Lion's Head - Day 3

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This morning we visited the town of Stellenbosch on our way to visit Spier, one of South Africa’s oldest wine farms. It was a relaxing way to spend the morning.

Afterwards, we came back to Cape Town and had a few hours free, and I was ready to go back to Table Mountain to drop off the rest of my geocoins. However, I learned that the cable car was not operating because of the strong winds. Extremely disappointed, I started to look for other geocaches. There were a few near Lion’s Head and on Signal Hill. Lion’s Head is 2,195 feet above sea level, and the straight vertical climb made this challenging.

I was terrified. I’ve never climbed anything so difficult. The sign from the South African National Parks that read, “Use ladders, chains, and stapels at own risk,” was a foreboding prediction of what was coming. Climbing up was not easy. Climbing down was harder because my legs were already shaking from the intensity going up, so I had to be sure-footed with every step I made. There could be no error. Finally, I made it, and I just hope the pictures will allow you to see the awesomeness of this hike.

I never found any geocaches.

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Photos

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Maybe I should reconsider going to the top?

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Really, I need to go up there?

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This was quickly turning into the most intense hike I've ever been on.

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Am I ever going to make it to the summit?

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I blinked, but I'm finally at the top. :)

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The entire time going up, I was thinking about how tricky this trail was going to be when I go the other way. Going slow, and being careful with every step, forced me to take more breaks. However, I actually found myself looking more and more at the view, and just being in complete amazement.

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The scariest part on the entire trail... The near vertical drop made everyone cautious.

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I also like this picture because it shows the steep drop, but it also shows the trail meandering farther down the mountain.

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Table Mountain