Greetings, MCSA Member
In this bulletin:
1) CONTRIBUTIONS FOR 2017 JOURNAL
This is a call for contributions for the 2017 Journal. These can be sent to the Editing Team using the email address jennyapaterson@gmail.com . Please refer to the Guidelines and Style Sheet on the national website before you submit any contribution.
2) 2018 PAN-AFRICA MOUNTAINEERING MEET, MOUNTAIN CLUB OF UGANDA
Several African clubs have already established reciprocal membership and I am sure many of you have benefitted from the warm welcome of other clubs. The MCU, in cooperation with MCSA, would like to invite all clubs to attend a meet in Uganda in January of 2018. Uganda has quite possibly the finest mountains in all of Africa, the famous Rwenzori in the west, the dramatic Virungas of gorilla fame in the southwest, the much-heralded Mt Elgon in the east and the little known, wild, and unspoiled peaks of Karamoja in the northeast. Uganda’s got something for every type of mountaineer, glaciated uplands, technical pitches, gorgeous hikes and peace in some of the most beautiful and remote parts of East Africa.
Full article and flyer: 2018-Pan-Africa-Meet-Uganda-1.pdf
3) MOUNT KENYA FESTIVAL MARCH 2018
You are invited to partake in the Mount Kenya Festival from 1 to 10 March 2018 .We have negotiated a 50% discount on Park fees. Cost estimates are as follows:
4 nights on the mountain
- Food, camp, Park fees, trekking guides and porters = 590USD/person
- Minimum donation= 250USD/person
8 Nights on the mountain
- Food, camp, Park fees, trekking, guides and porters= 742USD/person
- Minimum donation= 350USD/person
Briefing in Nanyuki on 1st March
On the Mountain 2nd-9th March
Fundraiser Braai and live music on 10th March
The mountain festival is supported by the Kenyan Dept of Tourism, the Mount Kenya Trust, and African Ascents.
Nanyuki is a town in central Kenya. It’s known as a gateway to Mount Kenya and the wilderness of Mount Kenya National Park. Several trails, including the Naro Moru and Sirimon routes, ascend the mountain. The park’s wildlife includes leopards, giant forest hogs and more than 100 bird species. Northwest of Nanyuki, the plains and hills of the vast Laikipia Plateau are home to lions, elephants and rare Grevy’s zebras.
More information will be posted on mount-kenya-festival-march-2018. Contact person: Garvin Jacobs, garvin.jacobs@gmail.com.
4) NATIONAL ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE: SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2018
The national interdenominational Annual Memorial Service will be held at Maclear’s Beacon on Sunday 25 February. The service is to remember and commemorate those members of the MCSA who passed on during 2017.
5) 7TH DIGITAL EARTH SUMMIT 2018
For the first time in Africa, the 7th Digital Earth Summit 2018 on Digital Earth for Sustainable Development in Africa will be held in El Jadida, Morocco, at the Faculty of Science, Chouaib Douakkali University from April 17-19, 2018. For more information go to www.desummit2018.org
6) UIAA ODDS AND SODS
To find out more about the UIAA‘s important activities please go to www.theuiaa.org
6.1) UIAA presence in Rome for Mountain Partnership Global meeting : The meetings which coincided with the International Mountain Day (IMD) focused on the challenges and opportunities in sustainable mountain development and helped launch a Framework to support concrete actions and establish policies that strengthen the resilience of mountain peoples and environments.
6.2) Alpine Club of Canada’s International Mountain Day Gift: To mark 2017’s International Mountain Day, the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) offered a very generous gift to the mountaineering community; free access to the 110-year archive of the Canadian Alpine Journal library.alpineclubofcanada.ca
6.3) A Significant Day, a Significant Year: This year promises to be another busy one for the UIAA Mountain Protection Commission, not least because of the continuation of the key projects, but also the timely Sustainable Summits Conference, which convenes in June in Chamonix, France. As a key partner in this activity, we encourage all federations to join us and participate in this important dialogue for the mountaineering community. You are encouraged to learn more about the MPC’s work and this link is a good place to start: Youtube Watch
6.4) UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour to feature live on Olympic Channel: The UIAA is delighted to confirm that action from the 2018 UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour will be livestreamed on the Olympic Channel to a global audience.
7) FACEBOOK AND WEB PAGES
National abbreviated link for the national MCSA Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MCSA125/
Links for all the sections’ web pages are on the MCSA national webpage.
8) SECTION NEWS
No sectional news has been submitted. Readers are encouraged to go to the individual section web pages.
9) SNIPPETS
9.1) Members are reminded that the Library (housed in the Cape Town Section Clubhouse) is a treasure trove of information and entertainment on mountains the world over. Of particular note are the complete collections of journals (MCSA, Alpine Journal, AAC Journal, etc.) which are a mine of information and a source of inspiration for those looking for mountain adventures.
9.2) The current drought in the Western Cape is obviously of serious concern from many stand points. The mountains are also severely affected and members are encouraged to be especially careful and avoid any risk of starting a fire. Equally, news on how the mountain fynbos is faring under the considerable stress will be welcomed by various researchers and members are encouraged to pass on information through the Club.
10) NEWSWORTHY ITEMS
Please send any newsworthy items for inclusion in MCSA National News Editor, Ineke Moseley at inekemos@zsd.co.za
Quotable Quotes:
“It is a crest of granite…perfectly inaccessible, being probably the only one of all the prominent points which never has been, and never will be trodden by human foot” – The 1865 report of the California Geological Survey on Half Dome.
“I can’t understand why men make all this fuss about Everest- it’s only a mountain”– Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb it.
“explore – discover – connect – protect”
“verken – ontdek – ontmoet – bewaar”
“phonononga – fumanisa – qhagamshela – khusela”
