Why catch the cable car when you can walk up 700m within a 1.5km distance.
DAY 1 OF MOUNTAINS
As a true tourist I had to go up Table Mountain - yet this time we walked. I am a great fan of hiking through the berg here in Natal yet there is something very special and wonderful to have a mountain not even 30 minutes from where you live!
We had decided to go up the Platterklip Route up Table Mountain as it was the most well-known path, therefore ensuring that others would be walking there too, in case something happened.
When we Google'd the different paths, the following outline and details were provided:
Distance: 3km return trip
Height: 700m
Boulder climbing is pretty much what I did. Taking into consideration that I'm short with short legs (rather obvious) so whilst others gracefully hopped from one rock to the other, making their way up, dear Roxanne fumbled and pulled herself up the
gauntlet with her hands - think somewhat lateral rock climbing.
It was highly amusing passing people who were wearing slops and pumps to climb up to the top. I highly doubt they made it as about halfway up the wind set in and the temperature continued to plummet the further to the table we got.
It was hard work but the view (from halfway as the top of the mountain was shrouded in clouds) was definitely worth it! And my legs did somewhat feel that they had hiked 700m up the next day - although it's somewhat embarrassing to say it was only 3km that made me stiff.
DAY 2 OF MOUNTAINS: THE LION THAT DOESN'T REALLY ROAR
On our last day in the Cape we decided to walk up Lion's Head with a few friends. Other than feeling my slightly stiff legs post-Table Mountain, it was lovely to take an easy stroll up Lion's Head... Until I had a slight panic attack when I saw the means of climbing up the head. Oh you know, just pull yourself up a mountain-face with a thick chain and have a few grips placed REALLY wide apart from one another on giant rocks whilst you dangle in mid-air! Just that sort of panic attack.
Well I got to the top without falling (on the way up, anyway), I happily distracted myself by taking loads of photo's! I am one of those people.
The wind and the clouds were on our side as we took a breather on the summit. There was a very well prepared foreign family that had had their Easter Sunday Brunch on the top and they were even offering out their left-over Beacon Marshmellow Eggs and Lindt Balls to all who were around - we had somewhat forgotten that it was the joyous day of chocolate eating.