The Midlands Hiking Club is a very friendly club for lovers of nature & the great outdoors & has over 130 members from all over the Natal Midlands. The club caters for all levels of hiking fitness, from day hikes which are generally undertaken on Sundays to strenuous 3/4-day backing expeditions. Day hikes in local areas are usually not more than 1 hour from Pietermaritzburg.
Some of their aims include:
Promoting hiking and backpacking activities
Fostering good relationships between hikers
Promoting nature conservation
Training members in skills for leading groups of hikers on trails
Encouraging the development of awareness of nature and respect for the environment
On 21 July 2019 the hiking club tackled the Blinkwater Hiking Trail in the KZN Midlands, this is an old hiking trail crisscrossing Forest, Beautiful Natural Bush and open Grasslands. The hiking route area covers a great diversity of natural habitats, and also offers hikers a good leg stretch.
May is now over - the last of the best months to hike the berg in. Great views will now diminish into blue haze as the fire burning volume increase and blocks clear berg views. The grass will become drier and drier, all hikers missions now are - no fires in the berg. Make sure you know where you are going, watch the wind, and watch the horizon for smoke that may indicate a future problem for you. If wind and smoke are coming towards you, start making "evacuation to safe area plans". Don't wait till you can see the fire, it may be too late to get out of its way.
AGAIN A PLEA TO ALL BERG HIKERS - PLEASE FILL IN THE MOUNTAIN WALKING REGISTER PROPERLY AND ACCURATELY, AND GET THE EMERGENCY NUMBER OF THE OFFICE FROM WHICH YOU LEAVE. IT IS IN YOUR BEST INTEREST AT ALL TIMES.
Don't see it as a nuisance, see it as your insurance in a time of emergency.
Photo credit to Dave Sclanders.
Contact http://www.gohiking.co.za/
News taken from GO HIKING website.