Hiking Smuts Track on Table Mountain

Hiking Smuts Track was not a another walk in the park.  Again, another breathtaking walk - famously known to have been the route of General Jan Smuts which he walked up to the age of his mid eighties.

I had my heart rate monitor on, and burnt 1680 calories from start to end.  Had we not done the cable way down, Im sure I could have added another 400 calories to this figure.

The route starts at the foot of the mountain by Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden.  It cost us R35 each to get through the gates and onto the route, which is via Skeleton Gorge.

Follow the Skeleton Gorge signs inside the Botanical gardens.

Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens is also a very popular venue for Concerts in the Park.

The path going up varies between wooden foot steps and well placed rocks.

This route is a difficult and potentially dangerous climb, particularly in wet weather.

A good 30 minute walk from the TOP Entrance gate in Kirstenbosch, will take you to cross over the Contour Path and a small sign indicating the start of Smuts Track (there is no confusion as to which way it is, but only up)

The path zig-zags its way up the steep stone steps into the gorge. During winter this is the main flow down for the Liesbeeck river. I particularly love this section of this route the most. Its not often that one can see so much green moss covering the rocks in such a condensed area.

About two thirds of the way up Skelleton gorge, we reached a few wooden ladders (and gladly no chains as the sign indicates).  These wooden ladders are a real welcome!  Usually by now we've had our second break, but today was one of my stronger days for climbing and we went up in one go all the way to the top.

Looking at these pictures, Im very sad to say that my new Blackberry 9700 Bold takes very poor pictures compared to my Nokia N82.  Dont get me wrong, I just love the Blackberry for what it has to offer for business etc, but for taking photo's it gets a thumbs down. Had I not dropped my Nokia so many times (on my hikes!) and it was still working, I would have used it hands down as my main source for taking my pictures.

Once we emmerged from the Gorge and its dense forest below, the view of False Bay and the Helderberg is clearly seen.  During a cold winters day, the rays of the sun is also a warm welcome.

From here, we walked another 20min up the steep incline before we reached our next crossroad.

At the first crossroad once we reached the top, we turned right to follow the path hugging the side of the mountain overlooking Kirstenbosch and surrounds.

The good news is we reached to top of Skeleton Gorge, the bad news was... the 'mountain' ahead of us.

Its very disheartening if you think you have reached the top, when you see another monster hill in front of you.

Our GPS indicated that we were on about 800m from here, and we had another 280m to go before we reached our peak... MacClears Beacon.

The climb to the top of the beacon was actually a beautiful walk and fairly easy to walk in about 1 hour from the top of Skeleton Gorge.

At the top of the fabulous walk we were again blessed with a near 360 degree view of the Cape!  This is for sure a must do walk if you have not done it.

MacClears beacon marks the highest point on Table Mountain of 1080m.  We started walking at an altitude of 50m, so a 1km climb over about 4.5km is not too bad for one to consider it a good walk for the day.

We found a comfy spot on the rocks at MacClears Beacon to have our halfway mark lunch break.  Looking down onto our route of last week - Devils Peak.  Im still keen to find a way from Devils Peak to MacClears... not sure if there is one?  Have seen a few faint paths on Google Earth, but Im going to have to set out on a mission to find this one.

Due to our respect for this majestic mountain, we are very careful to not just go wandering off onto some route into the unknown...

After a short break, we ventured on - heading directly for the cable way.  This path follows a almost flat path all along the face of Table Mountain.  I just love it here, and would recommend it to anyone to come and see the views this fairly easy and flat section has to offer.

The path literally hugs the cliff face for us to enjoy looking down onto Lions Head and the city of Cape Town almost all the way back to the Cable Station.

Thissection is us looking at Platteklip Gorge from an angle we are not too familiar with.  Platteklip Gorge is the easier route to walk up to the top of Table Mountain if you do not wish to take the cable way.  Be sure to remember that Plattes (as known by the locals) has no mercy for the unfit either. 

The Upper Cable Station is very well equipped - the walkways are also made for easy access for disabled persons - and there is a rather pricey restaurant / coffee shop at the top.

 Ha ha, this is Alex - DONE!!!  I dont often find him chillaxing like this after a walk...  blaming it on a weak stomach - I told him to ease off on the italian salami he had the day before :)

We remembered to take the Wild Cards, which eased off on the price tag of taking the Cable Car down.

Normal price is about R85pp one way, but it cost us R68pp as South African Citizens we had the Wild Cards which helped us get it at a more discounted rate.

You can also buy tickets online if you dont feel like standing in the queue. Note: This queue for the cable way coming up is often over an hour long.

