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GET OUT THERE New to hiking?  Below are some guidelines to help you prepare for a hike with the Ramblers. What should I wear? Sturdy, worn-in, hiking boots and thick hiking socks.  If you can, wear a thin inner sock and a thick outer for additional comfort. Loose-fitting, light-weight shirt and comfortable shorts / long pants that allow you freedom of movement. Sunhat – preferably one that will give adequate protection to your face and the back of your neck. Sunscreen – at least factor 15 is recommended.  Otherwise cover up. A comfortable day pack, big enough to take what you need to carry, with shoulder straps and, preferably, a hip belt. What do I need to pack? A warm fleece or jersey.  Even in summer, it can be cold in the mountains. A good rain jacket.  Ideally this should be made of breathable fabric or have some kind of ventilation.  The seams should be sealed and there should be zippers on all pockets, a flap covering the front zipper and it should have a hood with draw-strings to enable a comfortable fit. Water bottle.  You know how much water you need, but you should carry a minimum of 1 litre on a half-day hike (more in summer) and 1.5 litres on a full-day hike (more in summer). Food / snacks.  On a half-day hike, something to eat at tea-time.  On a full-day hike, tea snacks and a packed lunch. First aid kit / medication.  The leader will be carrying a more comprehensive first aid kit, but you need to carry at least a few plasters and painkillers and an emergency space blanket.  If you are on medication for a serious health condition, or may require emergency medication (e.g. antihistamines for bee stings, allergies, etc.), inform the leader what it is and where to find it in your backpack. Whistle.  This can be used to alert the rest of the group should you or a fellow hiker fall or become lost.  Bear in mind that the sound of a whistle does not always carry in strong wind. Small torch.  Not essential, but useful in emergencies or for exploring caves and overhangs in the mountains. Pack everything inside a dustbin bag or other plastic bag.  There’s nothing worse than having wet gear if it starts to rain. How will I know if I’m fit enough? Speak to the hike leader before the hike and find out how strenuous the hike is.  The Club uses a very simple grading system. Easy:  2 – 4 hours of walking on good paths, mostly on the flat or on contour paths.  There may be some mild uphills and downhills. Approximately distance covered: less than 6 km. Moderate:  3 – 6 hours of walking, mostly on good paths, some of it on the flat, but with uphills and downhills, most of which will not be too steep.  Approximate distance covered: 6 - 10 km. Strenuous:  6 – 10 hours of walking, not necessarily on paths.  Sustained, steep uphills and downhills.  Approximate distance covered: 8 km and above. Be conservative.  Pick an easy or easy to moderate hike to start with.  You will soon get a feel for your own level of fitness and, better still, each time you hike you’ll become fitter. What does rock scrambling entail? A rock scramble is a place where you need to use your hands as well as your legs to negotiate the obstacle.  Generally these do not need use of a rope, but there will be plenty of helping hands to pull and heave and give you confidence. What is meant by exposure? Exposure or exposure to heights in a hike description means that there are areas on the hike where you will have a drop-off below you where, should you fall, you are likely to be seriously injured or killed.  These can be daunting and, if you’re scared of heights, avoid these until you’ve built up some confidence.  Remember, the more familiar you become with scrambling and exposure, the less likely it will be to bother you. Will I be able to share transport? On out-of-town meets there is usually a central meeting place and the minimum number of vehicles required to transport everybody is used.  Bring some cash with you as it is customary for all passengers to contribute towards the travel expenses.  On local meets you will need to get to the start of the meet. How safe is it to walk in the Cape peninsula? There are some areas where muggings have occurred and do occur on a fairly regular basis.  However, if you walk in a fairly large group, stick closely together and are alert to what is going on around you, you should not experience any problems.  Our leaders are very aware of the security situation and will do their best to avoid trouble.	LATEST NEWS Coming up: Saturday, 25 Feb Silvermine East Surprise Meet at the Silvermine carpark on the waterfall side at 13h00. Ewin will take us on a ramble through this lovely area and lead us on paths less travelled. Sunday, 26 Feb Disas in Aquaduct Meet at 07h30 at the Rycroft Gate. We will walk through Kirstenbosch onto the contour path and up Skeleton Gorge. Then along Smuts Track to the Aquaduct to find the disas. DOWNLOADS APPLICATION FORM CONSTITUTION PROGRAM RULES