Good Day! MCSA Member
In this bulletin:
- 98th July Camp – Cathedral Peak
- Protea Colours: Financial assistance sought for talented teenage outreach boulderer
- Montagu Lead Climbing Youth Camp Feedback
- American Alpine Club international climbers’ meet – Yosemite Valley – 2017
- UIAA
- Facebook and Web pages
- Section News
- Snippets
- Any newsworthy items
1) 98th JULY CAMP 2017 CATHEDRAL PEAK AREA, SATURDAY 8 to SATURDAY 22 JULY
The Camp dates accommodate the school holidays for all provinces. This year July Camp will be held in the Northern Drakensberg in the Didima (Cathedral Peak) area, one of the best known parts of the Drakensberg (correctly called, the Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site). July Camp has been not been in this area since 2006, so 11 years later seems a good time to return!
July Camp 2017 again will be a ‘Camp with a difference’ adding yet another, very different, facet to the total July Camp experience! In 2006, we were very fortunate in being allowed to camp in Catchment 8 of the Cathedral Peak Research Area, but at present there is active research being conducted in that area. So, instead, the Base Camp will be near the Cambalala hut in a young forest of the iconic umtshitshi bushes (Leucosidea sericea), one of the most evocative plant associations of the Drakensberg. Older specimens with their knarled trunks speak of veld fires from years past. All this makes for an unusual camp site differing from the more open grasslands where we usually camp. The hut, which the KZN Section of the Mountain Club of South Africa leases from Ezemvelo KZNWildlife, is available throughout the year to be booked by members of the MCSA but will not be available during July Camp 2017.
COST: The fees for the camp are R 280 (over 12 yrs) and R 170 (under 12 yrs) per person per night. July Camp reserves the right to retain a 20% booking fee in respect of late cancellations.
If you are not a member of MCSA, or an affiliated Club, there is a once-off additional Visitor’s Levy of R 80.00, which can be redeemed against future membership of the KZN Section of the MCSA.
Please note, refunds will only be made if cancellations are received before 10th June 2016, as at this point most of the catering and expenses will have been finalised.
PAYMENT and CLOSING DATE : 10 June 2016
Brochure and application form: kzn.mcsa.org.za/meets/july-camp
General enquiries: Rikki Abbott Wedderburn at ronwedd@netactive.co.za
Cell: 082 538 5389 Tel: 033 239 2374
2) PROTEA COLOURS: FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SOUGHT FOR TALENTED TEENAGE OUTREACH BOULDERER
We are excited by the prospect that one of the children who have been introduced to the sport of bouldering under the auspices of our Outreach and Youth Programmes could be awarded her Protea (national) colours for bouldering later this year!
Monique has been selected to represent South Africa at the 2017 Youth Climbing World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria. In September in 2013, the MCSA (Cape Town) invited children from Durbanville Children’s Home to experience rock climbing and learn new skills while having fun at the same time. A 15-year-old girl from the home has been chosen to represent South Africa, at the 2017 IFSC Youth World Championship in Innsbruck, Austria; in Sport Climbing, in the boulder discipline. As the SANCF is an official SASCOC member she will be representing South Africa in Junior Protea Colours at this international championship.
The costs of her participation are considerable, however, and in addition to a contribution from the Cape Town Section, a further R30 000 is required to make her dream a reality.
Full article: mcsacapetown.co.za/2017/04/appeal
Should you like to make a donation please mail Johanna Strauss at jstrauss@durbanvillekinderhuis.org.za or call her at 021 975 6822.
3) MONTAGU LEAD CLIMBING YOUTH CAMP APRIL 2017 FEEDBACK
The Montagu Lead Climbing Youth Camp was held over the weekend of the 7th to 9th of April 2017 at De Bos Guest Farm, Montagu. Sixteen children and twelve parents attended, as well as the coaches from Top Out Climbing Club; Caleb Ashley Cooper (Camp Leader), Hannah Ashley Cooper and Matthew Johnstone. Sixteen children and twelve parents attended. The weekend was filled with amazing climbs, good laughs and some really great climbing.
