Walking Buddy Cape Town

Hi everyone,

Ive recently been added to this group called Walking Buddy Cape Town - by Tony Heher of the Mountain Club of South Africa. I think its a great concept.

• If you belong to this group, you are able to send out an email to the group to notify them of your walks that you are going on and you can invite the members of the group along.

• You are also at the same time notified of any other hikes that members of the group may be going on, should you wish to join them.

Click here to subscribe to the Walking Buddy Cape Town group.

The request will need to be authorised by Tony and his team, to avoid anonymous readers and spammers.

Here is the group's description:

Looking for someone to share a walk with? WalkingBuddyCT provides you with an opportunity to link up with other walkers. Why not join in even if you are not looking for a buddy? You may be able to help out someone else who is.

Storm Warning for Cape Town

Please be aware that on current synoptic patterns we have a massive coastal storm approaching that will coincide with a spring high tide. Wednesday morning we are likely to see gale force winds of 70km/h associated with 12-16 m swell and a spring tide carrying all the way through to Thursday. In addition, the storm moves to the south so we should see large swells impacting False Bay as well.

This storm has the potential to cause significant damage to our coast, both public and private property.

Please take note all Sport and Recreation: be aware of the possibility of damage to property and a suggestion is that Disaster Management consider issuing a press release warning the public and even suggesting that they stay away from areas such as the Sea Point promenade, and warning private homeowners living right at the beach to be prepared for possible storm surge impacts to their property.

Below is a video that I took during a storm on 31 Aug 2008 at the Sea Point Promenade, which is expected to be just as severe:

Hiking Platteklip Gorge and Contour Path

Hiking Trail: Platteklip Gorge
Name of Reserve / Area: Table Mountain National Park
Nearest Town: Cape Town CBD, Camps Bay, Kloof
Province: Western Cape
Country: South Africa


We decided to brave the weather on the weekend and head for the hills for some fresh air and a good hiking workout.





Its considered not the wisest thing to do in these misty conditions - especially when you want to climb a mountain that has sadly claimed 6 lives so far this year alone.

Our aim was to climb Platteklip Gorge. This is the massive gorge seen from the city below, almost in the middle of Table Mountain. Many hikers walk this enduring 1 hour plus route up in stead of taking the Cable Car ride up, as it is the shortest route to the top if you do not wish to take the scenic cable way. The cable way was closed due to the weather, and there were not many people on the route this day.



We started on Tafelberg Road and passed the Contour path. Half way up the gorge Alex and I decided that this was getting just too dangerous. The wind was blowing very strong and the rain was pouring down in buckets.




We then ventured back and along the Contour Path, over a few massive waterfalls which are normally very small and walked back via the Tafelberg Road.







I did not record this hike in much detail, but really enjoy sharing with you some of the awesome breathtaking scenery whilst walking along the mountain on this cold, rainy and windy Cape Town winters day.



If you would like to, pls note that I have saved some of these images for you to easily use as a Desktop Image.

Right click on the image, open in a New Tab, right click and save as background or desktop image.

Nominate Table Mountain as one of the 7 Wonders of the World

Table Mountain has been selected as the official nominee to represent South Africa in a global New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign.

The New7Wonders Foundation in Zurich, Switzerland announced on January 7, 2009 that Table Mountain is one of the 261 magnificent natural sites from 222 countries that have made it through to the second round in this global race to name the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Other iconic natural sites to come through the first round include the Grand Canyon, Loch Ness, Mount Fuji, the Amazon, the Great Barrier Reef and Niagara Falls.

The New 7 Wonders of Nature will be determined by votes from the public and South Africans can show their support for the Mother City’s majestic mountain by visiting www.new7wonders.com and casting their vote.

You have until 7 July ONLY! You can vote more than once.

Voting in the second phase to select the top 77 runs until July 7 this year, when a panel of experts will select the 21 finalists - these will be announced on July 21 when the third and final phase of voting will begin. The official New 7 Wonders of Nature will be revealed in 2011.

Source: www.votefortablemountain.com


2 Options to Vote:

1. Click Here to Register and Vote Online

or

2. Call in and Vote over the Phone

How to vote by telephone in three easy steps:

1. Dial this international telephone number: +41 77 312 4041
2. At the end of the message, after the tone, insert the 3 digit code for your chosen nominee
3. When you hear the thank you message, you are all done - you have voted by telephone !
   

Now see the LIVE RANKING below:

Mountain Club of South Africa: Activities for the Week

Tuesday, June 2

Muizenberg Peak Circuit , Silvermine. Up by Farmer Pecks valley, return via Junction & Nellies Pool’s, St James Peak, Mimetes Valley & Baileys Kloof. Convenor Tim Hodson 021 788 1462 thodson@iafrica.com from 25 May. Co-convenor Tunney Kirk 021 685 3903.

Next 1st Tues: Mark Seuring and Andreas Kiefer in Kyrgyzstan, JHB climbers Mark Seuring and Andreas Kiefer went to Kyrgyzstan late last year on a mission to do a first ascent of a peak in the Llailak Gorge of the Pamir Alai Range. They opened a ‘semi’-new route on Petrogradetz. 23 pitches at Grade 20 A1, 5163m. Both Mark and Andreas are highly experienced in rock and alpine conditions. This was a truly awesome achievement for them. They will be presenting their slideshow (+ video) of their epic trip. MCSA Club hous 8pm.

Thursday, June 4

Apostles Traverse Via Boskloof (B grade): Not your usual Apostles traverse! Along the Pipe Track past Corridor and Oudekraal, continuing all the way round the base of Grootkop. An amazing long traverse ending in Boskloof Ravine, with an interesting “B” exit on a thin ledge. A few old mossy cairns, but no path (apart from a maze of tahr tracks), so an old route that has not been done for a long time. Return via Suikerbossie. Convenor: Tony Heher 021 794 5730 or tony.heher@gmail.com (email booking preferred). Co convenor: Martyn Trainor (021 786 2605).

Flagstaff Hill, Simon’s Town: From Seaforth Sound to the summit of Swartkop (678m) along a 500m+ ridge overlooking False Bay (spectacular views!) and a steep descent to Smitswinkel Bay. Cars at both ends. Convenor: Denis le Jeune (082 822 8227 – preferably by SMS) from 2 June (please note booking date). Co convenor: Ivor Jardine (021 689 9031)

Source: Mountain Club of South Africa - Cape Town