Sunday 24 June 2018

TABLE MOUNTAIN TRAILERS Table Mountain Trailers Saturday 30th June - Signal Hill & Lions Head


Good day Trailers. 

Medium Group route - 12km
This week's sortie is an old favorite: Lions Head and Signal Hill. 

We'll head up Signal Hill Road and turn left along the single track path that follows the spine of Signal Hill to the viewpoint at the top. We then retrace our steps, pass the Kramat, and wend our way down through the Noon Day Gun base to pick up the undulating path that runs along the lower western slopes of Lion's Head just above the houses. We'll drip down into the Glen at the end to finish on an uphill. 

Terrain consists of some slightly rocky single track and some well packed walking paths. 



The medium group's route measures about 12km. The longer group will add a loop of Lions Head at the beginning of the run making the route up to 13kms or so, but with a little more elevation. Relaxed group to be confirmed on Friday. 

Park at the Kloof Nek carpark ready to run at 7.30 am. 

Make sure you read our blog for full safety information. 

See you there, 
Lorraine 
0725750914





Warning:  Trail running is inherently more dangerous than road running.  It may take place over uneven hazard strewn trails in exposed and often remote terrain where help is not always readily available.
Participation is voluntary and entirely at your own risk as although the organizers take reasonable precautions to ensure runner safety, it cannot be guaranteed.  To this end neither the Club nor the organisers personally can be held liable for any claims relating to inter alia, injuries, disabilities and death. Further any minor child participating in any trail running activity will be deemed to be doing so with the consent of his or her guardian.

By starting out on a trail run you explicitly acknowledge that: 
1] you understand the associated risks involved and accept full responsibility for your own safety. 
2] you are medically and physically fit to participate and 
3] are carrying the necessary water, clothing and safety equipment required for the particular run.



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Monday 18 June 2018

TABLE MOUNTAIN TRAILERS Saturday 23 June Newlands Forest Parking start 07:30

If you stand anywhere in the magnificent city of Cape Town and look up at that mountain we all love so much, look a bit left and you will see a very big pointy rock.  This big pointy rock is called Devil's Peak.  There are several reasons why it is called Devil's Peak - here are 2 of them.

 

If you are out at sea, from a certain angle, Devil's Peak has 3 points - a central taller point and 2 lower points on either side - something like the Devil's spear. What rubbish.

 

The TRUE story...

There was a formidable Dutch pirate called Jan van Hunks who retired with his plundered wealth and lived on the lower slopes of the mountain with his wife. He loved to smoke his pipe which his wife did not enjoy at all, so he would walk up to the saddle between Table Mountain and Devil's Peak and sit and smoke his pipe there.  One day on the saddle he came across a man dressed in black who also liked to smoke pipe, and they fell into a wager about who could smoke the most. The man in black turned out to be the devil, who won the competition after several days and much smoke, and so took Jan van Hunks soul. Jan was never seen again.

 

Now when you look up at that saddle between Table Mountain and Devils Peak and you see that first wisp of cloud coming over the saddle which eventually turns into a full on tablecloth that lasts for several days, know that Jan van Hunks is back up there trying in vain to get his soul back. Don't mess with the devil, it seems.

 

But back to Table Mountain Trailers.

On Saturday we are going to circumnavigate that big pointy rock and pass the spot where Jan van Hunks lost his soul.

 

We start at Newlands parking at 07:30 (where the helicopters are), turn right and go UP. UP the jeep tracks and left onto a single track which takes us UP to the turnstile. Then we go UP to the King's Blockhouse (more history).

From the blockhouse we go UP Mowbray Ridge (mild exposure and rock scrambling), then UP some more to the abandoned fire lookout.

(If it is raining we might give Mowbray Ridge a miss and turn right along the contour and up to Oppelskop).

Then we go UP a little bit more to a T-junction where we turn right. This is a beautiful scenic route that brings us to the Devil's Peak path which takes us down to Jan van Hunk's site of demise, and then we go down Newlands Ravine (also stunning) back to the cars.

 

There will be a car guard, please bring him something.

