Apostles Buttresses

Go back to Lekker Time.
Go back to South Africa.

Slangolie Frontal

The Apostles (of Table Mountain).

Next day, up extra early – well, Ross was up extra early to pack things up while we were still sleeping off another hangover – for a drive back to Cape Town and our first taste of Table Mountain. We parked in some suburban sprawl and headed up a vegetated slope with menacing “no trespassing” signs; if they can’t keep invasive species from overrunning their private land, they don’t deserve to own it. The goal was a 12 pitch ridge climb called Slangolie Frontal on one of the Apostles Buttresses (Slangolie Buttress) which are part of Table Mountain. I have to say that we were pretty worked on what would turn out to be our final day of climbing. We dragged ourselves up the initial pitches and found some sections (esp. the vegetated ones) considerably harder and sketchier than the route rating would suggest.

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Slangolie Frontal

Views of Lion’s Head and Table Mountain.

Nevertheless the views and the ambiance were quite nice – dominated by the turquoise Atlantic and Lion’s Head formation with a piece of suburban Cape Town around its base. Then the sun came around and started baking us. Our pace slowed and we really wanted to be off the climb. We met Ross up top and, after a bit of a shady break and lunch, started our hike back down. The mountain-top Apostles Trail hike was probably the highlight of the day and once again we made frequent stops to admire the overwhelming quantity of flora (did I mention Ross’s impressive botanical knowledge?) – every hill top, every dip would offer up something different and apparently unique to that very specific small area. Back to the same guest house that we stayed in earlier and once again shocking the proprietor with our appearance and smell.

Photos

Slangolie Frontal

About to set out for the ~90 minute hike up to Slangolie Buttress (large one in foreground; Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

What sign?

Slangolie Frontal

Upper cableway station on Table Mountain (topmost point in photo) as seen from the approach to Slangolie Buttress (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Some of the Apostles Buttresses and Table Mountain proper (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Another exemplar of a protea – new flavor behind every bend in the trail (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

View of Lion’s Head and Camps Bay (suburb of Cape Town) from the approach hike (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Along the “pipe track” – a trail that traverses the bases of the Apostles and coincides with an old aqueduct (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Shirley and Ross scoping out the base of Slangolie Buttress with Corridor Buttress in the background (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Approaching the start of the Slangolie Frontal route with Corridor Buttress in the background. Photo by Ross (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Shirley nearing the base (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

At the start of the route. Photo by Ross (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Leading the first 2 pitches of Slangolie Frontal (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Shirley and the Atlantic from somewhere low on Slangolie Frontal (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Looking south along the Apostles of Table Mountain (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Starting a pitch on Slangolie Frontal with Lion’s Head and Camps Bay in the background (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Shirley somewhere on the upper (more ledgy) portion of Slangolie Frontal (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

The third climber we saw on a route in Western Cape (first two were a party in Paarl Rocks).

Slangolie Frontal

Shirley becoming one with a tree (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Views of Lion’s Head and the upper cableway station on Table Mountain (high point on right; Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Ready for a Windhoek Lager (or three).

Slangolie Frontal

Close-up of Table Mountain’s upper cableway station and the blue Atlantic beyond (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

More ledges near the top of the buttress (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Views of the Atlantic and a tourist bus from somewhere on Slangolie Frontal (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Shirley baking at a belay in the South African summer sun (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

View south from the top of the buttress (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Shirley almost at the top (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Belaying Shirley on the summit of Slangolie Buttress with Corridor Buttress in the background. Conditions were positively baking. Photo by Ross (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Shirley topping out on Slangolie Frontal route. Photo taken by Ross from the summit (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Hot and tired atop the Slangolie Frontal route. Photo by Ross (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Ross and Shirley on the start of the hike down (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Burnt proteas on top of the Apostles (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

While waiting for us on the summit, Ross found this perfect little cave with a gentle, cool breeze coming through. Natural air conditioning while the ambient temperatures beyond tickled the lower 30C (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

More unique and pretty flora atop Slangolie Buttress (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Ross and Shirley hiking the Apostles Trail to our descent gully (Dec. 2017).

Table Mountain

More pretty and unique Table Mountain flora (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Same trail but with a view of Lion’s Head (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

The start of the long and hot descent gully (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Back down on the pipe track (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Nearing the car and the beer (Dec. 2017).

Slangolie Frontal

Suburbia “trailhead” (Dec. 2017).

Cape Town

Shirley going full gangsta (and raiding the minibar) back at the guest house (Dec. 2017).

Go to Cape Town.
Go back to South Africa.