Just for the view

The view says it all  Some hikes need to have a good reason to be undertaken, and Eagle's Nest (a not particularly awe-inspiring koppie casting a winter shadow over the crest of Constantia Nek, is just one of these. A very steep initial climb from the car park (packed with cars bearing eager hikers who probably seldom exercised before lockdown and have now discovered what really matters in life) takes you up to the top of the forest line on the jeep track that meanders towards Kirstenbosch. Being not quite up to our usual standards of fitness yet, a few breathers were taken on this short stretch, ostensibly to allow the stragglers to catch up - that's our excuse and we're sticking to it.
A little chill in the air brought over the nek with the northwester soon eased as we turned sharply up the track which leads to the dams on top of Table Mountain, with Eagle's Nest being the 'nursery slopes' as it were. We alternated between warm sunshine and damp overhangs as we wound our way along, taking in the views every so often and catching our breath. Groups of early risers (or perhaps just fast walkers) were already on their way down from the dams, a considerable way away, but I didn't feel any regret that I wasn't headed that way. It's more of a six hour hike and a little out of my range right now.
And then came the reason why my heart always sinks when we do this hike. An extended scramble from foothold to foothold and sometimes a helping hand from a branch up to the beacon - in the damp shade the sand from previous boots clings to the rocks, ready to unsteady the unwary and remind me that what goes up must come down. At times you need all fours to scale a large boulder and coming down on the seat of your pants carries the danger of a split! I always mean to take a little hand broom on winter hikes for the purpose of sweeping the slippery sand away, but so far I have never remembered. Although I don't find it at all strenuous to do these steep ascents, and in fact prefer them to a level track, there is always the possibility of a twisted ankle or sideways slip into the undergrowth. Not everyone made it to the top, preferring to warm themselves like dassies in the sun while enjoying coffee and a rusk.
The rest of us soldiered on to our reward - expansive views in all directions, cloud formations constantly rearranging themselves over the peaks, and the satisfaction of having conquered this special little outcrop standing sentinel between the valleys.