HIKING ON TABLE MOUNTAIN - Orange Kloof
In and around South Africa
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Orange Kloof Sunday 2nd April
What a pleasure to lead a hike without receiving phone calls. Many thanks to Keith Evans for his kind offer to take the bookings for Orange Kloof and also for his hiking support. Maybe one day soon he will be leading his own walks, something to look forward to.
And what a great group of hikers, there was Colleen and Woody building up their stamina for Africa’s toughest, the Naukluft Hiking Trail. My friends Ethnee and Ian had us all green with envy as they talked of their forthcoming trip to Bolivia and Peru, including hiking the Inca Trail. Frank of Hoerikwaggo nosh regaled us with info about the luxury trail and Richard and I were fortunate to visit the Wash Houses the following Wednesday for a presentation, drinks and Kaapse Fare under a glowing Devil’s Peak. Nice to meet the latest addition to the committee Mike Berrisford, descendent of THE well-known mountaineer Frank Berrisford. Stalwart, reliable John James was there as well as Veena who will be co-ordinating the weekend on TM. Able Cath and Mastin quietly watched.
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It was a glorious, although rather hot day but most of our eight-hour hike was under trees. Being an Orange Kloof guide, I’m able to take hikers through the valley and so I made the most of this, taking the group on a roller coaster route past the pump house and then through ancient forest.
Following Disa stream, we were tempted to continue to Hell’s Gates but turned off, eventually reaching Frustration Gorge (who thinks up these names?). Vertical walls covered in moss and ferns, tree ferns and dappled shade under ancient trees.
Keen for views, we climbed Grootkop, on the way clambering through a cave.
Descending Intake Ravine went quickly as the beers at Constantia Nek restaurant were calling. The final stretch was along the Silvertree Trail, once again through the Valley.
Route taken and entries by Real Traveler Karen Watkins
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1
Amazing sight while hiking on Towerkop
Dominating the town of Ladismith on Route 62 in the Karoo is the distinctive cleft dome of Towerkop, a peak full of cha... Continue reading »
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2
Worker's Day hiking in Breekkrantz
Breekkrantz is the Mountain Club property in the Cederberg. I had organised two trips previously but been unable to go, probably due to work constr... Continue reading »
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3
Hiking around Cape Town
CAPE TOWN TOURISTS Saturday 13th May
“I’ll never work in Cape Town,” were... Continue reading »
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4
Hiking for the faint hearted on Spring Buttress
Sunday 14 January 2007
After an evening of listening and watching the Rachmaninov&nbs... Continue reading »
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5
Hiking with chocolate cake and cairns in Dark Gorge
A chance meeting with Tim (Houdini) in Pick ‘n Pay led to us doing Dark Gorge on my birthday. There were four of... Continue reading »
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6
Hiking with children, adults and rain
CHILDREN, ADULTS, MOUNTAINS 27/28th Maypictures to follow
Emails:... Continue reading »
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Hiking Corridor Ravine and Grootkop
BLOWN UP CORRIDOR RAVINE Sunday 4th June
I was supposed to take two ladies... Continue reading »
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8
Fibre Art Exhibition - Innovative Threads
When I asked the editor of the community newspapers if anyone was attending the opening night of this exhibition, I was... Continue reading »
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9
Hiking epic and with so many dogs
Constantia Nek was a true meeting place of the mighty with Mike Lundy leading a group through Orange Kloof and Tony Bur... Continue reading »
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10
Hiking on Youth Day
After four days of miserable weather, Friday 16th - Youth Day was a glorious Cape winter day. The previous w... Continue reading »
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11
Hiking in Bot River
It’s rare for me to join an MCSA weekend hike but seeing that it was a new route I took a chance and emailed the leader... Continue reading »
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12
Hiking Cups & Saucers and Wynberg Ridge
CUPS & SAUCERS and WYNBERG RIDGE
TCSA members: Phillip Williams, Diane de Vi... Continue reading »
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13
Hiking Blind Gully
A special request to lead Cups & Saucers by the Stellenbosch section of the Mountain Club but by Saturday there was only one phone call. T... Continue reading »
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14
Hiking adventure on Lion's Head
Caturra Restaurant, Regent Road, Sea Point and an interview for a Father’s Day feature in Top of The Times. To-die-for... Continue reading »
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15
Food is a good excuse to go hiking
Adapated feature from the Top of The Times, Father's Day on 7th June 2006
Cat... Continue reading »
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16
Cape Town - Township Tour
Published in the Weekend Argus, Travel supplement on 29/30 July
Having lived in Cape Town for many years and bein... Continue reading »
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17
Hiking with water everywhere on the TM sleepover
ALL PICTURES BY MARE ASCOTT, to view more, direct link :
http://capetownhiking.atspace.com/Karen%27s%20TB%20sleepover%20in%20MC%20Hut%2015-16%20... Continue reading » -
