Tuesday, June 23, 2009

One Giant Hike and One Small Banana

6/16/09
Today was Youth Day in Cape Town, a public holiday. I learned last night that the holiday commemorates a group of students who protested against being forced to learn Afrikaans in school. Many students were killed in the protest.

I had been hoping to do a big hike for my day off. Luckily, Doug was thinking similar and we planned to meet up in the am. When I got to his house, he suggested we hike Devils Peak. The icon that is Cape Town consists of Table Mountain and a peak on either side of her. The one to the right is Lion’s Head. The one on the left is Devil’s Peak. Devil’s peak was the only one of the 3 I haven’t experienced yet, so I was thrilled by the idea. Had I known the saga that was ahead of me I would have stocked up on sandwhiches, but alas I had no idea. We started at a UCT campus and started up a steep but fairly basic, grassy trail. The weather was mostly sunny, but dark clouds spotted the skies. When the trail led more into the woods, the rain started to fall. Because of the rain from the previous night, there were waterfalls all along the trail running down the rocks and cliffs. It was a marvelous site. Coming out of the woods, we got a fantastic view of the city. Whenever I think I’ve seen all there is to see in Cape Town, I am utterly proven wrong.


The next part of the hike was straight up. It zig zagged slightly, but very slightly. The trek consisted of a steep uphill climb. And when I thought it couldn’t get steeper, it did. And when I thought I couldn’t possibly go any further, I did. Doug kept striking up conversation. Jamie was always better at keeping conversational pace with Doug. I thought IIIII was a talker, but the two of them make me seem like a mute. I’m not sure which was more exhausting, Doug or the trail! Luckily, he has many other redeeming qualities.

By the time we reached the steepest part of the trail, I would have thrown in the towel if at that moment I didn’t see the top. I asked Doug if that was it, and (to my dismay) he said we were only 2/3 of the way up. I couldn’t believe it. However, the trail did peak at the top and the view was enough to fuel me onward. The top was pretty flat, we were in what’s called “the saddle” of Devil’s Peak and Table. Devil’s Peak was to our right and Table was on our left. Lions Head was on the other side of that. We were otherwise surrounded by city and ocean. The table cloth was hovering stubbornly over Table, and I privately asked Mother Nature to move it long enough to give me a proper glimpse at one of her finest works. Even though I was tired and worn (and starving!), we pressed on. Finally at the top of Devil’s peak, I stood at the beacon and took in the marvelous view. I could see EVERYTHING. Devil’s Peak was the toughest hike I’ve done, thus far, but the view made it all worth it. At this point the sun had made its way out, but it was still quite cold way up there.

doug at the top


We started our descent down and as we passed through the boulders at the top, I got a glimpse of Table. The cloth had lifted and I had a proper view of her sheer flatness. There is something so beautiful about that mountain; the clean cut of her plateau. It was awesome to see her from a different angle and I privately thanked Mother Nature for the opportunity.

The trek down proved a challenge in its own way. Doug led us down the other side of the peak. It was incredibly steep and all rock. I love the adrenaline rush of being on the edge of a cliff. I also love rock climbing, so I thoroughly enjoyed the task. I noticed the green reserve area where the animals that we see every morning on the way to work are. Doug told me there used to be a zoo on the other side of the hill. The zoo is no longer but they keep the animals since they have become such an icon to locals and tourists alike. I was also on the side of the mountain that suffered the most from the forest fire earlier in the year. It was devastating to see the blackened branches and soot up close, but inspiring to see the (almost florescent) green sprouting beneath it.


a burn survivor
After nearly 5 hours, 1L of water and our one banana each, we made our way back to the parking lot. I had no idea we'd be hiking for 5 hours and therefore, had not brought a sufficient supply of food. I seriously considered turning around a couple times, but my competitive side perservered. There was a tea garden at the base, and we side-tracked there for some much needed sustenance. We cleared our plates in record time and headed to the car. The sun made for a gorgeous day and I spent the rest of it relaxing and eating with my roommates.

waterfall near the base of the trail

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