CPSS Newsletter — March 2000

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Cave Rescue – Every Dog Has Its Day

Joan Vlok

Present: Metro Rescue, High Angle Rescue, National Parks Board, CPSS CPSS Members: Alan Butcher, Steve Craven, Andrew Penney, Andrea Pulfrich, Joan Vlok, Ron Zeeman

At about 4:15pm on a Saturday afternoon, Metro contacted Alan to organize a rescue. A "lady's boyfriend" had fallen into Muizenberg Cave. Alan called out the above people and they had assembled by 5.30pm at the Silvermine car park. The CPSS team had just missed the High Angle team with Ron and Andrew. Andrea had remained at the vehicles because of a foot injury. We accepted her offer to drive us to Muizenberg Cave. There was nobody at the Muizenberg Cave stopping point when we arrived. We then followed the jeep track next to Kalk Bay Peak and met up with the Metro High Angle doctor and some of the team.

As Metro had already searched Muizenberg Cave and had not found anyone, they decided to search Ronan's Well. At this stage telephonic contact had been made with the "Lady", who informed us that while walking with her boyfriend, they had seen and heard a dog in Muizenberg Cave.

The remaining members of the rescue team returned to Muizenberg Cave. The main party searched the upper sections while Andrew descended into Leslie's Grotto to investigate the cold, wet section of the cave. A mission well worth the effort as he found an extremely cold, frightened dog huddled in a corner. The rest of the party formed a human chain, and the deaf, partially sighted hound was brought to the surface.

The dog, which had been missing for a week, was returned to its delighted owner in Lakeside.

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KalkBay/Silvermine Cave Clean-up

By Joan Vlok, Meet leader

On the 6 August, 14 people assembled at the top of Ponder Road steps, on Boyes Drive. Departure time was 9.30am.

Those present were:

Members: Alan Butcher; Anthony, Douglas, Jessica and Wendy Hitchcock, Daryll Holland, Bradley Glazer, Peter Swart, Joan Vlok, Ron Zeeman.

Guests: Mary Anne Purves, Jayne, Davide, Eugene

Report

We ascended via the main track. Our first refreshment break was at Monkey's Pool. Here it has been noted of late, that the badly damaged Wild Almond trees have begun to resprout.

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