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Hiking Outreach with MC
Puffing and panting the kids reached the highest point on the hike and started tucking into the food - apples and sandw... Continue reading »
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19
Hiking in Bokaap
Saturday August 5th Leaders: Maré Ascott and Brett Hollands
HIKING TOUR OF BoKaap
The programme said “no waiting for late ar... Continue reading »
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20
Hiking at Kleinfontein, Tulbagh
HIKING AT KLEINFONETEIN IN TULBAGH, CAPE
The participants: Birthday girl Lois, Brett, Denise, Farrell, Grace, Heather, Jackie, Jaco, Jan, Jan... Continue reading »
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Hiking adventures on Table Mountain
Published in the Weekend Argus Travel supplement 12/13 August
Cape Town is a popular tourist destination, and on... Continue reading »
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22
Hike to Bos 400 wreck
If you’re looking for a hike with variety and something for children, this is the one: a shipwreck, a rock scramble, fa... Continue reading »
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23
Hiking to the MCSA hut
The forecast was for rain but thankfully we had none. Simon joined me for a test hike to see how my hip would fare afte... Continue reading »
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Hiking on Stellenboschberg
“Nothing on this earth would make me go on a hike with Sandy and Peter, you deserve to feel run over!”
Tha... Continue reading »
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26
Thomas Hut 75 years
On Friday 3 November, in between showers, 80 people celebrated the Thomas Huts 75th birthday. The event may only have lasted a few hours... Continue reading »
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27
Hiking Cairn-Grotto-Fountain traverse
The weather forecast predicted high temperatures but with most of the route being in the shade and me needing a tough walk in preparation for Valle... Continue reading »
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28
Hiking to the Valley of the Flying Ants
The Valley of the Flying Ants. A mountain trip that I’d heard about many years ago. A Mountain Club trip, rugged, no paths, “not to be done in bad... Continue reading »
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29
Hiking Hiddingh Ascension on TM
Hiddingh Ascension – a route above Newlands and the highest ascent on Table Mountain, most of it not on a path and vertical, and at this time of ye... Continue reading »
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30
Hiking Barrydale - forthcoming attraction
December 30/31st and Jan 1st
NEW YEAR in BARRYDALE
Barrydale only 350km from Cape Town and on the famous (or infa... Continue reading »
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31
Snake demo at an institution for the mentally challenged
Human beings are strange! Who would have expected to find Mare Ascott and Yvonne Hiscock looking adoringly into the eyes of a python as it is drape... Continue reading »
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32
Friends of Silvermine
It's happened every year for the past ten years, breakfast at Bertie's Balcony (an open cave) in the Silvermine section of the Table Mountain Natio... Continue reading »
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33
Myburgh's Waterfall Ravine
Could be published in Die Buite Burger
Every summer, between January and March, one of the most spectacular and r... Continue reading »
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34
Hiking Hole-in-the-Wall & Caveman's Overhang
This is a combination of parts of two interesting routes on the Back Table, incorporating nooks, crannies, holes cracks and fantastic views. It’s a... Continue reading »
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35
Hiking on Left Face B
Left Face B – TableMountain
TableMountain is the icon of South Africa worldwide, where no other city in the world... Continue reading »
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36
Hiking Hole-in-the-Wall & Caveman's Overhang
Hole-in-the-Wall and Caveman’s Overhang
By: Karen Watkins
This is a combination of parts of two interesting routes on th... Continue reading »
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Hiking Hole-in-the-Wall & Caveman's Overhang
Published in Die Burger on 15 May
This is a combination of parts of two interesting routes on the Back Table, incorporating nooks, crannies,... Continue reading »
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41
Hiking with children - Dassieskasteel Traverse
“What’s Stonehenge,” asked a quiet voice. “I like Stonehenge,” said another.
Having s... Continue reading »
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Backpacker & Adventure Conference & Expo
“Come and see our worms,” was the greeting from Toni Shina and Lee Harris, co-owners of South Africa’s original backpac... Continue reading »
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Hiking Room-with-a-View
N.B. The pictures are from two meets, the first with the Stellenbosch section of the Mountain Club, the second with Rambler's.
As a... Continue reading »
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Hiking Left Face B
Table Mountain is the icon of South Africa worldwide. The only city dominated by a mountain and it’s also a World Herit... Continue reading »
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46
Hiking Steenberg Buttress
Ok, so I lied and, needless to say, I didn’t enjoy the hike as much as I would if I hadn’t lied. But, what the h... Continue reading »
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