Co-lead by Johan “Fomo Sapien” Fourie and Ethan “Funderpants” Cox
Our Traverse of the Gods hike commenced from the Kloof Corner sign on Tafelberg Road, a few minutes after a beautiful sunrise started unfolding next to Devil’s Peak. The weather was perfect and there was much excitement in the air for an adventure along a route that seldom sees traffic. A brisk hike up the zig zag steps (approximately 215 of them!) took us to the “band stand” on the contour path, marked by a trig beacon. We briefly paused there to admire the beautiful views, catch our breath and have a sip of water, while some considered their wardrobe options.
After showing some of the newer members the first chain which marks the start of the Kloof Corner Ridge (KCR) route, we returned to the corner and dropped to a slightly lower level to start traversing South below the imposing rock bands of Kloof Buttress. The first section of the route ranges between bushy, loose ground, loose rock and the occasional blister bush. Some variations are possible though it’s often best to stay close to the rock band. Route finding can be tricky, with various ledges on different levels forcing one to stay focussed. An attempt to avoid an exposed drop might reward you with a vague trail along the rock face, or near impossible bushwhacking. It’s never boring and even for the leads who have completed the route a few times, there’s always a nagging suspicion that you may have missed part of the route.
Everyone was up for the challenge though and we progressed well, soon reaching the crux of the route, the infamous dassie crawl. From a rock platform we had to climb down a few meters and traverse across an exposed section, then carefully climb up an awkward step (Grade -C) towards the start of the dassie traverse. It’s definitely recommended to wear old clothes for this section. It is a very tight, very long “leopard crawl” next to a massive drop, while dragging your backpack next to you. A perfect opportunity for the most memorable pictures, while those waiting can enjoy the beautiful view towards the Twelve Apostles, or Lion’s Head behind you.
After the dassie crawl we scrambled up a steep slope to reach the “Window” on KCR, just slightly below the “Poort” where the second chain awaits. The top part of this section up to the Window is a delightful rock scramble up a gully… intimidating from a distance but with sufficient handholds and footholds to carefully and safely top out on the ridge.
Co-lead Ethan skilfully hauled up our backpacks and then proceeded to help members up this 2nd chain with the peace of mind that his safety rope provides. The views along the ridge are amazing, though the devastating damage from the recent fire around India Venster was still very evident. We safely reached the 3rd and final chain where Ethan again used his rope to haul up our backpacks. This time not only for convenience, but for necessity. This section is referred to as the 11 inch crack and the name says it all. Even a hydration vest will get you stuck in the crack. There is again significant exposure on this part of the route so the safety rope was a blessing for even the most experienced hikers.
We reached Fountain Ledges about 5 hours after we started our adventure and part of the group opted to descend India Venster. The rest continued and then three of us took the cable car down, while one member upsized his hike with a Maclear’s Beacon exploration and then descended Platteklip Gorge.
