMALANGA

 BACK PACKING 3 DAYS – trail option to be advised

To many people the Fanie Botha is synonymous with the establishment of organised hiking trails in South Africa. This trail was the first part of what was meant to be a whole network of trails stretching from the Soutpansberg in the North down the eastern escarpment to the Cape, the National Hiking Way System. Much of the original trail led the hiker along forestry roads; this has to a large extent been changed to incorporate more areas of indigenous forest.

Welcome to the New Year

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011
1. Happy New Year to all our members and happy hiking in 2011.
  
2. Don’t forget when paying for hikes etc to use the new bank account – see details at end of email.
 
3. Our first event for the year is our Club night and we hope you will all come along – let’s start the New Year off in a grand way.
 
4. Annual Subs are now due. They haven’t gone up for a number of years but we have found it necessary to increase them now. Single membership will be R110 and family membership R150. For new members there will also be a once off joining fee of R50. You can either pay them by EFT and send the confirmation to our Treasurer, Carol, or alternatively, you can pay us cash at the January club night – see details in attached document.
 
5. Our AGM is coming up in February – see details below. We like to give out fun awards at the meeting to some of the hikers.  Here are some examples of awards given in the past: “The Galloping Grannies”, “The Tumbling Twins”, “The Happy Hurler”.  If any of you would like to nominate someone for such an award, please email us their name and the suggested award by the end of January.
 
6. It has been suggested that we organise a mountain bike outing – anyone interested please let us know.

New Bank Details:

Name of Account: Florida Hiking & Adventure Club Bank: Nedbank Account Number: 182 506 5241 Branch: Clearwater Branch Code: 182 505 00

CLUB NIGHT – January

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

Tuesday 25 January 2011

Golden Reef Road Runners Club, Andrew Street, Horizon

7 for 7.30 pm

Bring & Braai

For our first meeting, we will have a social evening to catch up with what we have all been doing during the holidays and to let you know what we have planned for 2011. Do hope to see you all there. The bar will be open, as usual, for drinks so just bring along your meat and salads

DAY HIKE – January

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

Date: Sunday 30 January 2011

Venue:  Van Gaalen Cheese Farm, Skeerpoort (near Magalies Park RCI resort) Cost:    Members R25.00 per person.   Non-members R30.00. Start time:  Be there by 7.45 am, ready to hike at 8 am. Bring snacks and water/cold drinks to enjoy on the hike.  Hats, sun screen, etc.   A fairly easy +/- 10km hike along the river banks.  Some ups and downs, but nothing major.   Join us for lunch afterwards at the on-site restaurant.  Prices range from toasted sandwiches (about R30.00) to more fancy meals of up to about R75.00.   Please let me know by Thursday 26 January and indicate whether you intend having lunch at the restaurant. 

 Phone Joan Clark: 083 890 4298 or 011 955 1618 or e-mail joanc@telkomsa.net.  

Directions: From Krugersdorp, take route R563 to Hekpoort.  From Robert Broom Drive, travel about 31.5 km to the T-junction and turn RIGHT onto R560.  After about 18 km the road makes a sharp turn to the left. After 3.2 km you will see van Gaalen Cheese Farm on the left (just after Skeerpoort).   If you are coming from the other direction, follow the R512 past Lanseria and on until you cross over the bridge across the Hartebeespoort Dam.  Turn LEFT onto R560, travel past Magalies Park RCI resort and the cheese farm will be on your right, about 5 km after Magalies Park.

WEEKEND & LONGER HIKES

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

The first weekend hike of the year will take place in February. Flo is busy working on it and is trying for Melkrivier in the Waterberg so watch this space for more details ……..

Amatola: 6 day back packing hike (Eastern Cape)

24 – 29 April 2011

This hike can accommodate 12 people and so far 8 people have booked and confirmed. If anyone else is interested please contact Flo as soon as possible. It is a strenuous hike so be warned that you need to be fit.

Flo – Cell : 082 785 8165; e-mail : cdc@lantic.net; fax : 086 502 4673

 

 Shipwreck Hiking & Canoe Trail on the Sunshine Coast (Port Alfred area)

24 – 29 April 2011

This is being organised by Barbara at the same time as the Amatola Hike for those who want to do a long hike/slack-packing over Easter but are not interested in the Amatola. It sounds great – see details below as well as attached document for more details.

 

Sun    24 April – Rufane Hut

Mon   25 April – Tree House

Tues  26 April – Three Sisters

Wed  27 April – Lily Pad Hut (in the game reserve)

Thurs 28 April – Stone Cottage

Fri     29 April – Walk out to Fish River