Mountains of Hope

The mildly chaotic, well-attended and highly enjoyable Mountains of Hope finale took place on 21 December 2008, on Lion's Head. On the summit, the participants - a varied crew including babies, kids, mountaineers, firefighters, media representatives, pensioners, members of the Meridian hiking club, overseas tourists and other interesting people, learned that the expedition had exceeded its goal of R100 000 for the Door of Hope. Members of the public were still giving words of support and donations as the last group made its way back down.

Well done to all who took part or supported this unique project!


The core team, Charlotte and Anna de Klerk, and Rachel and Rosemary Colenso, with Andy,
Francis and Sebastian de Klerk, and members of the Volunteer Wildfire Services (Tarren Smith,
Ezan Wilson, Bronwyn Thompson, Gavin Mohammed, Olivia Rose-Innes, Tamsyn Dixon)

If you have photos of the day, please forward to Olivia: olivia@axxess.co.za

How Mountains of Hope began

Photos from the relaxed hike on Saturday 20 December:


Something rather amusing about that photographer...


Table Mountain National Park guides Robert and Stanley at ease among the restios


Sundew flowers near Maclears Beacon

 
"Missing Link" cameraman Jordi directs Rachel's interview 

Photos: Olivia Rose-Innes

How Mountains of Hope began

Hiker's notes
By Rachel Colenso, Mountains of Hope expedition organiser

On Monday afternoon a journalist called from Die Burger, wanting to write a short piece on our Mountains of Hope Expedition, and the spirit of giving over Christmas. I suggested she join us on a section. The journalist went to speak to her editor and returned to me: instead of a short insert in the following day’s newspaper, they wanted something more, and to send a photographer on our next walk.

It was 8.30am on 16 December. Olivia had kindly organised helped sort out the vehicles, and had dropped me off at Kirstenbosch.

“Are you ‘Mountains of Hope’?” asked a slender woman with an Irish ascent. This was Delores, who, todether with Evelyn, joined us on this section of the journey. Soon the photographer from Die Burger appeared and our team set off, donning our distinctive green Mountains of Hope T-shirts and white peak caps. Charlotte wanted to bring her ridgeback Moya, and so would come another route and meet us at the top of Skeleton Gorge (dogs baulk at Skeleton's ladders).

The temperature soared, and, despite being before 10am, and only a short journey up the path into the wooded area above Kirstenbosch, my face was soon dripping in perspiration.

The photographer pushed his way up the hill, the weight of his camera equipment I'm sure weighing like an anchor round his neck, as he ran ahead and reeled off image after image, the motordrive clicking away. Before reaching the ravine we stopped and he explained that the forest-type vegetation was not suitable for the image he had in mind, and he would like to catch the cable car and join us at Maclear’s Beacon later in the day. We arranged to meet up around 12.30, although by then I was wondering if he would really go to such great lengths.

The route we planned starts through Kirstenbosch, and ascends quickly into the forest above the main botanical garden. It then follows Skeleton Gorge up a series of steps, ladders, and finally a gorge scramble over the rocks, gaining around 600m in vertical height. Most of the ascent is shaded under the canopy of leaves from the forested ravine. During winter months water gushes down the ravine and the scramble up the boulders is at times unnavigable, or very dangerous. The final section exits the tree cover and the hard work of ascending ladders, steps and boulders is rewarded with a magnificent view over the southern suburbs of Cape Town, and out into False Bay. As we toiled upwards our clothes became totally drenched in perspiration, and it felt more humid than any tropical rainforest I have ever visited. We still had a long, hot journey ahead, and I was a little concerned we might run short of water which we were consuming at an alarming rate.

En route we met other parties, and Evelyn turned out to be a fantastic spokesperson for Mountains of Hope, engaging with passersby and explaining our expedition. Rosemary was her usual bubbly self, except she chose to fall asleep whilst I climbed the ladders, and missed the most thrilling part of her ride.

Eventually we met with Charlotte, baby Anna, and Moya at the top of the gorge. Our first planned rondevous had been successful. I wondered whether we may still meet up with the Meridian hiking club. Mare and I had made an arrangement by phone and email a couple of weeks previously, but since my laptop breaking I had not been able to get back in touch. I seemed to remember our rendezvous time being around 12am.

As we continued along the Hoerikwaggo trail which skirts the eastern flank of Table Mountain, it became all the more apparent that this was no easy walk. I had weighed my pack in the morning, and including Rosemary the total load is approaching 23kg. In the searing heat the continual uphill journey seemed endless. My legs burned each time I heaved pack and toddler over yet another boulder.

Despite the weight and scorching December sun, the route was incredibly scenic and varied, bypassing Fernwood Buttress and weaving between high sandstone boulders, and across boardwalks between marshy areas of fynbos.

At last we reached the beacon, a massive cairn of stones at least 3m in height. And then, amazingly, Mare and about ten members of the Meridian hiking club appeared. It was quite strange to meet someone for the first time on top of a mountain, when you had only previously had email and phone contact with them! We sat down for lunch and Mare showed us the list of donations they were banking, and gave us a Meridian T-shirt each. The photographer from Die Burger was delayed and eventually we had to leave the beacon, and made our way to the cable station and Platteklip Gorge via the scenic cliff route.