 

This route is only about 10km, but be warned, it is a reasonably tough 10km which will  take a bit more than 3 hours.

 

Weather:

The weather people - at this stage - are calling some possible drizzle but not much wind, so bring something warm and waterproof, plus all your normal safety gear, water, whistle, munchies, etc.

 

Groups:

We will start off as one running group. If a faster group forms on the first jeep track uphill, we can split into two group depending on someone knowing the route.

Relaxed group to be confirmed.

 

Geoff

082 570 4405

Please phone / email / whatsapp if any questions.

Monday 11 June 2018

TABLE MOUNTAIN TRAILERS Saturday 16 June 2018: Muizenberg Peak Steenberg Plateau Path

Hi Trailers

 

This week sees us heading up the Steenberg Plateau Path to Muizenberg Peak taking a loop through Silvermine and descending Pecks Valley.

 

Rendezvous and Start Time 

Start at Hole In The Wall. Parking On Boyes Drive. Start Time 7h30 (briefing at 7h20)

 

How to get there

Starting at the “Toad on the road” corner M4 (main road Lakeside) and Boyes drive, continue along Boyes Drive, Passing the turnoff down to old Boyes drive, Over a hill, just a few meters up the next hill, notice a blue gum stand on your left and a stone wall on your right. There is an opening in this wall, hence the name. Park on the pavement of the road.

 

Route Summary:

Fast Group:  Hole in The Wall – Boyes Drive -  Steenberg Plateau Path – Muizenberg Peak – Old Silver Mine – St James Peak – Muizenberg Cave – Fat Lady’s Cave – Highter Steenberg Peak – Peck’s Valley – Hole in the Wall

 

Medium Group:  Hole in The Wall  – Boyes Drive -  Steenberg Plateau Path – Muizenberg Peak – Old Mine – St James Peak – Muizenberg Cave –  Lower Steenberg Peak – Boyes Drive  - Peck’s Valley – Hole in the Wall

 

 

Route description:

 

Medium and Fast Group:

From the Hole in The Wall along Boyes Drive Over a steep hill, past old Boyes Drive and on till a path leads up just before Lakeside Pinnacle.

 

At the Steenberg Plateau path (marked by TMNP signboard) we head on up the mountain.

 

As Steenberg Plateau comes into view, take the path to the left heading up to Muizenberg Peak.

 

From Muizenberg Peak continue down to the top of Peck’s Valley and at the 4 way junction we keep straight, staying on the plateau.

 

At the next junction, where the path ahead becomes indistinct with a more obvious sandy path to the left, turn left. This route takes us past the old silver mine (see the wire fence) to which the area owes its name.

Past the mine the path leads us up, into the rocks. At the next junction continue straight on, to St James peak.

 

From St James’ summit, we back track and at the fork take the left hand path, heading towards Muizenberg Cave.

 

From the cave we head down the valley with Steenberg Plateau on our right.

 

Upon meeting the jeep track, take a right turn to follow it and continue on until reaching the turnoff to Higher Steenberg Peak, marked by a handy metal plaque.

 

Here the Fast Group will head out to the Fat Lady’s Cave / Higher Steenberg Peak.

At the junction where you see erosion fencing behind you, take the right hand fork (red gravel path) leading directly to Fat Lady’s Cave.

 

Just past the cave, take the right hand path towards the large cairn which marks the viewpoint.

 

At this cairn there is a small unmarked path leading down the ridge line to your right. Follow this path, it leads back to Steenberg Plateau providing lovely running and some great views of Cape Town to your left.

 

This path end amongst some rocks behind  one of the fenced off navy communication structures. Go around the fence to meet a Jeep track and turn right there.

 

Ignore all other turnoffs until you reach a clear junction. Here, continue onto Peck’s Valley and descend down to Hole in The Wall

 

 

From  the point where we leave the Fast Group, the Medium Group will continue straight along the Jeep Track, passing around the fenced off Navy Communication Tower.

 

Where the jeep track forks, keep left.  Turn Right onto the small single track leading up Lower Steenberg Peak, backtracking once again after making the summit. Turn left back onto the jeep track, and continue straight until you reach the

 

 

The Slower Group will follow a  similar route up to Muizenberg Peak. The leader will decide the route forwards from there on the day.

