FEEDBACK: Saturday 26th August 2017: Constantia Nek/Back Table

27 stalwart trailers gathered under the pines of the Constantia Nek parking area in the cool pre-dawn twilight with the promise of a glorious spring morning ahead. After the customary briefing and a moment of silence in memory of Jeff Shapiro who passed away the previous week, we started the slog up the steep short-cut to Eagle’s nest corner.  Here the groups split and the Fast and Medium Fearless groups scampered around the corner not to be seen for the next two hours.

The slow group swelled by those not keen on the steep ascents and descents facing the Fearless groups continued up the concrete track and turned off for the single trail that winds its way through Cecilia and Rooikat ravines through to the foot of Nursery ravine.

After pleasant and uneventful runs all returned to the car park to celebrate our 7^th Anniversary where a little “bubbly” and fruit juice helped slake our thirsts. 

Some special mentions:

Gaeleen: 225 sorties

Jeannine and Lize-Marick have actually completed  27 sorties but I don't think we ever congratulated them on their 25ths!

Peter

TABLE MOUNTAIN TRAILERS Fwd: Saturday 19th August: Cape Point-Buffelsbaai/Kanonkop/Lime-kiln route

This coming Saturday the forecast is for a glorious sunny day when we can provide a little assistance to the Puffer table as described in Allison's earlier e-mail followed by a spectacular run in the Cape Point Nature Reserve.

For those assisting at the Puffer Table please follow the instructions in Allison's e-mail and for the rest please plan to get to the Buffelsbaai parking area by 0730.

Brief Description of Route

From the Buffelsbaai parking area, a brief jog up the road and then turn right on to the single track that takes us past the Information hut and up to the top of Kanonkop. Here the Fast and Medium groups  take the trail to the left [northwards] for an out and back jog towards Paulsberg.  Once back at Kanonkop they follow the same route as the Slow Group.

The Slow group will go over Kanonkop and down towards the old limestone kiln. Cross the road and through the small parking area to follow the beach path along the coast that takes us back to the Buffelsbaai parking.

 Rendezvous and Start Time

RV in the Buffelsbaai parking area in time to start running at  0730 or as soon after when all the Puffer Table helpers have arrived.

The park opens at 0600. Please remember your Wild Card/My Green Card or R135 for the entry fee! 

How to get to Buffelsbaai

From the entry kiosk drive along the road for approximately 8km.  Ignore  the Buffelsfontein and Bordjiesdrif signs and turn off left at the Buffelsbaai sign,  drive down the road towards the beach and park at the southern end.

Terrain and Distance

A straight forward  run with a few reasonably easy hills. Good single tracks through the fynbos and probably close-ups of zebra, bontebok and others. A wee bit of an uphill slog to the top of kanonkop.   More or less 12-13 km taking  about 1.5 -2.0 hours  for the Fast group and 9/11km for the Medium and Slow groups.

My Green Card - https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/tourism/access-cards-permits.php

The TMNP My Green Card is available exclusively to residents of Cape Town, costs R135 and provides the holder with 12 free entries a year into any of the Table Mountain National Park's pay points: Cape of Good Hope (Cape Point); Boulders Penguin Colony, Oudekraal and Silvermine, as well as to the braai and picnic areas at Tokai, Newlands and Perdekloof. It offers fantastic value.

    You can use the MyGreen Card for up to 6 people at a time - they must all bring ID books. Each person's entry will be clipped off your card.

The card can be obtained at:

    Tokai Plantation Office, Tokai Road, Tokai (Mondays to Fridays 08:00-15:45)

    Kirstenbosch

    You need to take 2 ID photos, ID and your printed proof of residence to buy the card 
    

Have a great week and hope to see you all there!

--Peter

082 374 6262

- Cell: 082 374 6262 Office: 021 712 1994

Warning:  Trail running is inherently more dangerous than road running.  It takes 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.

FEEDBACK : Saturday 12 August 2017 : CONSTANTIA GREENBELTS

About 26 runners braved the weather and met for our greenbelt run and after a short briefing, the whole group took off (at a pace!) down the road towards the Alphen green belt. 

The groups ran (or walked!) the Alphen and Diep River Trails until Southern Cross and Cecelia forest and then split up to do slightly different routes, returning via the Klaasenbosch and Alphen trails.

The main group completed 16 km, the medium group 11.5 km and the slow group about 9 km.

The terrain was wet and muddy, even a little rain, but we were rewarded with a beautiful rainbow.

Gae

Virus-free. www.avast.com

FEEDBACK : Wednesday 9th August: Constantia Nek to Kloof Nek

There were a total of 19 Trailers in the car park at Constantia Nek on Women's Day, including a 7-man (and woman!) contingent from Stellenbosch.

We set off along the jeep track as a pack but Tamsyn and other fasties soon tore away from the slackers and disappeared into the distance. Stops had to be made even more frequently than usual for photos, especially as our northern friends had never run this stretch of the mountain before and were pleased with the views over the suburbs and across to their own stomping ground.

The first two short-cutting trailers peeled away from the peloton at about 6kms, just before the Aloes climb. A second two turned back at the top of the steps up to the rock fall, leaving the remainder of the pack to soldier on to the turnstile at a pleasant pace - 'slow enough to enjoy'.

At this point - about 11kms - there was an option to take the single track down to Rhodes Memorial and Uber home from there but there was only one taker for this option, and even she was quite easily persuaded to continue on to town.

At the blockhouse, we marvelled at Mowbray Ridge and the crazies that might consider climbing up or down it (haha!). We meandered around Devil's Peak, admiring the views of the city and revelling in the gorgeous weather that the morning had delivered. By now, the Stellies crowd were drunk on the scenery and were planning to return to run this route with us again as soon as possible!

