Overnight Berg hikes with kids

Hi All

Just a quick up date on the Dads and Lads hike that I organised for a few Super Dads that decided to invest in some hiking equipment and join their Grade 1 lad in the lower foothills of the beautiful Southern berg.

We all left PMB at around 7a.m and arrived at around 9:30a.m. Some of the Dads looked a little weary due to late night packing and admitted that they had to repack a few times as it was quite difficult getting most of their and some of their sons gear, food and cloths into the packs. Most of the Grade 1 boys carried their own sleeping bag and a few snacks in a day pack. There was much excitement at the beginning and also throughout the two days.

It took us about 3.5 hours to get to "Puffadder Rock" where we had lunch and a well deserved swim. There were numerous stops between our start at Swayiman's Hut and our lunch/swim spot just to make sure the boys did not get to tired. However, it was the little lads setting the pace and this made one or two Dads mention something about rocks in back packs.

The Dads were having a great time too swimming, relaxing and chatting. The weather was incredible, with little or no wind so that when the sun came out from behind a cloud it was quite warm that then necessitated another dip in the Mzimude River.




Some dads brewed some tea or an early dinner while others cooled a beer or two.

We pitched tents close to the rock and during this activity there was lots of enjoyment and excitement by all the boys as they helped their respective dads. Each tent had to be compared to see which one was the coolest. That night the tents were used as safe zones during an extended version of hiding-go-seek while the dads chatted around brewing hot chocolate and Obies. It was great to see eight tents pitched quite close together and in all my years camping this weekend was the most tents that I have ever had on a hike.

The Dads and their boys really bonded during the outing

Sunday morning was just perfect and after a hearty breakfast of some hot coffee, Milo, oats so easy, future life and hard boiled eggs we lesurly unpacked camp and made our way back to Garden Castle.



It was great to know that the boys had a good sense of direction of where we had come from and where we had been.


All in all it was a fun outing. The boys were just amazing and the dads were great fun too. The boys definitely will cherish this outing to the "Dragie Mountains" as one of their highlights for the year.

Regards
Selous

P.S. Sorry about the extended thread but I could only load up two photos at a time/ It must be my internet.

Wow, looks like a great trip! Fantastic that you guys all had fun!

Sounds like it all went very well!

I was chatting to Meridy a few weeks ago (for those who don't know who Meridy is - let me put it this way, Mnweni Cultural Centre probably wouldn't exist if it wasn't for her) - she started taking her son hiking when he was 3. She is also of the opinion that we need initiatives like this if we want to get people into hiking - plant the seed from a young age.

Great trip Selous!

If you'll allow me to piggy back on the thread.

I agree, get the seed planted from a young age.

Here my 2-year old relaxes against a rock very high up after an ascent up a ridge this weekend. I mean, it was hard work.....




Hard work for supermom yeah....




He even tries his hand at some rock climbing. Incredible how naturally adept they are at this age to this sort of thing.





Here however he wanted to climb his own little hill on his own steam.




and you will not believe how chuffed he was after ascending on his own, and building his own little rock cairn.




The bug has bitten....