We finally managed to bag all seven of Table Mountain’s highest summits in 10.5 hours. It was an 18km day of which more than 1km was uphill! We had the perfect day with cloud cover all the way up Porcupine Ravine and cool conditions on top. The cloud eventually cleared to open up the views around us and we could look back at the peaks we had done and focus on the next objective. A very enjoyable hike with only a short repeat section of path to join all the peaks together. We set off at 7.00am and were back at the cars at 5.30pm.
The route taken was as follows:
- Up Porcupine Ravine – 2hr
- Ark Valley > climb Blinkwater Peak (989m) – 30min
- Snakes & Ladders route to Fountain Peak (1050m) – 30min
- TEA – 30min
- Table-top ‘edge’ route to Maclears Beacon (1086m) – 1hr
- Smuts track > climb Fernwood Peak (1003m) – 45min
- Echo Valley > climb Waaikoppie (933m) – 45min
- LUNCH – 30min
- Continue along Echo valley & climb St Michaels Peak (917m) via Kitchen Ravine – 30min
- Return to Echo Valley, path to Upper Disa Stream, climb Junction Peak (919m) – 1hr
- TEA – 30min
- Upper Disa stream / railway track to top of Kasteels – 45min
- Down Kasteels Poort – 1hr 15min
Don Jepson
Photos supplied by Don Jepson.
