What To Wear, Take and Know
“The mountains are calling, and I must go” – thank you John Muir for that timeless quote. The sense of wilderness, adventure, accomplishment from summiting – it’s hard to match. Hiking is popular worldwide. Day hikes are accessible, cost little and can be done in a few hours. Even so, there are some basics you need to know – what to wear, what to take, and important information to know before starting.
NO SUCH THING AS BAD WEATHER, JUST BAD GEAR
Mountains don’t always listen to forecasts. No, not even relatively small ones like Table Mountain. Jeans and sneakers are never appropriate; one big puffy is not enough. Active wear, or actual hiking clothes, are best. Dress in layers – a wick-dry shirt, base layer, fleece/puffer, rain jacket. Buffs for your neck/head, hats, sunglasses and gloves are important accessories. Even if it seems like it’s going to be a sunny, warm day, still take a long sleeve layer with you. It can be quite a bit colder at the top of the mountain. Thick hiking socks and the correct shoes are a must!
If you’re hiking to the top of Table Mountain, don’t always assume you can take the cable car down. If the wind is blowing, as it often is in Cape Town, be prepared to hike down! This can add two or more hours to your hike. Take extra water and snacks. When the cable car is closed, everything at the top is also closed – no restaurants or toilets. There is a water fountain so you can top up for the hike down, but that’s all.
Weather can also change drastically and quickly while you’re hiking, so dressing in layers and being prepared for all conditions is safest. Check the weather forecast in the morning before you head out to the hills. Also check for the conditions at the top of the mountain compared to the bottom, as these can be two very different things.
Wear layers, like an onion
IN THE BACKPACK
Along with the layers of clothing, other vital items to pack:
– Water: at least 1.5-2 liters per person.
– Snacks: trail mix, energy bars, sandwiches, bananas
– Sunscreen: factor 30+ and hat
– Cellphone: charged, loaded with airtime/data, and with emergency numbers – 021 937 0300 or 112
– Headlamp with new batteries
– Basic first aid supplies: plasters, tape, bandages, alcohol swabs, RehidrateTM
– Waterproof map
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Know where you’re going! Read map/route descriptions beforehand, take someone who knows the way or hire a guide. Do not only rely on GPS or apps/websites. Batteries can die and there is not always cell phone reception everywhere. No, not even on Table Mountain. Having a map/guidebook/guide removes this problem. Some people who get lost without realising it add incorrect information to hiking apps and websites. Some are trail runners and so the time they give for trails is not an accurate walking time. People also have different levels of comfort on scrambling routes with exposure and heights, so might describe these as easier than they are. Maps show how steep the terrain is; if you don’t know how to read a map then at least a guidebook is objective. The author always assumes that someone reading it is a novice. Hiring an experienced guide is the best way to explore a new route; they can always give you a safe alternative if a route is above your skill/comfort level.
Always tell someone where you’re going, when you expect to be back and how many are in your hiking party. Hiker’s Network has a WhatsApp service for this.
LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS, TAKE ONLY PICTURES
Almost all hiking in the Cape is either in National Parks, reserves or Wilderness Areas. As such flower picking, graffiti, rock stacking, littering and playing music is illegal. Never feed wild animals – yes, even the cute dassies. And definitely not the baboons!
Banana and orange peels and apple cores are not biodegradable in the dry, sandy Cape soil and take years to decompose. This is not only unsightly, but also affects the soil composition (and therefore the flowers that grow there). Fruit remains are not healthy for the mountain animals that may eat them.
Rock hyraxes, locally known as “dassies”, are cute, but still wild. Do not feed them!
MOUNTAIN ETIQUETTE
General courtesy and hiking etiquette goes a long way on the trails. Being polite and patient when passing others, making space for those who are faster and greeting people along the way can help make for a more enjoyable day on the hill. Hiking etiquette dictates that those going up have right of way; however, they may like the excuse to take a breather while you hike down past them! Always check and thank those that step aside for you.
If you come up behind slower walkers in front of you, politely ask them if you can overtake. Going off trail to go around others causes erosion and makes the edges of trails unstable. It’s also rude and very annoying for the people being overtaken.
WHO YOU GONNA CALL?
If something goes wrong and you need a rescue, immediately call the emergency numbers listed above. Also check in with your tracker and let them know. Tell rescue where you are as best you can, who and how many need rescue and the extent of the injury/illness.
Please understand that Wilderness Search and Rescue is purely a volunteer service – this means that the rescuers have to leave work/home, go to a command centre that will be set up and then either walk to you or wait for the helicopter to rescue you. This all takes many hours. Once emergency services are activated – STAY WHERE YOU ARE! Unless your environment becomes life threatening, don’t move after you’ve told rescue where you are. Get comfortable, keep the patients warm and have headlights ready. They can help guide rescuers to you.
Air Medical Services, part of the Wilderness Search and Rescue team
EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT
We’ll go into more details on some of the topics touched on here – such as choosing the right shoe, hiking with dogs, multi-day hikes and the step-by-step process in a rescue in future posts. Make sure to follow the blog so you don’t miss an interesting or useful article.
If you would like to hike Table Mountain, especially a new route or one that goes off the normal beaten paths, please contact Cape Hike and Climb so we can organise a custom-made trip for you.
Happy trails!
“Step out your door, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where the road may take you”