After the relentless winter rain and three failed attempts, some members were beginning to wonder if Els Buttress would forever remain that elusive unicorn of hikes. The first time I put it on the schedule, plenty of people signed up, but after three postponements only a hardy group of five made it to the starting line. Since so many who had originally shown interest couldn’t make that final date, I decided to offer it again. This time around, most of those original names finally managed to join – though one or two still missed out. By then, I think some of them half-suspected I might actually be a unicorn myself.
We set off with a super-strong and capable crew, the kind that makes a scramble feel like a breeze. Els Buttress is always a joy: playful, hands-on climbing with just enough exposure to keep things interesting, but never so much that you need ropes. The mountain had been dry for a full week, but a few rocks still carried a slick, fog-polished sheen, and at one point I even managed to wedge a leg between two of them – thankfully the gap wasn’t quite wide enough to swallow this unicorn whole.
The weather, however, was flawless: crisp air, clear skies, and sun-warmed rocks. We breezed up the ridge, pulling a few quirky “Tetris moves” along the way, and paused for a well-earned break overlooking Devil’s Peak and Robben Island. There’s nothing like stretching out in the spring sun – it felt like a reward not just for the climb, but also for finally ticking off this elusive hike after so many postponements.
One member opted for an alternative route home, while the rest of us descended via Newlands Ravine. Our lightning-fast crew wrapped up the whole adventure in just under three and a half hours—dust on our boots, sun on our faces, and a few laughs along the way.
Els Buttress, take two: worth the wait, and proof that unicorn hikes do exist.
Hike leader: Carmen Morris
