Table Mountain takes up a very special place in my heart and in he hearts of many Capetonians. Visible from over 150 miles away it is central to life in Cape Town. Even those who have never hiked up the mountain or even strolled on its slopes, will still navigate around the city based on where they are in relation to the mountain.

Most commonly known by its English name of “Table mountain” there are numerous names that it has been known by, and is still known by in different areas and countries.

Here are a few:

Taboa do Cabo - This is the name given to the mountain by Antonio da Saldhana. He was a Portugese explorer and the first European to anchor in Table Bay.
He is also the first man ever recorded to climb Table Mountain.

Mons Mensa – This is the Latin name for Table Mountain. Indeed Table Mountain is the only mountain to have a constellation of stars named after it. Nicolas Louis de La caille named the constellation after having made several early observations of the Southern skies from Cape Town.

Montagne de la Table – is the French name for the mountain. Also early colonisers of parts of Africa the French had a presence in Cape Town in its early settler days.

Umlindi - This is an African name for the mountain. Based on a legend of a giant created to protect the land. The giant was eventually turned to stone and became the “watcher of the South”

Hoerikwaggo – Perhaps the earlist known name for Table Mountain was the Khoisan name. Meaning mountain of the sea, and now adopted by the South African National Parks Board as the name for the 5 day hike that stretches along the Table Mountain chain.

Tafelberg - The Afrikaans name for Table Mountain. Still used by many in South Africa. The road leading to the cable way station is Tafelberg Rd.

Whatever name you choose. Table Mountain is a very special place.

Its a small world on Table

Mountain

The other day I was hiking up Platteklip Gorge with some tourists from Hong Kong. On meeting them I immediately recognised the accent of one of the ladies, Sheila, to be from Southern Scotland. As I spent much of my youth in Scotland, and still have many relatives there I enquired where she was from……… To cut a long story short, Sheila who now lives in Hong Kong, had actually met my Grandmother some 20 odd years previously, and even had a photo of the meeting! 

Here it is

My Granny is the one on the left!

A steep and beautiful hike up Table

Mountain

Blinkwater Ravine is one of the first routes up Table Mountain that leads off the Pipe Track between Tafelberg Rd and Kasteelspoort. Since 1982 it has been officially closed as the path was severely damaged by a huge downpour of rain and considered unstable.

Although I don’t recommend it in wet weather as the path does follow a stream for much of the way and so can be slippy and unstable in certain conditions. In general this is a beautiful and not too difficult ascent of the mountain. There is some scrambling so good footwear is essential however the exposure is not severe.

The above sign clearly marks where to turn off the Pipe Track. The first section is pretty overgrown, and although the path is clear you do need to “bundu bash” a bit to get through. However it doesn’t take long to come to the first of 2 overhangs which mark the end of the overgrown area. These are a great tea stop before the 2nd half of the climb.

The path leads pretty steeply up the right hand side of a beautiful 20metre waterfall. Bushes line the path so you are not aware of the steep drop to your right.

The path follows the right hand side of Blinkwater Falls

After about a 15 minute scramble up hill, it is possible to take a detour to some pools at the head of this falls. Be warned the fall is severe and the lip of the fall slippery. You can refill your waterbottles here before returning to the path and continuing up. The route initially continues on the right of the river but before too long you continue straight up the river.  There are a few tricky places, but in general the route is clear.  During the winter it is impossible not to get your feet wet in a couple of places but in summer this can be a hot slog so take plenty of water. The route is very steep in places. If walking in a group it is essential to take care not to knock rocks onto the guy behind you!

A tricky section on Blinkwater Ravine

After a bit of scrambling the gorge begins to narow until eventually you appear to reach a dead end. Here you must look to your left and find a small tree hanging precariously onto the rocks there. Further investigation will reveal a path leading up a couple of ledges. This is your route. Once over this final scrable you reconnect with the original path and another 15 minutes brings you to the top of the gorge and the Echo Valley path. Here you can turn left for the cable car, right for Valley of the red gods, or go straight ahead and join Smuts Track.

Looking down Blinkwater Ravine

Another sign at the top warns hikers not to descend this way. This advice I would agree with. This is a steep route and definitely one to go up and not down.

The Table Mountain Challenge

The Table Mountain challenge is a 35km trail run which follows a 35km off road route that circles around Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain. A gruelling challenge for an individual, the organisers also open this race to teams of 3 who can run in relay.

Stage 1. The first stage of the route is an 8km stretch from Tafelberg road through Deer Park to the blockhouse on Devils Peak.

Stage 2. The second part of the race follows the contour path above the Southern suburbs to Constantia Nek. This stage is approximately 10km.

The final stage: This is the most challenging. Here the runners go through Orange Kloof and around the mountain to Suikerbossie. They then climb up Llandudno corner and run along the 12 Apostels before descending Kasteelspoort. As if all that wasn’t enough the runners then return to Tafelberg rd via the Pipe Track. This stage is approximately 17km long.

The individual winner in the 2010 race was Bruce Arnet who completed the entire race in 3 hours and 48 minutes. Incredible!!

The first team to finish did so in 3 hours and 16 minutes. Amazing!!

The start of the race

Playing Hockey keeps you fit

enough to climb Table Mountain

Between the 15th and 24th September 2010 the Grand Masters Hockey World Cup is being held in Cape Town. It hasn’t been well advertised but there are 26 teams representing 9 countries here. 3 seperate age groups are represented in the competition. Over 60′s, over 65′s and 70′s.

England is well represented with a team in each age group and several invitational teams as well. Always adventurous, many of the players opted to walk up Table Mountain rather than use the cable car. Even in a howling South Easter, and less than perfect conditions. 