4) AMERICAN ALPINE CLUB INTERNATIONAL CLIMBERS’ MEET YOSEMITE VALLEY, 2017
The American Alpine Club is hosting its 10th Annual International Climbers’ Meet (ICM), to be held the week of 8 to 14 October 2017 in Yosemite Valley. Applicants should have intermediate or advanced level experience with:
- Placement and removal of protection.
- Multi-pitch rope management.
- At least two years of technical rock climbing.
- The ability to follow sustained 5.8 granite.
The Early Bird fee until 31 July 31 is $475 USD per person. Beginning 1 August, the fee will be $525. Your fee includes:
- Seven nights and six days of camping at secluded Yellow Pines camp ground
- Three gourmet catered meals per day from Sierra Gourmet catering
- Six days of climbing in spectacular Yosemite Valley
- Three optional instructional days hosted by AMGA certified guides and instructors
- Pre-dinner mini-clinics on a range of technical topics
- Nightly campfire for storytelling, socializing, and general carousing
- Partner with other participants or experienced host climbers
Participants provide their own transportation to Yosemite Valley, California.
Cancellation Policy: One half of fee will be returned until 4 September, (no fee refund after 4 September).
International applicants: You will receive notification of the status of your acceptance by 31 May.
To obtain an application go to americanalpineclub.org and submit the attached application electronically via e-mail to icm@americanalpineclub.org. For more information go to americanalpineclub.org or contact icm@americanalpineclub.org.
5.1) UIAA: IRAN SUMMER CAMP 2017 : MOUNT DAMAVAND & ALAM-KUH
The Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation of Iran will organize the 3rd international event which is being held between 7 and 19 July 2017, to experience mountain climbing in Iran; an opportunity for the climbers from all over the world. The preferred mountains for this program are Mount Damāvand (5671m), a potentially active volcano, and the highest peak in Iran and Middle East , as well as the highest volcano in Asia, and Mt. Alam Kouh, the second highest peak of Iran.
We have the honour to personally invite you to attend in this event; we will appreciate hosting you as a young and talented climber, to share climbing experiences as well as cultural exchanges; and making friendship bonds between our nations in a healthy, sportive atmosphere. We believe that this event is a unique occasion for young climbers to get to know other well-trained climbers in their own age. Moreover, they have the opportunity of learning and applying new climbing and mountaineering techniques under the supervision of our professional climbing and mountaineering instructors.
Registration Deadline June 10 2017. Go to FFCAM – Iranian Summer.
5.2) UIAA: INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CLIMBING CAMP: ARIEGE, SOUTH OF FRANCE: 8 to 13 JULY 2017
All enquiries should be directed to MCSA/UIAA Youth Commission Convenor, Jenny Paterson at jennyapaterson@gmail.com or through secretary@mcsa.org.za. Applications should not be submitted without being signed off by either her or the MCSA President.
Venue: Gite Les Oustalous, Les Cabannes, Ariège, South of France (distance of 120 kms from Toulouse / one hour and 20 mins)
Accommodation: Rooms for 2 people sharing, all meals and lunch packs are provided by the event organiser and will be prepared by the youth.
Participants: Young people from 16 to 25 years old. Participants should lead climb at a minimum of 5b French grade. We will be offering places to maximum of 3 participants per country Federation. Participants younger than 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult guardian/climber/coach, who is able to look after them during this meet. NB: Consumption of alcohol by the young people is forbidden during the camp.
Equipment: Climbing harness, climbing shoes, chalk bag, climbing helmet, belay device and 10 quick draws (UIAA standard/CEN). Sunglasses, sunscreen, waterproofs, sleeping bag, head torch, climbing clothing and personal toiletry kit, water bottle, any personal medication.
