Spring has supposedly "sprung" but I was reticent to trust that we had seen the last of the poor weather and, with the dawning of a clear day, decided to take advantage while the going was good.

The plan was to head up from Rontree Estate over the top of Table Mountain and down the front side, a trip that would take about five hours and provide a quality cardiovascular workout. The top of the mountain was still in cloud, however, and I was doubtful whether I would be able to complete the mission.

However, by the time I arrived at the start of the route the sun had burned off the worst of the early morning haze and although Devil's Peak appeared and disappeared behind a band of cloud things seemed to be clearing up quite nicely - at least it wasn't too hot.

The environment on the Camps Bay side of the mountain seems quite different to the front. Perhaps because it is more sheltered or a little warmer, the flowers seem to bloom a little bit earlier and the ground was already showing signs of spring. Yellow and white daisies, orange and cream ericas and even some sweet peas and balloon peas here and there dotted the landscape, the first flowers of what is likely to be quite a floral spectacle once the sun arrives with more tenacity.

The balloon peas are rather unusual-looking plants with large, papery seed pods and oddly shaped flowers and they provided wonderful red highlights to the greenery of the mountainside.

Even now there were flowers aplenty and several Double-Collared Sunbirds put in an appearance as they flitted from one bush to the next in search of nectar.

I hiked along the Pipe Track and Diagonal Route heading for Blind Gulley and a spectacular if arduous trip to the top. Going along the steep but clean rock was tiring but not overly tricky. In fact, it made for some entertaining scrambling and was a lot more interesting than the jeep track I had been forced to negotiate two weeks previously.

I enjoy the more remote and less well-beaten paths and this route is enjoyable if you have the mindset for a little lightweight clambering as part of your expedition.

Nearing the top, however, I missed a path - to be fair, the route guide isn't that specific and I ended doing some rather precarious rock scrambling that was getting close to out-and-out free climbing to get back on track. This route isn't for the faint-of-heart or those afflicted with vertigo even if you manage to stick to the correct path.

At the top of Blind Gulley one passes between the Blinkwater Needle on one side and "Balancing Rock" on the other. Having wasted time through poor navigation I didn't stop to "thread the needle" - a diversion where one can clamber though a small worm hole in the needle itself - but continued along the high path on the side of Blinkwater Ravine.

At first sight the route seems impossible to negotiate but a faint path traverses what initially appears to be an impassably sheer face along the edge.

The route hangs precariously high above the staggering drop into what is perhaps one of the mountain's most dangerous gulleys.

The ground is a very long way below your feet as you walk and I could just make out the glint of sunshine on the water flowing at the bottom, hundreds of metres below the footpath.

It is, however, a truly spectacular route and if you aren't overly affected by the height it offers wonderful views. Having said that, a missed step could have had dire consequences and although the path itself isn't that difficult to negotiate it is definitely not the route of choice should you have any doubts of your ability to handle a little exposure.

On reaching the plateau at the top of Blinkwater Ravine I was greeted with the vista of False Bay and in the foreground the Hely-Hutchinson dam, now filled to the brim with winter rainfall.

The skies had cleared and I could see all the way to Muizenberg on one side and Slangkop light to the south.

On many of my mountain hikes I am surprised by how close all the landmarks are once one has reached the top. Focused on the need to drive around the mountain we all tend to think of the distances in a different manner when lower down.

Up here, however, it is apparent that Cape Town isn't really quite as big as one may be led to believe if your only view is from a car window. Perhaps that is one of the secret joys of exploring on foot.

I headed back down via Fountain Ledge and India Venster, a route negotiated frequently but in fact never before on the downward leg.

The top of the table was awash with visitors who, as per normal, only get to see the few hundred metres of eroded paths within sight of the cable station. I suppose it is just as well they don't venture too far but it did remind me how lucky we are to have this mountain and have the time to explore it.

The route down was uneventful; the cable car whined overhead taking more tourists to the top, but the view over the City Bowl was still impressive. In an act of stoic protest I studiously avoided the shiny, newly installed metal handrails on the rock scrambles.

It had been a wonderful and at times adventurous outing and is highly recommended, but do take care that you are fit and well prepared. Having a car or someone to collect you will avoid a tedious tarmac trail back to your starting point.
 

Source: News24.com - www.news24.com

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