Here the team poses at Maclears Beacon

Hiking legends from Table

Mountain

All mountains have many legends and stories surrounding them. Some true, some fantastic. One of my favourite fables from Table Mountain is that of Matthew Jackson Gulley which is found on the Pipe Track of Table Mountain.

Matthew Jackson was 5 years old, when in 1974, his mother took him on a walk along the Pipe Track with some friends. This is a beautiful and easy walk perfectly suitable for young children. Having walked some distance along the path the group stopped for a picnic lunch. Whilst the parents chatted and the children were free to explore.

After a few moments one of the adults glancing at the children, noticed to her horror that Matthew had managed to walk half way across one of the pipes after which the Pipe Track is named. This pipe cuts across a corner of the path and is suspended around 20m above the ground thus a slip by the youngster could be extremely serious or fatal.

The Pipe cutting across a corner of the Pipe Track

 Thinking quickly, the friend clamped a hand over Matthews mothers mouth before she could scream and said, “that’s very clever Matthew, lets see if you can cross all the way over”  Oblivious to the danger, the youngster wobbled all the way across to the safety of terra firma.

Another scramble route up Table

Mountain

Woody Buttress is one of my favourite scramble routes on Table Mountain. It is challenging with more tricky sections than India Venster but does not have the sheer drops of Kloof corner.  The views of the Atlantic side of Table Mountain are of course fantastic. At the top of the buttress you join the twelve apostles path between Woody ravine and Kasteelspoort so have a wide range of routes down to choose from. Not a route for anyone who is nervous of heights but fantastic for anyone who likes to get off the beaten path and have a bit of adventure.

The 12 apostles of Cape Town

To get to this route you follow the pipe track past Kasteelspoort and continue towards Llundudno for about 20 mins. Before you get to Woody Ravine, as the path takes a sweeping turn to the left, you pass a concrete block on the left of the path. Just beyond this block a small path leads up the mountain. This is your route.

The path to Woody Buttress leads off the Pipe Track

Initially the path is steep and quite clear, however after about 10 minutes you come to the first of a series of rocky bands itself and begin scrambling. 

Scrambling up the rockbands on Woody Buttress

The most serious scramble of the day

Although relatively easy, should you slip the fall would be quite severe. Once you are past the chimney there are some very minor scrambles before you reach the top.

To get to this point should take between 1.5 and 2 hours. I do not recommend taking the same route down. A left turn onto the 12 apostles path will lead you the top of Kasteelspoort in 20 minutes. This is probably the most usual route down for anyone who has come up this route.

The Puffer

South Africa is home to many fantastically scenic but also incredibly challenging marathons. One of the most challenging must be “The Puffer” This 80km race begins at Cape Point and ends in the waterfront. The distance in itself is challenging, but what makes this such a gruelling race is the fact that the route follows the Table Mountain chain. Thus the ground underfoot is mostly rocky or sandy, with repeated hard uphills and difficult downhills. (Imagine, after running for several hours having to then race DOWN Platteklip gorge! Anyone who knows this route knows it is steep, with large uneven steps, and often loose underfoot.) There are numerous checkpoints along the route but for much of the way the runners are on their own or in small groups. The route is unmarked therefore a knowledge of the mountain, the route, and the ability to read a map is also essential. Obviously on such a difficult race entry is limited and the organisers ensure all the racers are experienced and capable.The winner this year (2010) ran this in a incredible 6 hours and 57 minutes!!

However, for those who would consider the Puffer a bit to easy!! There is The Tuffer Puffer!! This race follows begins in the waterfront with runners running all the way to Cape Point in time to join the other racers as they begin the puffer. This year, the winning time for this race was 25 hours and 56 minutes.

Congratulations to all the runners. Finishing this amazing marathon is an incredible feat.

For more information have a look at their website. http://www.puffer.fishhoekac.com/index.htm.

Hiking to the Lookout hut in Silvermine

The hike to the Tokai lookout hut is a great shorter hike if you are limited for time, or are introducing someone to the pleasures of hiking. Walking at a reasonable speed you can be back at your car in less than 2 hours.

Park your car at the top car park beside the dam in Silvermine North. (you need a wild card or to pay R15 entry fee at the gate) The take the path signed to elephants eye cave. Initially a small shaded path you join with a jeep track after50m. Continue on a small incline for about a kilometer. At a T junction you take a left turn up a much steeper hill for 20m then take the small path to the left. Although steep, this path cuts out a large switchback on the jeep track.  Once you rejoin the jeep track you are already at a height of 550m. Stop here and admire the view over False Bay and the Muizenberg Mountains for a while.

The jeep track

Once on your way again take the first path to the right. . This path leads you on a relatively flat route around Steenberg Ridge and above Tokai Forest. During the winter you cross many small streams and it is slippery in a couple of areas, so take care. After a further 500m you take the left turn at a trail head and begin a small final climb to the hut.

Don’t forget to “smell the roses”

 whilst hiking on Table Mountain

One of the most enjoyable things about a walk on Table Mountain is the opportunity to escape into a wilderness area and to really enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the pristine floral kingdom found on the mountain. One of the most distinctive smells is the camphor bush or tree. This small tree is found throughout the Table Mountain chain and also has very distinctive velvety leaves with a much darker topside, and very visible veins on the lower side. The fruit, which is visible from March to November is covered in fluffy cottonwool hairs and is also extremely eye catching.

The fluffy fruit on a camphor tree

 The next time you pass one take a leaf and crush it between your fingers. The distinctive aroma is strong and very pleasant. The plant has been used for medicinal purposes throughout history, to assist with blocked sinuses, ease a cough, or as a relaxing rub for sore muscles.

Its Latin name is Tarchonanthus camphoratus which is derived from the Greek word meaning funeral. (presumably due to the preservative properties of camphor)