Accidents do happen

Van Hunks and the devil were smoking up a storm over Devil's Peak early this morning when we arrived at the start of our hike up to Oppelskop. The strong southeaster swept the mountain mist over the peak and saddle almost down to the road and it was a chilly start up the zigzag to the contour path on the lower slopes of Table Mountain.  The watsonias that gave such a breathtaking mass display were now brown and dry, dying back to await a new season. The steep ascent is always daunting at first, but we soon warm up and things get easier - or we just concentrate more on maintaining our footing!
The path around Devil's Peak is very narrow and there is a sharp drop that to my mind is actually potentially fatal to a faller, and caution is needed, as on all mountains. The views across the city and up the West Coast, with rows of mountain ranges fading into blues and greys, makes the hike very worthwhile, even if only enjoyed from the lookout at Oppelskop, and today's wind nearly blew us from our teatime perches. The cloud advanced and receded continually and we were comfortably cool for February.
We unanimously decided not to continue up to the saddle and took the trail down to the closed section of Tafelberg Road. This turned out to be treacherously narrow and overhung with grasses that obscured the path in places and it was here that it was brought home how things can change in an instant. Our back marker, there to see that the group is kept together, suddenly fell off the path and rolled down until blocked by a rock. There was nothing to grab onto and without the rock he would probably have continued over the edge, something that doesn't bear contemplation. There was an awful lot of blood, shock and a heroic rescue by members of the group, and he managed to climb back up, wash off in a stream and walk down to the road without complaint or obvious discomfort. A man with grit and determination, a fantastic sense of humour and inspiring example to us all. It can happen so suddenly and to each one of us. A medical check has seen him on the road to recovery for which we are very thankful.
It must be mentioned that we are tracked on our hikes by a group of dedicated volunteers and can request assistance at any time in an emergency.