 

 

Distance and Time

Fast Group  +/- 13km

Medium Group  +/-  11km

Slower Group +/- 8km

 

 

Map

Fast Group in Blue

Medium Group in Red

 

 

What to bring

Water (essential), whistle, warm, wind or waterproof top depending on weather. ICE tag, Space blanket

 

 

Safety

Please remember to look behind you at every turn in the route to make sure the people behind you see which way you are going.  

Important: Stay with your group. Front Runners wait for the back of your pack.

 

Dogs

Sorry - no dogs allowed on TMT runs. 

 

This week’s Group Leader

 

Theo Smith  

083 579 2069

 

***

 

Warning:  Trail running is inherently more dangerous than road running.  It may take place over uneven hazard strewn trails in exposed and often remote terrain where help is not always readily available.

Participation is voluntary and entirely at your own risk as although the organizers take reasonable precautions to ensure runner safety, it cannot be guaranteed.  To this end neither the Club nor the organisers personally can be held liable for any claims relating to inter alia, injuries, disabilities and death. Further any minor child participating in any trail running activity will be deemed to be doing so with the consent of his or her guardian.

 

By starting out on a trail run you explicitly acknowledge that: 

1] you understand the associated risks involved and accept full responsibility for your own safety. 

2] you are medically and physically fit to participate and 

3] are carrying the necessary water, clothing and safety equipment required for the particular run.

 

 


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Monday 4 June 2018

TABLE MOUNTAIN TRAILERS Saturday 9 June 2018, ROUTE CHANGE: Constantia neck - contour path- Nursery ravine and Skeleton Gorge

Dear Trailers 

Unfortunately the beautiful rain we've been having also means trickier running conditions so it seems best to move this weeks route to a more runnable area, although we should still be treated to wonderful waterfalls and streams.

Route

From the Constantia neck parking we take the first shortcut left up to the next level jeep track. Following the jeep track up a little more we then take the sandy path right, down to join the scenic contour path above Cecilia and Kirstenbosch towards Nursery ravine, Skeleton Gorge and to the foot of Window Gorge. Turn and run back to the "Fourways" intersection above Kirstenbosch dam and from there the lower route through Cecilia forest back to Constantia neck.

 

Rendezvous and Start Time

RV in the Constantia neck parking area ready to start at 07:30.

 

Terrain and Distance

A mix of jeep track, mountain trail and single track, not too technical.

 

Distance: ±12-14 kms taking about 2h30 mins.


Fast Group

Will follow a similar route with an extension to be decided on the day.

 

Slow  Group to be confirmed by Friday.

 

Please bring:

A whistle, water, a warm & waterproof top (looks like more rain to come), space blanket and ICE tag or card.

 

Hope to see you on Saturday.


Samantha 
0723144341
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Friday 1 June 2018

FEEDBACK: Saturday 2 June 2018 , Rhodes Memorial –Plumpudding hill

We arrived in the parking area in the dark just before 7.30, barely able to see through the downpour of rain! The turnout was pretty good considering the weather! Fortunately the rain lifted as we began our run and pretty much held off until the last 1 or 2 km of the medium group.

We warmed up in no time as we made our way up to Rhodes Memorial and then across and up towards the Kings Block House via heartbreak hill. The two groups went their separate ways after we reached the turnstiles as the faster group wanted to aim for a run of approximately 20km. The medium group followed the single track heading towards Contantia Neck, the silence in the forest was regularly interrupted by the strong flowing rivers and waterfalls that we crossed, a beautiful sight to see. We were grateful to have made it along the many slippery boardwalks, but not without a few breakdance moves and tree hugging. At the big rock we turned left downhill towards the lower contour and back towards the start. Thanks to Geoff for taking us off the beaten track where we had to hurdle giant tree trunks in order to find the path again; it would not be a trail run without a bit of extra adventure! We covered over 12km and made it back to the parking lot just before 10am.

Please see Facebook for photos of our magical misty run