After weeks of relentless winter rain and three postponed attempts, we finally struck gold—a crisp, clear, sunny day at last, and on a weekend no less! What a joy to swap waterproofs for sunglasses, even if just for a day.
We had about 14 people originally sign up for the hike, but after the rescheduling saga, a solid crew of five made it to the starting point—small but mighty. And with the sun out in full force, not a breeze in sight, and the mountain still damp with the memory of rain, it felt like we’d won the weather lottery. One of those rare winter days that lifts the spirits and reminds you why you love living in this city.
Els Buttress is one of my favourite scrambles—it’s scrambling at its most playful: just technical enough to be exciting, without ever feeling risky. This route has several exposed rock pitches, offering a good dose of adventure without the need for ropes.
We gained approximately 750 m in elevation, starting from the Contour Path Picnic Area (Carousel). From there, we headed up Newlands Ravine, detouring left at around 600 m elevation—where the trees give way to open slope and the path begins to zig-zag. A short track to the right took us steeply upward to the first rock band, which we traversed left across to reach a crack leading through the rock.
From that point on, the scramble follows the ridge all the way to the Knife Edge, weaving through several rock bands. Most of the route is straightforward, but there are a few more technical and exposed steps along the way.
The rock was completely dry, the air was fresh, and the views were spectacular. We scrambled our way up and stopped just before the Knife Edge, where we stretched out on sun-warmed rocks for a well-earned brunch break. Robben Island shimmered in the distance, Devil’s Peak loomed beside us, and the city sparkled below.
After about 40 minutes of basking in the winter sun, two members decided to extend their adventure towards Devil’s Peak, while the rest of us descended via Newlands Ravine, reaching the car park by 1 pm—dust on our boots, sun on our faces, and a good dose of mountain joy in our hearts.
Thanks to the group for showing up and making it such a great day out. Worth the wait!
Leader: Carmen Morris