This is a snap that I captured as the cable car started moving down - with the lower Cable Station in sight.

Here is the view from the cable car, looking at the point of mountain we had just come from... I just love staring at the mountain after a walk... trying to see if I can recognise our path we had just done.

Another favourite thing of mine to do, is to draw our route of the day off Google Earth map.

Before I got the Garmin eTrex Legend, I used to do this type of picture manually.  Now the GPS does it for me automatically.  Love it!


Costs of route:
R35pp entrance fee to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
R68pp down the cable way with a Wild Card.

Distance: 8.5km
Altitude: start 50m to 1080m at MacClears Beacon
Calories: 1680
Time: 4 hours



What a walk!  We did this walk just over a year ago, but forgot to take pictures (it was raining and we had a white-out on the day - loved that toooooo!), but at that time we were focusing on staying on the track. Great walk, great workout and good all round fun as part of living the life that our environment has to offer us.

Crime and Self Defense whilst Hiking

Read about the latest stats on Google Groups of incidents of attacks on hikers. Before you read these stats (shown below), thanks to an email from Tony Heher of Cape Town Hiking Club, this is what I would like to add to the subject of Crime and Self Defense whilst Hiking:


I say, unless you like to hike dressed like our friend above:

1. Do not expect to be 'safe' when you go hiking, especially in areas that are surrounded by typical squatting type communities or low income housing. These areas generally are filled with opportunistic criminals mainly due to poverty. (which is most of Table Mountain in this case).
   
2. Take along a shocker (GREAT for chasing away baboons and monkeys). When you get approached by a criminal, baboon or monkey, snap the shocker to make them aware that you have 'safety gear'.
3. Pepper Spray: apparently this does not work too well if your criminal uses it for pleasurable rush to his head on 'off days'. Its possible, but I would rather have it than not have it. Just make sure you have it replaced with a 'fresh' one at least 1/year.
4. Gun: if you have one, take one. The legal ramifications is your problem if you use it - of course.
   
5. Knife: if you know how to use a knife, like maybe you might have done some sort of self-defense course, then take one. I learnt how to use a knife - and trust me, its NOT like cutting a nice piece of cheese :)
6. Bottom line: whatever you take to protect yourself with - make sure it is within arms length (not like me, at the bottom of my backpack!). My hiking partner (he is such a winner!) ALWAYS takes his shocker and his pepper spray - both are in his back pockets. I always complain that it makes it difficult for me to touch his cute bum. Then I get a grumpy mumble of some sort in return about another lecture on safety. Love it! He is so cute when he grumbles like that :)
   
7. Dogs: your pet is a great deterrent for wanna-be criminals.
   
8. Lastly: Know your gear! if you don't know how to use it - tried and tested - then why do you have it? Consider to go on a self defense course, or go to an open field - please make sure its on a windless day, and test your pepper spray, shoot your gun. Know how it works. How far does your item reach - what are the sounds that it makes - familiarise yourself with how it feels in your hand - know where the trigger button is - how messy is the real deal? Don't be intimated by your own forms of self defense, because trust me, when someone else pulls out a weapon, you are going to WANT to have learnt how to use your own gear, to protect yourself and your fellow hikers.
9. Some easy tips for you to consider if you dont have some sort of weapon:

• Elbow is strongest bone in your body. Use it.
• Knee the person in the groin / or the face / side of leg / stomach / ribs / you name it.
  
• Fingers are excellent to poke into someones eyes.
• Sand is great to throw into someones face.
• Scream - try to let others hear you or know.
  
• Attitude is vital. If you show you are scared, you will be walked over and even maybe raped. If you show aggression, you might be attacked out of pure adrenalin. Stay calm and think clearly of the points above. I know its horrible to consider these factors, but spend some time alone, visualize how you will deal with an attacker one day, what kind of weapon will you use, how will you use it etc.
• When you are done with overpowering your attacker - with whatever you chose to do to eliminate the ordeal - RUN away as fast as you can! if and when they contain themselves, make sure you are not around for their crazy minds to take over and do something stupid again.

Buy a shocker / StunGun at Bid or Buy

Updated Incidents (February 2010)
Signal Hill / (Lions Head is ontop of Signal Hill): (Sunday Feb 14 to Tuesday Feb 16 2010)

Four tourists were robbed there in just three days this week :

• An American man was robbed and apparently injured with a pair of scissors on Sunday morning (14th). R400 was taken. The victim was attacked with a white-handled pair of scissors, causing cuts on both hands.