Insurance: Participants should get themselves insurance for accident, rescue, third party liability and travel which is valid for participating in the programme of climbing and trekking. This cover note of insurance should be presented to the organisers on arrival.
Entry visas: a visa will be required so early booking is recommended as the visa process takes time. A letter of support from the organisers and the MCSA will be provided.
Price: 30 EUR per participant / per night, payable on arrival to the organiser.
Accommodation: Full board, leading and organisational costs included, 40 EUR per accompanying guardian/climber/coach per night.
Registration deadline: 1 July 2017 (for European participants; earlier for any South African participants due to time required to process flights and visas). A maximum of 12 participants is planned, so priority will be given to early applicants.
Meeting point: Toulouse, on Saturday morning, the 8 July 2017; if flying, flights booked to Toulouse Airport to arrive on Friday, 7 July.
More details and assistance with registration can be obtained from Jenny.
6) FACEBOOK AND WEB PAGES
National Facebook page: facebook.com/Mountain-Club-of-South-Africa
Links for all the sections’ web pages are on the national web page.
7) SECTION NEWS
CAPE TOWN SECTION: OUTREACH MEGA HIKE SILVERMINE FEEDBACK
Nearly 100 matrics and alumni from Mfuleni High School in Cape Town got a taste of the outdoors on Saturday when MCSA CT Outreach took them on their annual hike before they start the hard work for their final exams. The heat was rather intense, but spirits were high and a few mountaineering spirits awakened. We went home inspired and with a page full of names of eager youngsters who want more.
8) SNIPPETS
1) LATEST UCT MSC JOURNAL ONLINE
The UCT Journal is an annual publication, showcasing events of the club in the calendar year as well as providing portfolio feedback reports. mountainandski.sports.uct.
2) FELLOWSHIPS TO ATTEND THE GLOBAL INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM CONFERENCE
The Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC) is the premier international gathering of investigative and data journalists, held once every two years. This year, the 10th conference will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from November 16 to 19, and is being co-hosted by the Global Investigative Journalism Network and the Wits University Journalism Programme.
GIJC17 incorporates this year’s African Investigative Journalism Conference and will feature more than 120 exciting panels, workshops, and networking sessions, ranging from cross-border collaboration and corruption to advanced data analysis. Here’s a chance to learn from the best in the field and enhance your skills with the latest tips and tools.
With the support of our sponsors, GIJN and Wits Journalism are offering fellowships to both established and young promising journalists in developing and transitioning countries to participate in this prestigious event. Competition is keen so you need to convince us that you’ll make great use of the training GIJC17 offers. We will be offering between 40 and 60 fellowships to African journalists, and nearly 100 more for journalists elsewhere.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 15, 2017. Winners will be notified via email by August 1, 2017. Fellowships To Attend the Global Investigative Journalism Conference: journalism.co.za/
3) HIMALAYA SPRING 2017
Kilian Jornet Moves Up Speed Record Attempt as Chinese Play Politics with Permits . theadventureblog.blogspot.
4) JOHN MUIR
John Muir was a tireless advocate for protecting and preserving outdoor spaces for others to enjoy. In fact, without his efforts, we might not have places like Yosemite and Yellowstone
designated as national parks. Muir was a forward thinking naturalist in a time when that wasn’t a popular thing to be, and yet he wrote about the need to ensure that our wild spaces didn’t vanish completely from the Earth. theadventureblog.blogspot.co.za/
9) SUBMITTING NEWSWORTHY ITEMS
Newsworthy items for inclusion in MCSA National News can be sent to the Editor, Bridget Carrick at bridget.carrick7@gmail.com.
Quote: “No matter how sophisticated you may be, a large granite mountain cannot be denied – it speaks in silence to the very core of your being.” Ansel Adams
“explore – discover – connect – protect”
“verken – ontdek – ontmoet – bewaar”
“phonononga – fumanisa – qhagamshela – khusela”