It is a fantastic pathway that traverses the very edge of Africa Face, one of the main, 100m or more cliff faces that form the vertical walls of Table Mountain. Suddenly I heard “RACHEL! RACHEL” On glancing round I saw our journo photographer leaping over boulders along the cliff edge, his camera equipment swinging, and his long hair and T-shirt flapping in the breeze. He had rushed along the other route to get to the beacon, and then finally found us. Quickly he jumped into action, racing on ahead and squatting down with his big zoom, clicking away paparazzi style. His enthusiasm continued with each scenic turn that the route took. Eventually at the Platteklip Gorge exit where Charlotte and I bade farewell, a crowd gathered round the photographer, their own cameras in hand, ready for the action. As he clicked away people possibly wondered who these two women carrying babies were, and should they too be taking photos.  

I was saving Platteklip for our next hike, and so Rosemary and I enjoyed an Appletiser with the Meridian Hiking Club before taking the cable car back down - an experience Rosemary thoroughly enjoyed!

How Mountains of Hope began

The route we selected starts with a walk through Kirstenbosch Gardens and ascends up to the contour path and into the forest gorge of Nursery Ravine.

Despite its curious name, Nursey Ravine is not child’s play. It is steep and relentless. Carrying an amply proportioned eighteen-month-old toddler makes it all the more serious, despite encouraging squeals of delight from the rucksack. In many places the path is flanked by sheer drops. A slip or misplaced foot could have serious consequences. The route is marked by an endless series of steps supported by firmly fixed logs. After climbing around 200m of vertical ascent through the forested gorge, the path exits the shade and continues zigzagging up through lush fynbos. In summer an early start is essential to maximise the opportunity of shade from Nursery Buttress, an impressive sandstone cliff which rises vertically some 80m on the upper northern flank of the ravine.

As we heaved our way up my legs burned, and my steps became slower and breath more rapid. I think Rosemary and rucksack have now finally reached critical mass, the weight at which I can no longer travel easily. Each step was a mighty effort, and my Mountains of Hope T-shirt was soon drenched in perspiration. Charlotte’s pace remained constant, and soon I was lagging in the heat, the sound of the cicadas filling my ears like dreadful white noise, and it felt my senses were becoming muddled. Olivia patiently waited at the next bend. Cheerfully, she confided her secret "step rest", a tactic her brother in Seattle had taught her. I had never heard of the marvellous "step rest", an opportunity to gain a moment’s relief when climbing steps. It is accomplished by straightening your leg, and then resting on it like a stalk, before making the next move upwards. Gleefully she chanted "step rest, step rest" as I humbly obeyed. Finally we reached the shade of Nursery Buttress, and, seemingly hours later, the ladder "finale" to the ascent, above which the path forks, the southern fork jumping a tiny stream, the source of the mighty Nursery Ravine river.


Chilling out at the top of Nursery Ravine

We took a well-earned rest under a shady tree that Charlotte selected, and the babies stretched their legs and enjoyed a snack before we continued our journey. The pathway up Reserve Peak is little known, and unmarked. Unaware of its location we headed up the path towards the reservoirs on the Peak's northern flank. Soon we were amongst the welcome shade of oak and cedar trees, planted some hundred-odd years back. Despite the "alien" nature of the oak, we were rather thankful they had not been removed. There is also a delightful picnic site under the cool shade of the oaks in a clearing near the path.

We continued onwards, and finally agreed on a "new" ascent of Reserve Peak, up the northwestern flank, taking the obvious line between two rockbands. The start of our route was marked by a vague pathway, leading from an obvious large oval hollow rock formation near the dam. The "path" led to a fantastic double overhang of rock, forming a natural shelter - and it appeared this was very much lived in - maybe a refuge for muggers? Something we will need to mention to National Parks... Quickly we bypassed the cave and made an ascent through rather thick fynbos, and over some large boulders to gain the crest, which forms the summit ridge. At the western flank is another large rock overhang, and moving eastwards to the actual summit, an interesting scramble, which can involve a small ravine jump.

The descent down the "proper" route was attractive and varied, following the eastern spine, and weaving from the summit first northwards, to gain the easiest descent/ ascent through the rock band. The path then veers back southwards, and weaves roughly eastwards to gain the main pathway at the bottom. Of course for those not wishing to undertake our "Mother’s Fynbos Delight" route, the ascent starts from the eastern spine and follows our descent in reverse.

The Route: Chapman’s Peak and Lower Chapman’s peak
Date: 25th November
Grade: E
Ascent: 682m or 1082m dependant on weather and progress on the day
Descent: 682m or 520m dependant on weather and progress on the day
Approximate walking time: 4h30
Route type: (historic, scenic, rocky, steep, exposed, viewing point for whales,)
Approximate distance: 10 km
Special Information: very exposed. Scrambling in places
Map: 3418AB and AD Cape Peninsula

The Mountains of Hope Core team were joined on this section by five members of the Volunteer Wildfire Services: sTiv Samuel, Tim Ellis-Smith, Craig Barker, Federico Zanolin and Olivia Rose-Innes (Health24's EnviroHealth editor when not in uniform).


sTiv, Tim, Craig

Fred with Anna                    Olivia
 


The hikers were lucky enough to have the opportunity to sleep over after the hike at the Silvermine tented camp, where the next generation of De Klerks and Colensos practised their moves on the climbing wall.


Rachel and Rosemary Colenso                                         Sebastian de Klerk


Twins Francis and Anna exploring the walkway at the Silvermine camp