• A group of three students, studying English at a local language school, were robbed on Tuesday night (16th). A group of three men stepped from behind a tree and threatened to kill them unless they handed over their belongings. Money, cellphones, cameras and watches were stolen. "It was very fast, I think less than a minute. “

Sandy Bay (Saturday 16 Jan 2010 20:30)
ROBBERY – Rocket Road

• Black Male +/- 20 years old threatens walker with a knife. Suspect asks walker to hand over his cellphone and wallet. Walker says no and fight breaks out whereupon suspect stabs the walker in the back and arm and hits him on the head with a rock. Walker taken to Constantiaberg.

ROBBERY Tuesday 2 Feb 2010 14:17 – Sandy Bay (path to Llandudno) -

• Two lady tourists mugged on Sandy Bay beach close to the Llandudno footpath by a group of five males 3 Black males (one in a red sleeveless top and shorts) and 2 coloured males last seen heading toward Kerzner Est. Good response by HBNW, SSP's, Herzner guards and SAPS

Karbonkelberg (Hout Bay): (Friday 8 Jan 19:30)
ROBBERY – Karbonkelberg – CAS 9/1/2010

• 3 colored males, one with a golf club and another with a (toy?) firearm hold up a party of 3 hiking on the Karbonkelberg. They took camera and cellphones. Suspects pepper sprayed by one of the complainants. Mountain was searched by police. Suspects also set fire to the mountain (no case of arson from saps) resulting in helicopter services being activated for many hours, including the next day. All 3 arrested?

Buy your Pepper Spray at Bid or Buy

Year 2009 Incidents:
Silvermine East: 2 Attacks.

• Saturday 23 May 2009: 2 hikers held up & robbed at Amphitheater at about 2.30 or 3pm. Firearm involved.

• Weekend 16/17 May 2009: Attack in the Waterfall area. No further details.

Sandy Bay:

• Sunday, October 19, 2008 19h42 Mugging earlier at Sandy Bay by a group of 4 Bravo males that take off with a bag. Victim reported to be heading to the CSC to lay charges. 19h55 ADT6 detains a matching set of Bravo males with “the bag” at Victoria traffic lights. SAPS asked to attend. 20h22 Long story but as the ‘victims’ never arrived at the CSC, suspects are released to shop another day.

• Friday, February 27, 2009 18h24 Elderly tourist couple mugged, robbed and tied up on Rocket Rd above the dunes. HBNW respond. Two knife wielding Bravo males, one taller than the other carrying a backpack in which the knives were concealed.

• Sunday May 10, 2009 09h22. Serious incident (rape) at Sandy Bay. Suspect Charlie male, 40 yrs old short/stocky wearing black cycle shorts and a white t-shirt, may be well known in HB. Extensive 3 hour search, nothing found.

• Follow-up to 10 May incident: Sandy Bay - Hout Bay police have arrested a man in connection with the rape of a 50-year old woman on a Llandudno beach at the weekend. Lesch said police had made another arrest last night - a man in his late thirties - in connection with the incident. She said the man had initially only been taken in for questioning.

"We had a few positive leads and we followed them up, this is what led to his arrest," she said. "The suspect left some clothes on the beach after the incident and these will be sent for tests. " she said. The suspect, who is from the Hout Bay area, is expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

• Beware also Rhodes Memorial area where bicycle riders are targeted from time to time. Last incident in this area was in March 2009.

Good luck! any other advice from the readers will be great?

Where to go on a Full Moon night...

The above image shows Lions Head on the right and The Cable Way Station on Table Mountain on the left.

Hiking Trail: Lions Head on a Full Moon
Name of Reserve / Area: Table Mountain National Park
Nearest Town: Camps Bay, Fresney, Hugo vale, Cape Town CBD
Province: Western Cape
Country: South Africa

Duration of hike: 45 min up and 30 min down. How long you stay at the top is up to you.
Directions to get there: From Cape Town CBD, take Buitengracht road up to the Cable Way. At the top, turn a sharp right into Signal Hill drive. Soon thereafter going upwards, you will find the security hut by the boom (as in the image below) on your left. On good weather nights, finding a close parking is a luxury. We were lucky to find one right at the start of the walk.




Best time of year to go: This is a hike for anyone to take at any time. We decided that we wanted to experience a full moon experience on the mountain. This one was by far the closest thing to getting out there and enjoying the outdoors at night, and in a safe environment. (By safe I mean, without maybe getting lost)



How safe is it: It used to be a spot for regulars to be mugged. Now we are happy to see that the Cape Town City Council together with Table Mountain National Park have taken on the responsibility to keep us safe. This is the second time that I have come here to find a security guard together with his dog, to protect the walkers for as long as it takes them to come back down again. We offered them a snack, and we were so taken by the fact that he had no problem to share it with his dog.




