A group of sixteen started at 8 am from Newlands Forest Parking in great weather conditions. We walked up to the Contour Path, turned into Hiddingh Ravine and followed the riverbed up to the start of Hiddingh-Ascension traverse. Right there we stopped for a second breakfast, enjoying the beauty of the lush forest. We then followed the traverse via the two longer sections of scrambling and areas of bushy and grassy terrain, before finally accessing the green gully of Ascension Ravine. Half way up some of us visited the Pulpit allowing for spectacular views while others waited in a shady area of the ravine. We had lunch at the overhang on the upper section before we climbed the last steep and enjoyable B-grade rock band which brought us to the top of the mountain. From there we finished off via Carrel’s Ledge. Accessing Smuts Track close to Maclear’s Beacon, we then followed the trail back down Skeleton Gorge and took the most direct trail to Newlands.
Thank you everyone for a magnificent day out. Thanks all for being so supportive, which was key in a group of such size. Thank you for your enthusiasm and for all the fun we had.
Photos by Devon Magan, Leo Kahanovitz, Patrick Smit, Patrick Wainwright, Steven Lawrence, Ruth Knoblich
