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National News, October 2018

MCSA National News 4 October 2018 National News, October 2018

1. PRESIDENT’S NOTES

This is not a normal month for a protracted stream of consciousness from me so I won’t bore you all with one!

It is a relatively quiet, in-between time of the year and we thank our Hottentots Holland brethren for enlivening it with the Annual Joint Meet. Having spent a good deal of time at the Johnson Hut and the surrounding peaks when I was (a lot) younger, I can testify as to the attractiveness of the venue! Go for it!


 

2. HOTTENTOTS HOLLAND SECTION: ANNUAL JOINT MEET

The Hottentots Holland Section would like to invite you to the annual Joint Meet held at the Johnson Hut in the lovely Hottentots Holland mountains.

Arrival 20 October, 3pm, at Vergelegen Estate, Somerset West. Relax at the hut or dip in the pool while planning the next day’s activities. Bring and braai merriment while enjoying the sunset over Table Mountain and False Bay. Sleeping mattresses (20) available in the hut or sleep under the stars or in a tent.

On Sunday we offer:

  1. A gentle hike up the Landdroskop gorge, with a variation into the Koffie Kloof. (2 A+).
  2. A more strenuous but interesting scramble up the Landdroskop Needle (3C).
  3. A possibility to trad climb the Lang Klippie (4D).
  4. Hike up to Chipaway cave and spend the night (3C).

Grading

1 Easy stroll | 2 Moderate | 3 Strenuous exercise | 4 Only for the very fit
A No exposure to heights | B Mild exposure to heights | C Moderate exposure to heights | D Very exposed to heights


 

3UIAA

Some selected highlights of recent UIAA activities are provided below. Members are encouraged to go to http://www.theuiaa.org/ to find out more about the UIAA‘s important activities.

3.1 EMERGENCY FIELD MANAGEMENT OF AMS, HAPE AND HACEMEDICAL ADVICE

Acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) are the most important and most common altitude-related diseases. Up to altitudes of about 5000-6000m, symptoms of altitude illness are a direct result of inadequate acclimatization.

The UIAA Medical Commission has produced a dedicated paper titled “Emergency Field Management of Acute Mountain Sickness, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, and High Altitude Cerebral Edema”. Since the publication of this article on 27 August, there have already been over 1,000 downloads of the paper from the UIAA website attesting to its value.

3.2 2018 UIAA MOUNTAIN PROTECTION AWARD

18 projects showcased; winner to be announced at the UIAA General Assembly.

Submissions for the 2018 UIAA Mountain Protection Award came from all corners of the globe with the project’s dedicated assessment team confirming the nomination of eighteen projects. As of 31 August, all project profiles have been available to view on the UIAA website.

The nominees capture a range of causes tackling sensitive issues like waste management at remote high-altitude locations, natural disaster recovery programmes, pollution, overcrowding, the preservation of flora and fauna, threatened species and climate change.

3.3 DISCUSSING WORLDWIDE ACCESS ISSUES – HOSTED BY ALPINE CLUB OF CANADA

At the end of August, the UIAA Access Commission travelled to Canmore, Canada for its 31st annual meeting. Hosted by the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC), the Commission welcomed members from Azerbaijan, Canada, Iran and Taiwan together with President Juan Jesús Ibañez Martin (FEDME, Spain) and UIAA Executive Board member and Commission link Peter Farkas.

Among the key topics discussed were the recent, and temporary, access restrictions imposed by French authorities on Mont Blanc (see more here), the developing situation in Nepal following the recent impact of UIAA discussions with the Government of Nepal (see dedicated article) and the ongoing access situation in Argentina and Chile.

[The MCSA National Access Convenor (Richard Sherry) is actively engaged with this critical Commission – watch this space for upcoming news.]

3.4 UIAA GENERAL ASSEMBLY 20182018 UIAA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The final agenda and programme for the 2018 UIAA General Assembly to be held in Mongolia on 6 October are now available to view and download. All information related to the event can be accessed from the UIAA website.


 

 

4JOURNAL 2018

This is a call for contributions for the 2018 Journal. These can be sent to the Editing Team to jennyapaterson@gmail.com  Please refer to the Guidelines and Style Sheet on the national website before you submit any contribution: these can be found on the following link: www.mcsa.org.za

Journal Indices 1 (1894 to 1968) and 2 (1969 to 1978)

These indices are now available on the National website and can be found on www.mcsa.org.za/home/journal-indices


 

5. SNIPPETS

5.1 INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY 11 DECEMBER 2018

History of International Mountain Day:

Established in December of 2003, the United Nations General Assembly created this day to help bring awareness to all the things we rely on mountains for. How necessary they are as water sources for human beings , providing some ground for habitation, cultivation and grazing as well as for the health and well-being of the flora and fauna that call them their home, International  Mountain Day promotes them all. www.tablemountain.net

5.2 FOREIGNERS BEHAVING BADLY IN THE HIMALAYAS

See this article theadventureblog.blogspot.com/fake-everest-climbing-permits and theadventureblog.blogspot.com/everest-cryptocurrency


 

6. NEWSWORTHY ITEMS

Please send any newsworthy items for inclusion in MCSA National News Editor, Ineke Moseley at inekemos@zsd.co.za.

Quotable Quotes:

“It’s a round trip. Getting to the summit is optional, getting down is mandatory” –   Ed Viesturs


 

“explore – discover – connect – protect”

“verken – ontdek – ontmoet – bewaar”

“phonononga – fumanisa – qhagamshela – khusela”


 

MCSA-CT Office Admin
MCSA-CT

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