The southeaster was roaring up the Fish Hoek Valley, sending dragons racing over the peak, and it looked as though we would be in for a cold and damp climb, but miraculously the cloud lifted higher and kept us cool as we trod the pathway up, up and ever upwards. Large flat rocks have been expertly laid for much of the track, with only odd bits being sandy and gravelly, but the steepness of the climb meant that we were actually ascending some 500m along a 2km giant staircase, and the legs were given a real workout!
The views became more and more spectacular and the requisite grumbling lessened as we enjoyed our surroundings - this must be one of the best walks on the Peninsula. The fynbos is abundant and varied, with beautiful gladioli and ericas providing splashes of colour every, and leucadendrons sprouting new pale foliage - doubtless due to the plentiful moisture that is carried over the mountains in the thick southeast cloud, which supplies Table Mountain with annual precipitation of 2000mm. Hence the perennial springs.
We reached the ridge from where we could see across the Fish Hoek/Simon's Town mountains and over False Bay to distant Hangklip, and the peak beckoned me (who would have believed that 10 months ago!!). But the wind had picked up and was forecast to become almost gale force, and an extra 40 minutes or so climbing up would mean the rest of the group waiting too long, and so I will leave that ascent for another day! I will definitely be back.
The descent took about and hour and a half as it was tricky on the knees and ankles, so not an easy hike, and in the gullies we had to brace ourselves against strong gusts of wind that threatened to blow us into the fynbos, but all agreed it had been a good morning's exercise!
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