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Sybas Hut Opening

Leader: Wesley Nash 29 January 2025 Sybas Hut Opening

The Cape Town Section’s newest structure, Sybas Hut, was opened at a modestly momentous gathering of 45 hut builders, members and other invited guests on Saturday 18 January 2025.

Wesley Nash led a small group up beautiful Superior Kloof, enjoying the pristine pools along the way and the refreshingly icy water at the top while others had siestas in Forest Camp or relaxed at the river.

Cape Town Section Chairman, Martin Hutton-Squire, started the evening’s proceedings, giving some context for the significance of the event in the Club’s history by listing the completion dates of other huts belonging to Western Cape Sections. The most recent was the Agtertafelberg Hut in December 1967, and prior to that, Du Toit’s Kloof Memorial Hut in October 1949 and Table Mountain Hut in 1906. (All three are Cape Town Section huts.) The Worcester Section’s Thomas Hut was opened in August 1931. Stellenbosch’s Banhoek Hut, which was was opened in 1963, unfortunately burnt down in 1999. Other huts built in the Western Cape mountains during the last century include Hoare Hut (1971) and Pells Hut (1938), both of which are on UCT’s Zuurberg (Waaihoek) property.

Sybas Hut lead architect Wesley described the build process, from conception and planning, to site selection and the Covid-interrupted construction (which took place between 2020 and 2024). He also acknowledged the inputs of various major contributors including the core group of Gabriella Garnett, Leon Pieters, Mark Kruger, Joe de Villiers, Martin Kleynhans, Martin Hutton-Squire, Mike van Wieringen, Claudia Hitzeroth, Pieter Botha and Peter Hagen, as well as over 150 other members, non-members, professionals and donors who helped in various ways over the years.

Gabriella led the crowd in a song written to recognise Mike’s undisputed role as “The Specialist” – a reference to Charles Sale’s play about an outhouse builder – and his heroic efforts to get the building “over the finish line” in the last months of 2024.

Bubbly flowed, and a great spread of snacks was shared to soak up other drinks of choice that emerged from packs, shelves and the river in celebration of the hut’s completion and opening.

On Sunday morning, the conversation returned to the still unresolved issue of the hut’s name, which had already been a matter of much discussion and contention in the preceding weeks. Among the restrictions were: no person’s name; no mention of Waaihoeksberg or Waaihoekskloof to avoid confusion with Waaihoek (on UCT’s neighbouring property, Zuurberg); no reference to Superior (Mount or Kloof) because of its unfortunate notion. Inspiration came from Sybasberg, high at the head of the valley above the hut, and the peak marking one of the vertices of the Club’s property. Because the peak itself is some way from the hut, however, and because it is assumed that Maytenus acuminata, the Silky Bark tree which gives its name to Sybasberg, must be present in the Afromontane forest opposite the hut, the geographical reference was dropped. The decision was finally made to name it “Sybas Hut.”

The visitors book was duly annotated, and with that, the hut is open for bookings from Monday 3 February 2025. Thanks to all who came and made it such a festive, memorable event, and to everyone involved with building the hut.

Marian Oliver & Gabriella Garnett

Mo Oliver
Mo

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