I’m in Cape Town, South Africa- near the southern most point of Africa and I’ve just climbed Table Mountain. It is easily one of the most breathtakingly scenic places I’ve ever been. There are mountain ranges with clouds that hover on tops of the peaks, threatening to spill over and down the sides. There are pretty cliffs and white sand beaches that introduce the land to the never-ending bright blue ocean.
We were warned it was a dangerous hike. We were warned we must be a part of a group to ensure our safety if anything were to happen.
So naturally my friend and I went alone without studying the maps or writing down the emergency numbers.
It was a marvelous hike. Incredibly challenging with equally beautiful views. With scenery that changed every few hundred feet, it was impossible not to look around and feel a sense of appreciation. Whenever I go for a hike I find myself thinking about those who forged the path. This trail was made for people like us who want to test their ability and explore a mountain and I’m very grateful that I had the chance to take advantage of it.
No matter how much I want to portray myself as a mentally tough, super athletic professional hiking woman, the fact of the matter is, I struggled. The trail was difficult for me, it took about two hours to hike from the road to the top of the mountain. It was two hours of hiking up a steep incline with even steeper steps lined with a barbed wire fence to keep the plantlife safe from wandering hikers. I almost took hold of it once to steady myself when I luckily spotted the sharp barbs. Two hours of heavy breathing, of urging myself not to stop, telling myself it would all be worth it when I could finally see the view from the top. We were passed by many happy-go-lucky people making their way down the mountain, they all seemed to be dressed rather nicely, clean clothes with no signs of sweat, or dirt. No evidence of any struggle really. I didn’t notice any of them breathing heavy or sweating profusely like I was. To keep my sanity, I told myself they must’ve taken the cable car up the mountain and decided to hike down.
It’s not like I don’t go to the gym, I enjoy working out. Ok, maybe cardio isn’t my favorite activity and this is evidence enough for that, but how could I be the only one struggling? This trail is intense! I thought hiking up to Machu Picchu was difficult but this one blows it out of the water.
After about 90 minutes of labored breathing and my legs feeling like a combination of jello and cement, I look up and see that
I’m now making my way through a cloud.
It’s becoming cold now, the sun is gone, everything around me is eerily muted and the grass is covered in dew drops. The only sound I hear is the water is trickling from the rocks on either side of the path.
It’s collecting in small pools of cold, clear water and I’m to the point now where I’m tempted to roll around in it like a dog who’s found a big puddle of mud. We are in a narrow valley just wide enough to manage switchbacks, meaning it’s all uphill from here. Gone are the friendly flat spots of the trail that give my thighs a forgiving break, I’m officially on the ultimate stair-master.
Now when I pass someone who is making their descent I try not to seem too desperate when I ask how much further to the top. They always answer in such an encouraging tone, saying only a bit further. My inner monologue has turned a bit negative at this point as I say to myself “Keep your lies to yourself” and keep an eye on my watch.
This is when the mental game comes into play.
Looking back now I should’ve began telling myself a nice story to aid as a distraction from the predicament I’ve got myself into, but instead I continue to torture myself by constantly going over the fact that if I were to turn around now I’d have to face this trail all over again. I have to continue, and I can’t waste too much time otherwise I’ll miss the sunset and the cable cars will no longer be in service, forcing me to hike down at night.
It would’ve been a great time for Bobby McFerrin’s song to get stuck in my head… “Don’t worry, be happy”…
Then we see it. The clouds metaphorically and literally part and the trail levels off. We enter into a land of green tree tops with lots of yellow flowers among huge boulders.
After two hours of mostly solitary climbing, I find myself surrounded by all sorts of tourists eagerly taking photos along the edge of the mountain. The views make me stop in my tracks. To my right I see the city of Cape town, the harbor and the other mountains far into the distance. Straight ahead I see the ocean, it’s immensity always the best reminder of how small I am.
And to my left is my favorite view; a string of mountains in the clouds with steep slopes that lead to a green valley.
When I lived in Vancouver there is a hike similar called the Grouse Grind, up a mountain. I don't know how it compares to this, but I remember one of the saddest moments of my life was when I had hiked it for 20 minutes and was dying (as old people were flying by me - I was in brutal cardio shape) and I kept hoping I was near the top... I saw a sign ahead and I prayed it said it was the peak.. it said, "You are 10% of the way!"... I decided I couldn't do it and tried to go down, only to find out going down was just as hard as going up! I eventually made it to the top and will never do it again. :P
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Great story, Made me laugh! I can totally relate to having high hopes for the peak only to be utterly let down by the lack of cardio strength. At least you did it and you won't have to wonder. Heading to Zimbabwe today, it'll be interesting to talk to some locals about life after hyperinflation.
