The Jonkershoek Valley was shrouded in thick clouds when a group of 15 set off from the gate at 7am with the mission to climb Haelkop (1350m). The misty air was actually pleasantly cool and we enjoyed the almost mystical atmosphere as we slogged up the trails towards Sosyskloof. The Upper Fire Hut was only visible at a distance of 10m and we recognised the Sosyskloof Waterfall by its sound much earlier than by actually seeing it.
After another kilometre on the contour path, we turned right and followed the steep path towards the saddle between ‘Pik sans nom’ and Haelkop, quickly gaining altitude. Halfway up, while we were taking a break to drink water and catch our breath, we witnessed a very special moment. Suddenly the misty clouds began to melt from the top down, leaving a sea of clouds further down in the Jonkershoek Valley, while all the surrounding peaks stood out. The sunlight reflected off the wet rocks above us and for the first time we got a glimpse of the mountain we were about to climb.
Another 30 minutes and we were at the saddle, our second breakfast stop. The clouds in the Jonkershoek Valley had begun to dissipate and the valley had turned into a lush green. The Helderberg side, however, remained hidden in a sea of clouds, merging with the sea on the horizon.
From this point, we continued to hike above the clouds, following the ridgeline of Haelkop towards the peak. It was during these kilometres along the ridge that the route unfolded its full beauty, offering a full range of continuous fun scrambles and breathtaking 360° views.
We reached the peak after a total of 6 hours 15 minutes and a distance of 9km. After a long lunch break, including geocaching and investigating the broken beacon, we made our way down, continuing on the path towards Stellenbosch Mountain. This part of the trail was very well cairned and we picked up speed as we descended.
Two thirds of the way down, during another break, three of us decided to explore the Haelkop Cracks while the rest of the group carried on, reaching the cars at 4pm, after 9 hours. Thank you all for a magnificent day out!
Pictures by Christo Steyn, Dain Hamilton, Dane Du Plooy, Dyan Belonje, Elise Le Roux, Greg Stroud, Ruth Knoblich, Thandi Mamacos.