The Platteklip descent drew one more deserter as Lorraine's tired legs got the better of her sense of adventure and she completed the last 2 kms on the t*r. The final crew of Stellies runners plus Theo, Anisha, Angela and Nothemba finished strong and pulled into the Kloof Nek parking area at just after 11am.

We Ubered back to Constantia Nek and had a rejuvenation cup of coffee at La Parada before waving goodbye to our Stellenbosch friends and promising to see them again soon.

Photos on facebook. 

TABLE MOUNTAIN TRAILERS NEXT SORTIE: Saturday 5th August 2017- Pipetrack - Woody Ravine - Kasteelspoort - Tranquility Cracks

Good evening Trailers,

Sorry about the late email!

This Saturday we'll be doing the Pipetrack - Corridor Ravine - Kasteelspoort/Tranquility Loop.

Route:

We start along the Pipe Track with magnificent views over the Atlantic seaboard all the way to Corridor Ravine. Up Corridor, then two left turns to explore Tranquility Cracks. Continue along the Twelve Apostles route to check out the top of the old cableway used to build the dams, there's a great view from there. We then head down Kasteelspoort and back along the Pipetrack to the carpark.

Rendevouz and start time:

We will meet at Kloof Nek in the 2nd car park where the SanParks hut is ready to start at 07:30.

Terrain and Distance:

The Pipetrack is fairly flat, but rocky in areas. There is a steep ascent up to the top and some single track along the Twelve Apostles route to Kasteelspoort. The route will take approximately 2.30 - 3hours. See attachments for the main route and elevations.

Medium Group:

The recovery group will turn up Woody Ravine for a shorter route.

Slow Group (To Be confirmed):

The slow group will turn up Kasteelspoort from the Pipetrack before turning back.

What to bring:

Water (please bring enough for the full duration of the run), whistle, a weather or waterproof jacket and a light snack. 

See you all there!

Joanne

0827400333

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FEEDBACK Saturday 29 July 2017 - Silvermine West - Constantiaberg

As Constantiaberg Peak was covered in cloud and the sky looked ominous, it was encouraging to have a fairly large group of intrepid trailers meet at the carpark.

The wind was cold so after waiting for everyone to pay at the gate, we all headed off to the Hout Bay Lookout.

The fast group, led by Gregg, went up the Old Fisherman's track and along the Amphitheatre path, the medium group took the River Walk and the zig zag shortcuts, and the slower group, led by Peter, drove up to the MTB parking and went up the zig zags.

Halfway up the river walk, 4 fast mediums broke away and we never saw them again...!

After a misty group photo at the lookout, the medium group started up the slog through the mist to the mast. 

The wind got cooler and tops were put back on. The fast group came "flying" past us up the hill, but the slower group had reached the top first!. 

As we got to the top, the sun appeared in time for us to drink in the 360 views, take some photos and have some welcome snacks.

The flowing descent down the single track past Elephant's Eye Cave got the heart going.

Due to the time, a group decision was made to go back via the dam and the River Walk. 

A wonderful outing with bits of jeep track, single track, some climbing and stunning scenery!

We missed celebrating Jo Boswell's 100th run - congratulations Jo!
Lize-Marick Keyser has reached her 25th sortie and Julia Nevin joins the fast check-ins.

Lots more photos on our facebook page

FEEDBACK Saturday 22nd July 2017 - Cecilia Forest,Waterfall and Ridge

Saturday 22 July 2017 saw a fine turn out of trailers descend upon Cecilia Forest.

Weather predictions by yr.no were a tad off on this lovely day, and a thick, dark bank of cloud greeted us as we arrived. While conditions lower down the mountain were perfect for running, the top was...a little different.

The route started out with few kilometres of nice smooth running (not usually a trait of TMT runs).

Consequently the Fasties led by Gregg Smith, swept by Tim Belairs and ably assisted by local trail legend the CEO, quickly disappeared into the distance and were only seen again by the Mediums and the Slower Groups at the end, relaxing and rehydrating in the parking lot. After following the set route up Cecilia Ridge and around De Villiers Dam the fast group decided to omit the out and back to Belle Ombre, due to the damp conditions on the Back Table, instead following the planned decent, with some variations, facilitating a smooth speedy run back to Cecilia parking lot. The result was an excellent time of 1h37 min for the 11.4kms covered.

The Mediums led by the usual committee, encountered some friendly mountain bike traffic on the cycle track which unfortunately halted progress on the fastest section of the run. Following the set route, the Mediums made their way up the Bridle path with a mixture of canter and banter, after which they picked up the pace, heading on to Cecilia Waterfall for a breather in some of the most beautiful scenery on the Mountain.

The route up Cecilia Ridge saw the Mediums employing various techniques of 2x4 and 4x4, leading to some exhilarating experiences for all. Upon reaching the Back Table a quick pow-wow resulted in those who were time strapped splitting off in a homeward bound group, omitting the De Villiers Dam Loop. The balance of the Mediums continued as planned around the De Villiers dam, getting a bit lost on the other side of the dam and then dropping to the water’s edge to reach the cement track again (let’s blame the misty conditions). Following the set route home the Mediums opted for a more direct approach, sticking to Spilhaus Ravine Stairs back to Cecilia Parking area. Their final distance covered 11.5km in 2h50min.

The  Slower group led by Nora Miller proceeded to explore the Forest towards Constantia Nek, working their way to the top of Spilhaus Ravine and on to Cecilia Waterfall for a lovely group photo. (See our Facebook Page) From here they made their way back to the Cecilia parking. Resulting in 8km covered in 2hrs.

A big welcome back to Judy Philips on her return to TMT, following her injury a few months ago.

 Run Report: Theo Smith