FLIPPING BOOK CHRONICLE 2024

before dispatching them back to school before chapel. Under cover of darkness a jagged line of headlamps marks the progress of intrepid young feet heading out up the Seven Sisters, along paths trodden by generations of Old Boys over the decades. Sunrise highlights the Griffins’ farms and the Mngeni River, quick to lure unwary victims to its deceptive muddy traps. The trig beacon sporting the names and markings of climbers, some decades past, is a sobering reminder that the summit is just the halfway mark and there is little time to succumb to the view from the top. Tired legs must carry their bodies homeward. As the sun sets, the Chapel bells call out “Quis ut Deus” as they summon the school to Evensong. Their echoes mark the passage of those sunburned and footsore boys into the ranks of those who “Quit ye like Men.” From those who have gone before: “I can still recall the sense of excitement and, yes, anxiety too, setting off in the dark as a new Baines cack and wondering if I could cut it... to the beacon and back! My first big Michaelhouse “character building” challenge. I have learned to apply the same approach in life – just get started, regardless of how confident you are about getting the job done.” – Keith Begg, Baines 1989 and St Michael Awardee. At the Old Boys’ Dinner in London in 1932, Mr I Hannah staggered the younger OMs present by recounting with vivid detail a little walk he’d enjoyed immensely one Sunday to the top of Inhlosane and back while teaching at the school in 1901.

From the preface to the book that the boys sign: Within these pages lies a testament to the fortitude and spirit of Michaelhouse boys who have embarked on the timeless traditional journey of the full one-day Inhlosane Hike, beginning 15 May 2024. Authenticated by the Rector or a designated senior staff member, this chronicle finds its home in the hallowed halls of our Heritage Centre, where it stands as a beacon of accomplishment. The Inhlosane Hike, a revered tradition of our school, transcends mere physical challenge; it embodies resilience and camaraderie, and is often the topic of the most vivid tales of countless Old Boys. Setting forth before dawn, traversing the rolling hills and meandering rivers of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, spanning over 50km, this arduous trek beckons the brave hearted. The words below are those of Paul Fleischack, former Deputy Rector and Rector, whose passion for outdoor education has indelibly shaped our institution. May all boys who complete this hike carry with them the invaluable lessons bestowed by nature, the embrace of adversity, and the power of collective effort that the Inhlosane Hike so abundantly imparts. – Brendan Gittins, April 2024 INHLOSANE: PAUL FLEISCHACK Inhlosane, “young maiden’s breast”, the sentinel reaching up to the setting sun, has for more than 100 years beckoned the young men of Michaelhouse to scale her summit by breakfast

A picture taken during the early hours of the morning.