The title above is a famous cliché and it is mostly true. Many folks sit around moping and waiting to be invited on hikes or scrambles or climbs or camps in the wilderness. They wait and they wait and they wait. Then then moan and they moan and they moan! Nobody thinks of me, poor me, myself and I.
Don’t do that.
A whole wonderful world opens up to you when YOU realise that YOU can control everything! An amazing thought is: You are actually allowed to organise events – hikes, climbs, weekends away … Seriously!
For me, the most exciting part of it is that I get to go where I want to go – I don’t have to fit into others folk’s plans and idiosyncrasies.
A word of warning, you need to KNOW what you are doing so it is great advice to get professional training, especially if you are going to lead hikes and longer overnight trails – I was privileged to get my training from VENTURE FORTH – They were totally amazing (And I’m not getting paid to tell you this J).
You also open up a world to all those other folks out there waiting for someone to invite them – just wishing that they could have an adventure. That used to be me. A taker!! I have learned to become a giver! And folks generally really appreciate this. Some folks can’t thank you enough! A wonderful feeling.
Firstly you have to make a decision – Ask yourself:
Where do I enjoy going?
Some of the events I have organised in the past 2 years (Covid and all!!) include:
- A long weekend at Heuningvlei together with a hike up the majestic Krakadouw with its stunning Cedar trees. (18 people)
- A seven day hike over Christmas and New Year (DEC 2020) from Weldedacht up Uilsgat, across to Crystal Pools (3 amazing days exploring all the kloofs), then up Asias kloof to the massive Asias Cave with the nearby mountain swim – into the mountain!!! Then across to Sneeukop Hut and on to Sleeppadhut for New Year’s Eve (where else would you want to spend New Year’s Eve?). Then up Tafelberg and down to the cars at Weldedacht parking area. (10 people)
- A 5 day hike / climb at Turret Peak above Op-die-Berg. (14 people)
- A 14 day trip to the Transfrontier National Park in the Richtersveld. (4 people)
- A 7 day Fish River Canyon Hike – some even from Tanzania (friends). (18 people)
- Numerous day hikes on Table mountain including some of my favourites, “Not Woody Buttress” and “Cairn Ravine branching to Joshua’s Cave”.
Some of the Advantages of organising your own events include:
- You are in control.
- You can go whenever you choose.
- You can go as often as you like.
- You can choose who goes with you.
- You get to go where YOU want to go.
- You learn new skills – organising permits, planning routes, sorting out accommodation, working out the safety requirements, and so on.
Disadvantages ….. Really? Are you serious?
Ask yourself :
where do I love to be most in the world? Cederberg, Winterhoek mountains, Table Mountain? Richterveld? Everest Base Camp? Then sit down and brain storm:
I generally get an idea, eg. (This is an actual event I’m planning):
Cederberg – 7 days – December 2021 – Explore Nuwejaarskloof with its 7 pools, waterfall and 2 cave – let’s make it happen – So I put it to our group and I have 8 takers already We’ll include sleeping in 3 caves: Welbedacht, Nuwejaars and Asias Cave with 2 full days at one of my favourite places in the world – Crystal Pools. And best of all – I get to plan the entire trip and be with people I enjoy.
It really is as simple as that.
Dream, Decide, Put it to a few friends and Plan it. You will be surprised – most folks are just waiting for someone to organise something.
I was walking my dog, Kevin, in the Green Point Park last week and a great friend of mine, Tony, phoned and asked if I would be interested in a hike in “Schaap River Canyon” – I had never heard of it – such excitement – of course I said yes – so someone else planned a hike and enriched other folks lives.
We live on an amazing planet – just being up there looking down on the creation is worth all the effort in this crazy world.
So here is the thing, don’t wait for your ship to come in, it won’t – you have to swim out and meet it.
So swim out – you are allowed to 🙂
AND REMEMBER – GET THE TRAINING IF NECESSARY – IT IS ALSO FUN AND THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO 🙂
