Botmaskop-Saaltjie Traverse
I recall an old Stellenbosch Mountain Club greybeard once telling me that in his day Botmaskop was never regarded as a proper mountain. Well, almost 900 m in elevation gain, albeit along the whole ridge, qualifies in my book. It seems as one progresses along life's...
Springstygbeugel
What was meant to be a three-day hike to Springstygbeugel and exploration of the area, turned into a curtailed two-day trip for me in a surreal turn of events. Paul had invited some MCSA Stellenbosch members, completed and lodged the CapeNature safety forms for us to...
Helderberg West Peak
"We'll take it easy", said Santie. She was responding to my reminder to her that I had just recovered from pneumonia contracted in, or on the way to, frigid Canada over the holiday season (I literally never get sick, so this was an unwelcome surprise). I have climbed...
Botanising trilogy
At the outset, allow me to disclaim being a botanical expert. I would also hesitate to describe myself as a botanical enthusiast, but I was privileged to be included in these botanising parties comprising professional and amateur experts and ecologists, in the...
Grootkop
We ascended Diagonal, followed the Twelve Apostles Spine Track south-west, taking in Tranquillity Cracks, summited Grootkop (857 m ASL) as the wind cloud momentarily cleared. We were then blown down Oudekraal Ravine and returned along the Pipe Track. The full circuit...
Aasvoëlkrans Hiking Trail
This trail is a short and sharp hike in the Montagu Mountain Reserve, some 2.4 km in length and 214 m in elevation gain. For relatively little effort it reveals panoramic vistas of the town of Montagu, Cogmanskloof and Bloupunt. From its highest point, the old English...
Perdeberg hike
The hike from Feetjiesbos (or Fairy Glen), near the Palmiet bridge, to Perdeberg Peak and back, in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, is not hard. It rises through rich fynbos at an easy gradient, gradually revealing views of the sweep of Sandown Bay beach to the Bot...
Kasteelkop & Nek
Kasteelskop is a rocky hill above Fairy Glen and below the Three Sisters that resembles a castle turret. It also features a castellated ridge from a certain angle. Our pleasant hike took in the kop and the nek (saddle) that separates it from the higher Three Sisters...
Three Sisters hike
The Three Sisters trail at Kleinmond is described as "challenging" and "moderate" on various websites and trails apps, opinions determined by the abilities and experience of the respective authors, I assume. I would advise that you be conditioned for hiking and be...
Up the Cascades
Cascades is a perennial summer outing on the Mountain Club's calendar. Either members scramble up the gorge, skirting the waterfalls, or they abseil down the gorge through the waterfalls - often doing both in a single weekend. I have abseiled it before, but this was...
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