• Medical

Conquering mountains

- 2023-06-20 00:00:00

Henriette Lamprecht – Being part of the Mountain Club since the age of 12, he always loved hiking, mountaineering, climbing, cycling, and the outdoors in general. Vincent Cuschieri has learned countless things, gaining a lot of experience and practical skills that are useful outdoors as well as in his everyday life. Today he is the proud owner of Double Peak Investments - focussing not only on hiking and recreation, but also on a healthy way of life, mental health, socializing, and meeting like-minded people as well as making new friends.
Disappointed when he couldn’t find a club or group to hike with, Vincent decided to create his own. After finding a group on Facebook and another one on WhatsApp where people were willing to hike but didn’t have enough knowledge, experience, or the desire to organize one, he decided to invite friends and created a group called Hiking with VJ. After a while, these friends started inviting their friends and friends of their friends, and the group started to grow.
After one of the hikes, which were free to join at the time, a woman suggested it would be a good business opportunity.
Vincent registered Double Peak a year ago in April, with his hiking club growing from 30 friends who used to hike together from time to time to a staggering 430 people. Since founding the company, Vincent has visited more than 20 different farms, national parks and lodges, mapped out more than 30 hiking trails, and organized more than 70 events. When the number of people in the group was around 200, he started looking for hiking guides that could help him with the growing demand.
“Now we have three guides and I'm currently training three more people willing to become hiking guides. All of our guides have first aid certificates and are certified mountain guides with plenty of experience and always carry first aid kits with them.”
He admits he never thought Double Peak would become so popular so quickly.
“I believe it's because nobody else was offering people something interesting, fun, and different to do on weekends in Windhoek. And honestly, our capital city is blessed with numerous mountains and a perfect climate for hiking at any time of the year.”
Undoubtedly, hiking or just being outdoors provides immense opportunities for physical and mental health, says Vincent. Short hikes at a moderate speed are good cardio workouts, while long walks can help one lose weight, build muscle, and increase stamina. The best part is that people at all fitness levels can do it.
“You just have to choose a hike according to your level. Start small and then increase the distance and the difficulty level steadily.”
Being outdoors also helps reduce stress levels, he emphasizes. While hiking in the mountains, one reconnects with nature, spending time with your thoughts, while you can even meditate. A simple walk in nature can considerably lower the risk of experiencing depression, Vincent says.
“I honestly believe outdoor activities like hiking are the best medicines for mental health and, most importantly, it is free and has no side effects.”
Gaining knowledge about nature and wild animals is a bonus - learning about plants, animals, weather, and geography.
“These skills are very important and can sometimes be a matter of life and death when you are in the great outdoors.”
As for wild animals, hiking in Namibia is like a game drive, says Vincent.
“Sometimes you see so many animals in their natural habitat and which some of the zoos in Europe don't even have!”
He believes hiking teaches people to appreciate Namibia’s flora and fauna, as well as to protect and take care of the environment. “Before each hike, I always tell my companions the motto of any nature lover: We leave no traces but footprints. We take nothing but pictures. Sometimes, we even pick up the trash after other people.”
This way he tries to educate new members to be aware of and take care of nature.
To emphasize its importance, Vincent often quotes David Brower: “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
In truth, hiking made many people think more about human impact on the environment and pay more attention to waste sorting and recycling, he explains.
Vincent believes hiking, mountaineering, and/or alpinism can be a metaphor for overcoming life’s struggles. Any problem in life is like a mountain. From a distance, many mountains appear daunting and steep, almost impossible to climb. He uses Moltkeblick (2 479 m) which is visible from any part of Windhoek as an example.
“When you start approaching it, you realize it's actually not that steep and totally doable. All you need is to plan, calculate your time and supplies, choose the right clothes, and take the first step. It is the same in life. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
And, of course, nothing compares to the joy people feel when they finally do reach the summit.
“In addition to the exercise and the beautiful views, being on top of a mountain shows people that, with planning and determination, anything is possible.”
He would encourage anyone thinking about their physical or mental health and who wants to meet new people or just do something different on weekends to become part of the Double Peak Hiking Club.
“In Namibia, there aren’t many things people can do in their free time or places where they can socialize. On weekends people usually go to a shopping mall, a restaurant, the movies, or just stay at home and watch Netflix. Being outdoors, involved in physical activity with other people makes them feel part of a team and allows them to meet new people and make friends.”
Ildiko Nagy’s first hike with Double Peak was on the Moltkeblick Game Farm in June last year.
“It really was a very pleasant experience. Vincent was extremely professional and friendly, adaptive to the fitness levels of everybody in the group, and accommodating to all the different personalities. He made everyone feel so welcome.”
Ildiko has since hiked with Double Peak on a regular basis - with many fellow hikers becoming great friends.
“It is a great opportunity to meet some really nice people, get healthy and see parts of our city surroundings that you are not always able to visit."
Karen Trumper, who joined Double Peak for the first time in June 2022 to the top of Kaiser Wilhelmberg, describes conquering the mountains around Windhoek since then as a feeling of accomplishment, exhilaration, and happiness.
“Being avid hikers, but warned several times that it was unsafe to explore the area alone, we grabbed the opportunity when advertised. Under Vincent’s guidance, we could reach the top and enjoy the view over Windhoek, the Auas Mountains, and the Khomas Hochland. Bliss!”
She has since done about 15 hikes with Vincent, commending his diligence, perseverance, and dedication to lay out exciting but safe hikes.
“It allows all - irrespective of the level of experience, and in a way the level of fitness - to join and have fun! No peak is safe anymore. We will conquer all!"
Around Windhoek Double Peak work with Heja Lodge, Yellowstone Farm, Farm Sorendal, Farm Moonraker, Dusternbrook Guest Farm, Daan Viljoen Game Reserve, Monte Christo Game Farm, Elisenheim Guest Farm, Farm Claratal, Farm Godeis, Farm Krumhuk and Farm Moltkeblick.
Outside the capital, Vincent organizes events at Lake Oanob Resort, Von Bach Dam, Waterberg Plateau Park, and Spitzkoppe.
Different hikes for different fitness levels are offered, varying from 5 km to 25 km. The price varies from N$100 to N$400 - depending on the hike - with free hikes sometimes organized for new members or people who can’t afford it. – www.doublepeakinvestments.com; Facebook/Instagram: @doublepeakinvestment; [email protected]