I can’t help myself. If I get a chance to join a hike then I’m there with bells on! I’ve done this hike before but the starting point was slightly different and I’m keen to learn every route there is in the area.
I joined 2 other ladies for a Friday morning hike away from the crowds and just before the weekend rush. Our weathers been so beautiful over the last week which tends to happen here in the cape. A week or so of rain followed by a week of sunshine perfect for hiking. I think our next bit of rain hits Monday and we are grateful for it. Dams have been on the low side again and we can’t afford another drought.
We set off at 9am which is late for this crew, usually it’s dawn but the person we changed times for ended up getting injured and not turning up. We headed down my usual path for my trail run from Gate 2 at Silvermine East but then took the path to the little waterfall. I haven’t ventured down here before and it’s a sweet little detour off the jeep track.
It joins back onto the track after the fork and then we continued on. The morning turned out warmer than expected. You don’t ever usually wear short sleeves in winter (it’s COLD & wet) but this spell has been warmer than others. Short sleeves it is!
We took a single track off to the right which joined the Dooiemans Pad. This is the path I’m familiar with but we had joined it from below in the valley in the past. Dooiemans Pad mean Dead Man’s Path. Not the nicest name. I have no idea why it’s called what it’s called but it’s always stuck with me. (Actually kinda hard to forget)
So Dooiemans Pad follows a contour around the next peak called Klein-Tuin Peak. Roughly translates to Small Garden Peak.
The rains have greened everything so beautifully and the fynbos is pink with Heather.
Once around the peak we walked into a welcome shadow and stopped to give our furry companions some water. The ladies have 3 dogs between them, some furrier than others. These dogs do every single hike and are probably super fit compared to my chihuahuas who lounge in bed at home.
The path up is slightly rockier but still easy enough for anyone reasonably fit. We happened to catchup to a large group of hikers but thankfully they turned off to take a higher contour back around the same peak shortly after we passed them.
We came over the top of the ridge and caught a beautiful glimpse of False Bay on the Indian Ocean side of Cape Point. Back behind us was the Atlantic Ocean and a view of Noordhoek beach and Kommetjie, our hood in the distance.
The trees and bushes of this little basin are blanketed in a moss called Old Man’s Beard. It’s a pale green/yellow spindly moss that drapes over ever bare branch. And it can’t be found just anywhere. It needs the clear crisp unpolluted mountain air to thrive.
A short uphill climb of about 2 minutes got us to the natural Amphitheater amongst the rocks and caves. There are some interesting little hideaways behind all these trees that you wouldn’t know are there unless you did some exploring and bundu-bashing (boondoo bashing ie. climbing through bush).
We decided to head up the hill to the top of the peak for our break and sit in the rock garden. It’s a only another 4 or so minutes but the overhanging rock over the path is EPIC!!!
Then you hang a left off the main path and find this very unusual rock formation. The rocks have been weathered down and smoothed out to form this beautiful rock garden at the top of the peak. I haven’t seen anything like it anywhere else so far.
It was the perfect spot for a sunny mid-morning break before we circled back. The dogs were very happy to have some more water and explore the rocks while we had a flask of tea and hot chocolate to share with our hiking treats. I do feel very profoundly thankful that I’m able and free to do these things on a weekday when I want to.
Bags packed, the next section is all downhill with more interesting rock formations and views of Maidens Peak as well as the rest of the Silvermine Mountain range.
After the initial downhill we joined the jeep track for a short while and then took the same detour that we had taken a couple weeks back on our trail run. This cuts straight across Maiden Peak and over into the next valley where the jeep track circles round and back to gate 2 where we had started.
I’m slowly getting more and more familiar with this part of the mountain and more confident that I know my way around.
The final kilometre was easy and the dogs got a little swim in the river before the final dash to the car. The lily pond might have lost a little water to our fur babies taking full advantage of a cool swim. I’m glad they’re not getting into my car!
I didn’t get a chance to photograph too much of the flora but this one is gorgeous and was right on the path. I had been a bit distract with all our chatting and just taking in the views and the good walk.
I’m so keen to bring my sister on this hike. I think she could manage it because it’s around 8.5kms from Gate 2 which cuts it down from 11km of you start at the bottom of the valley at the Sunbird parking entrance.
Here’s the route and Kilometre breakdown:
If you’re ever in Cape Town and looking fo me a hiking buddy look me up! I’m always keen for a hike and we have no lack of routes to explore.
Hope you enjoyed it with me.
