Sunday was HOT but my friend, Val, and I persevered on this exhausting climb. Blackburn Ravine is well know amongst Cape Town hikers as a steep hike with a lot of loose stone making it dangerous in bad conditions. On this day the weather was perfect and the path was dry, but the heat was something else.
We started at the Chapmans Peak parking lot and made our way up the path that usually leads to the saddle where the path reaches a crossroads. Right leads to Chapmans Peak. Straight takes you up Noordhoek Peak and left leads along the contour path towards Blackburn Ravine. We turned left and left the sunshine behind as we walked into the shade of the mountain as the sun rose behind it.
Val’s gorgeous Swiss Shepherd, Sheba, joined us and loved the lengthy hike. We were immediately surrounded by Spring flowers that will soon fade away into the Summer heat.
And the views of Hout Bay opened up below us. We are spoilt with magnificent views all over Cape Town and sometimes take it for granted. But taking photos like this mean that I am constantly reminded of what surrounds me.
We reached the Ravine about a third of the way up the slope and settled for a short breakfast break. Sheba took the opportunity to take a cooling dip in Atla’s Pool. This pool just happens to be the turn around point for another shorter 5 kilometre hike that loops from East Fort to the pool and back along a slightly higher path called the Skyline Path.
After the break the climb began. Up the steep rocky path for 100 meters before it became a zigzag up the remaining few hundred meters of the steep ravine. We stopped at a lookout point to give Sheba some water (and we had some too). But the crazy view down below us was enhanced by the other hikers making the steep and very slow descent.
Finally at the top of the Ravine we had a little celebration and deliberated our next move. From this point there are options. 1) turn right and follow the jeep track along the panorama to Noordhoek Peak and then down to the car. 2) hang a left and climb Constantiaberg Peak descending via the Elephants eye cave, pass the Silvermine Dam and then up to Noordhoek peak and then down. (Far too hot for this route 🥵). 3) head straight to Silvermine Dam for a swim, lunch, then up the Noordhoek Peak and down to the car. Guess which one we chose!!!!??!!
Well the Swim in the dam of course! Here I am just sitting on a rock in the Silvermine Dam cooling off after a massive climb. Sheba cooled down and looked absolutely invigorated after her dip, ready for the return hike.
The trees and scenery surrounding the dam are always gorgeous and refreshing even on these hot days.
But soon it was time to make the hike back up the to Noordhoek Peak to complete our planned loop. We first took the jeep track and found a courageous little dung beetle doing his best to move a bit of dung.
The hike up to Noordhoek Peak felt easier now that we were feeling refreshed and some high, thin cloud had covered us, screening the sun.
We walked passed a gorgeous smelling Fanta Bush so named because it smells like Fanta Grape! And as we did we also noticed the long white stretch of Noordhoek Beach down below.
We soon cut left on an unsigned scrubby single track path towards the edge of the mountain where it suddenly cut down back towards the saddle in a long diagonal.
Sheba was ready to go home and so were we. Out feet were aching and our bodies needed a long hot bath. We passed blooming Sewejaatjies and other seasonal blooms as we made our way down as fast as we dared.
We reached the fourway crossroad at the saddle once again, but this time we continued straight down toward the end of the path which had been our start 5 hours earlier.
By the end of the hike we had covered over 14 kilometres with an incredible 927 meters of elevation gain.
This is an incredible day hike that shows off so many facets of our mountains in one long circular route. The views, climbs, dam swims and accompanying peaks are spectacular. It’s one I would do again (just not too soon) and take advantage of the opportunities to explore the environment that surrounds us.
There’s nothing like a good day out in the mountains and best of all, it’s free.
Give me a shout if you’re ever in Cape Town and want to hike. I’m always up for it!
Goodbye from our little friend the lizard that was hiding in the side of a rock as we descended.
