After a weekend of winter weather that refreshed not only the landscape but our dams, and culminated in heavy, widespread snowfalls not seen since the beginning of this century, the hiking group gathered in Glencairn for a climb up to Elsie's Peak and Brakkloof dressed for Everest. The first surprise was how many actually turned up, considering that the clouds had not quite shed their last tears and loomed dark in all directions, and the second was how quickly it warmed up once we reached the sunshine. The clouds cleared and it turned into a beautiful sunny winter's day, with views across False Bay to the snow-clad mountains above Somerset West.
While the track along the ridge above Fish Hoek is not arduous, one still needs to watch every step, as roots, rocks and stony steps provide hazards for the unwary, and thick vegetation covers the way, particularly after the heavy rains. Alien trees are abundant and the area is sorely in need of human intervention by way of bush clearing to reduce the ever-present fire hazard and also to allow the fynbos to re-establish itself. There is little to see at this time of the year, but a sudden sighting of a single flower caused a small excitement (for me anyway!). There are a few isolated ericas and some unseasonal gladioli, but we will have to wait for spring to see the magnificent species that abound on these slopes.
When we ask ourselves why we get up in the dark to go walking in winter, it is quickly apparent that the benefits so far outweigh any slight discomfort - fresh air, exercise, good company, wellbeing, stress release, appreciation of our natural surroundings and all for free! We would never do it alone.
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