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Your photos are always so beautiful. When (if) you ever stop travelling, you're gonna have fun putting them in a book and hanging them on your wall.
My favourite photo: the second one. Looks like you had fun hiking, and glad you made it back alive ;)
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Nice pictures Heiditravels..... we walk on and around that mountain at least twice a month.... I posted about this before here with pictures of the Twelve Apostles...the row of mountains to your left ..... and I earned 8 cents... yebo !!
Enjoy your time in our beautiful country.
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I went to university at the foot of the back of the mountain. I remember the first day when I got off the train and arrived in residence and looked up at the mountain (Devils Peak is the one on the left). The sun was low in the afternoon sky and was throwing a shadow of the mountain onto the haze above the mountain.
I was not ready to dig out the camera.
In the 5 years I lived at the foot of the mountain I never saw that image again.
We are pleased that you grabbed your camera and took the photos. I too have traveled all over the world and the view from the top of Table Mountain is one of the best - so close to the city but not; so close to the ocean but not.
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It so gorgeos! I grew up outside of Cape Town in Stellenbosch and that view from Table Mountain is amazing! I miss the "Mother City"! If you love seafood, there is an amazing restaurant in Camps Bay I would recommend, "The Codfather Seafood and Sushi". One of the best meals I have ever had in Cape Town!
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Very nice :)! Have you travelled a lot? Take a look at my travel photos!
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Oh wow, that place looks amazing. I would want a desktop resolution size of the last image, absolutely stunning!
This makes me want to start travelling too, damn you Heidi! :P I should start saving up for a SD trip! :)
keep up the great content and safe travels. :)
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Wow incredible view @heiditravels !
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If you haven't done so yet and are up for even more adventure. Get in contact with one of the local paragliding companies and go for a flight! They fly most days from signal hill, which is almost next to table mountain.
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Looks like you are living the dream. I guess I will have to search back through some of your other post but I'm curious how you got into a situation to be able to travel so freely !
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Nice photos. I would like to visit there again. Was there in 1999 to surf Jbay. Best right hander in the world IMO and we scored. Did a shark cage dive in Mossel bay in a rusty cage, too. Enjoy it.
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Beautiful pictures and I love your statement that it was worth the struggle to finish the trek as is the case in so many hard things in life.
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Beautiful pictures.
May I ask what the resolution is?
I try to upload mine, but they look too small in the editor.
Can you please advise me how to correct this?
Is it the resolution, or should I try to upload them from another site?
My images are 4000x3000, and I use Imgur to upload them.
Thanks. I would appreciate any advice.
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I use steemimg.com for my photos, they always look small in the preview though, it's not until I publish them that they become larger.
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Absolutely jaw dropping scenic eye candy! I feel the struggles you went through to ascend that mountain through your words. But you do have an amazing eye for seizing the perfect moments to capture these gems. Seriously good job and keep on enjoying your travels, Heidi! :)
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wow fantastic pictures - always wanted to climb Table top. Looking forward to your next step.. happy travels
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The views look marvelous. It must be a great feeling climbing and reaching the top. I do travel too but have yet to blog about in. Time to get photos organized and do some writing.
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This is Beauty !
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Heidi, photos are stunning!
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Platteklip Gorge... you took the really hard route...but breathtaking none the less... I highly recommend Constantia gardens up and cable car down.
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My personal favourite is Indian venster going up underneath the cable car and then around the mountain on the Camps Bay side. Platteklip is actually very boring (my opinion).
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Oh I love the India Venster Route, because it adds three straightforward scrambles to the walking route.
When I was young and knew no fear, I went up the Africa Route, but that's an exposed scramble requiring more balance and stronger nerves than I have nowadays.
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Great adventure, story and pictures. Keep it up. We are all living vicariously through you.
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Amazing impressions, really beautiful.
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Excellent. The lesson of climbing that mountain is analogous to the lesson of life.
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Lovely as always, thanks for sharing! Where are you going next? Namibia or Botswana?
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Wow that's a spectacular view and a magnificent effort in getting up there.
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I have not any words, beautiful nature, and you - cool and beautiful as ussual.
This is my dream to travel like you. Maybe, youll take me with you? ///
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