I must say that if you are not looking for crowds, then this is not the place to be on a full moon night. With 1 single track all the way to the top, patience and a good attitude will ensure a fun experience with everyone.



On our way up, we were amazed by the number of people who had a similar idea to what we had for tonight. Watching the sun set and the moon rise (on a warm summers' night) is uplifting and an experience you should not let slip by you any time soon.



As our single track around the mountain takes us up towards the peak, the shadows disappear and the city lights begin to entertain you all the way to the top.



We were still climbing and suddenly the hustle and bustle of the mountain came to an eerie stillness. All the people seemed to stop and find themselves a spot to get comfortable on. And then... a sudden cheer, applause and laughter begins - The moon has risen. What a awesome spectacular once again, so many millions of times... over and over again did she rise over the horizon to do what she has come to do. Well done Mrs Moon. You rock chickeroo! (such elegance, power and beauty... the moon must be female?! )



What costs did you incur to do this hike: sushi and bubbly.

(I might comment that this is not such a good idea for going down in the dark after sharing a bottle of bubbly with your favourite person. Stepping skew or wrong did ensure a swollen ankle for me for at least a week after. Which lead us to the nearest outdoor shop to buy a Petzl lamp for our next after-dark expedition the week after...)





Fresh Water: none. Take lots.

Difficulty: Its a steady incline all the way to the top. Anyone can do this walk.

Pets: Allowed. Not sure if its such a good idea for a night time experience though.

The above image can be seen in a large version here.

Table Mountain in the background and the man with the telescope in the foreground, gives the beacon on top of Lions Head a much more interesting perspective.






How will I rate this hike? Wowee!!! I loved this one. Very romantic and a must do if u wish to experience the outdoor in Cape Town at night. Easy. Fun walk for the whole family. Fantastic experience if you wish to experience the full moon from on top of the mountain.




Full Moon dates for the future:

Full Moon Calendar

Month/Year	2009	2010	2011	2012
January	10	30	19	9
February	9	28	18	7
March	10	29	19	8
April	9	28	17	6
May	9	27	17	5
June	7	26	15	4
July	7	25	15	3
August	5	24	13	1 & 31
September	4	23	12	29
October	4	22	11	29
November	2	21	10	28
December	2 & 31	21	10	28

Tackle Lions Head if you are first timer to hiking

Hiking Trail: Lions Head
Name of Reserve / Area: Table Mountain National Park, Lions Head
Nearest Town: Cape Town CBD and Camps Bay
Province: Western Cape
Country: South Africa

Best time to go: All year. Go early in summer. No shade during mid day.



You do not need a guide book or a map. The route is straight forward as long as you continue to go in an upwards direction. There are other paths running down along side the mountain.

Fresh Water: No water, bring your own.

Difficulty: Easy walk for the whole family, no exposure to hights. Will work up a light sweat.

Pets: You can take your small dog all the way, but you can not take your large dogs further than the steel step ladder. Small dogs need to be lifted up and down at some places. Please remember that your dogs also need water given to them whilst hiking. If you get thirsty, the chances are that they are about double as thirsty. The doberman did not want to drink water, we had to force him to drink on another hike as he was not used to drinking from a strange bottle. My dogs do drink from the bottle, because I have trained them to do so, which is not a problem for me when I go with them.

How safe is it: It is not recommended that you go alone. Keep a mace spray on you for extra
protection. Do not display your gadgets publically. Muggings have taken place here in broad daylight inbetween the crowds.

Directions to get there:From Cape Town city centre, drive up Buitengracht, which becomes Kloof Neck right to the top. As you are about to go down the hill, turn right into Signal Hill drive. Soon you will see the entrance to Lions Head on your left.

Pics taken by: Alex Aitkenhead, Juanita Welgemoed.

Hikers Ratings: Juanita - This was also one of the first hikes that we went on. As for for the first time it was a real treat to enjoy the stunning views of Cape Town City and surrounding subburbs this short walk had to offer us. Ive been on so many nice walks since this walk, I will only go back to this if someone asked me to join them. (been there, done that, yawn) Its very short and very busy, sometimes too busy. Trainstation comes to mind on a busy day.

There are some steel step ladders to climb and also a chain for those who want to take the short cut.

The alternative route is just as easy and there is no need to be concerned that you might miss out on anything.

People often go up to watch the sun set. Something I will not attempt unless Im in a large group, as there are many muggings along this route.

The pic above is a pano shot of the view from Lions Head towards Robin Island, Signal Hill, Cape Town and Table Mountain.