"So which peak is Spitskop?" I haven't been on this particular hike before. Our Intrepid Leader waved vaguely in the direction of the higher parts of Silvermine Nature Reserve. "That one." Still quite clueless, I set off with the rest of the hiking group down the jeep track towards the river trail, which we passed and continued across the valley and left up towards the next ridge. The weather forecast had indicated a light breeze and mild temperatures (we don't always look at the same forecast) but mine was wrong and it was pretty warm out there. Having only started out with a shirt, I had no layers to cast off, but as we crested ridge after ridge, a slight coolness could be felt until we descended once more into the dense undergrowth of the valleys. One valley in particular took us along a head-high section of fynbos with a muddy seep and stepping stones - very little of which could be seen underfoot due to the plants having grown together over the path. It was indeed a road less travelled and as we plodded on with great care not to trip or slip or even stand on a passing snake (none seen), it was a great opportunity to enjoy the multitude of flowers that are starting to appear on these mountains as spring marches on towards summer.
The variety changed as often as the altitude and we would cross a ridge and enter a different world of waist-high young proteas growing as thickly as a Port Jackson plantation (wonderful to see them flourishing and also see no nasty aliens among them). In places we were actually able to see the shiny quartz sand of the trail but mostly we were treading sight unseen.
Spitskop loomed ahead of us. It did not seem possible that it could be so far away! But we eventually reached the summit and took in our surroundings - spectacular views of the southern Peninsula again, but something one never tires of - and enjoyed a welcome rest. Being on the edge of a cliff, there was a refreshing updraught that blew the cobwebs from my hair and the sweat from my brow. Again, the effort is little compared to the reward.
We went back the easy way - a narrow track down to the jeep track that then winds around the koppies and back up to the carpark. The breeze was more substantial and we finished our nearly 8km walk in a good time of three and a half hours.
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| The peak in the middle, far, far away is our destination |
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| Over hill and dale, ever upward |
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| Fish Hoek valley |
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| Chapman's Peak and Noordhoek |
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| Dassies on the rocks |
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| A surprising updraught |
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