by Ralph Pina | May 23, 2011 | hiking, Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve
In typical MCSA Stellenbosch style: a couple of koppies (little hills) on this uitstappie (outing). The numbers tell the story: 12.25 km maximum slope: 58.2% minimum elevation: 240 m; maximum elevation: 1405 m elevation gain: 1472 m; elevation loss: 1008 m moving... by Ralph Pina | Apr 17, 2011 | hiking, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
The mountain club’s plan was to walk from Franschhoek to Jonkershoek along the watershed via Emerald Dome and Victoria Peak. We would ascend Fortsnek and cross Noordkloofpiek, the scene of last year’s firefighting. It promised to be a long, hard, but... 
by Ralph Pina | Mar 21, 2011 | conservation, firefighting, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve
The latest fire that swept through the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve last week was nothing short of disastrous. Young veld burnt again and all the eleven-year old veld has been destroyed, so that, in the words of a nature conservation official, “everything between... by Ralph Pina | Feb 14, 2011 | kayaking, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve
There isn’t actually much of the Steenbras River to paddle up, even on a kayak – only about 300 metres. Rather it’s the 13 km round-trip paddle from Gordon’s Bay harbour and the usually benign, but spectacular, rivermouth entrance that is most... by Ralph Pina | Jan 19, 2011 | hiking, Limietberg Nature Reserve, trails
The route to Slanghoek Peak curves south and east up the Witte River valley. A fairly level and scenic walk from the car park at Eerste Tol on Bainskloof Pass of 12.5 km to a saddle below Slanghoek on Mountain Club property, known as Springstygbeugel1, almost...
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