Sando Bursary Trust - Elsie’s Peak hike
'You've reached your peak - now help a student reach theirs.'
This the motto of Sando, which sources qualifying matriculants to offer them the opportunity to study at university level and obtain a bachelor’s degree of their choice.
Five ComeHikers, Ella du Plessis, Graham Bellairs, Tony Brown, Bev May and Laura Knight, met 14 folk associated with the Sando Trust to guide them on a hike to Elsie’s Peak. Brian Mvukwe from Sando and some board members/trustees also joined the walk with various family members and others.
We started the hike in Berg Road, ascending and descending on the paths on the northern side of the mountain facing Fish Hoek. It was a perfect day and, as always, the views did not disappoint. Some of those who were on the hike were not used to doing any sort of hiking, scrambling or just walking in the ‘wild’ and their reactions at various phases of the hike were varied, and mostly awed.
Those of you who have done Elsie’s will know what the terrain is like and understand the last bit where it is quite a climb to get to the beacon. Nearly everyone made it to the top – a great achievement for some and ‘just another day’ for others!
Three of the Sando group turned back before reaching the peak, but the rest of us had our tea break on top and, for once, there was very little wind and the views of the various mountains and beaches with the different sea and sky colours were absolutely breathtaking.
The ComeHikers were able to answer questions about why it was called Elsie’s Peak, what the various flowers/plants were called and even the birds' names. It was good to interact with the Sando folk who were not all Capetonians and, for some, it was also their first time in the Deep South.
The hike took about 2.5 hours, including the very welcome tea-break. When we got back to our cars the group unanimously said how much they had enjoyed themselves. ComeHike looks forward to further collaboration with Sando.