Rico
Has anyone hiked up Table Mountain? It looks fairly easy but all the guides say not to hike it alone and go in a group. Isn't the trail well-marked and stable?
Also: I'll be there in mid-March. Can I look forward to good weather?
Answer
I hiked up via the longer but easier back route (from Camps Bay) some years ago, it took about 5 hours and was not very difficult. Luckily for us there was a group ahead of us that knew exactly where to go otherwise we definitely would have got horribly lost. The route was not well-marked. There are also many different routes and tracks. If the weather deteriorates, you may not be able to see where you are going. You can get very disorientated when it is misty.
The front route (not the sea side) is shorter but much steeper and quite dangerous.
There have been several attacks on hikers so do not carry valuables other than some money for refreshments (not cheap) and the cablecar down and definitely do not hike alone (anywhere, ever, in case of injury or attack).
Take lots of water or you will get dehydrated.
I have a book called A Walking Guide for Table Mountain by Shirley Brossy describing 34 different routes and I also have a separate fold-out map for Table Mountain that is better than the diagrams in the book. You may be able to buy this from Cape Union Mart.
You may be able to join a group hike organised by a local walking/hiking club? There are some organised hikes by Cape Union Mart Hiking Club (see www.cumhike.co.za). Also have a look at www.trailsclub.co.za and the clubs in their links page.
The weather should be fine that time of year.
@EssJay: I presume by the "top" you mean the cable car station area which is a very small part of the top of Table Mountain.
I hiked up via the longer but easier back route (from Camps Bay) some years ago, it took about 5 hours and was not very difficult. Luckily for us there was a group ahead of us that knew exactly where to go otherwise we definitely would have got horribly lost. The route was not well-marked. There are also many different routes and tracks. If the weather deteriorates, you may not be able to see where you are going. You can get very disorientated when it is misty.
The front route (not the sea side) is shorter but much steeper and quite dangerous.
There have been several attacks on hikers so do not carry valuables other than some money for refreshments (not cheap) and the cablecar down and definitely do not hike alone (anywhere, ever, in case of injury or attack).
Take lots of water or you will get dehydrated.
I have a book called A Walking Guide for Table Mountain by Shirley Brossy describing 34 different routes and I also have a separate fold-out map for Table Mountain that is better than the diagrams in the book. You may be able to buy this from Cape Union Mart.
You may be able to join a group hike organised by a local walking/hiking club? There are some organised hikes by Cape Union Mart Hiking Club (see www.cumhike.co.za). Also have a look at www.trailsclub.co.za and the clubs in their links page.
The weather should be fine that time of year.
@EssJay: I presume by the "top" you mean the cable car station area which is a very small part of the top of Table Mountain.
Camping at Pinecrest?
Shelly H
What are some activities that are fun to do with friends while camping? Any good camping stories? Good camping pranks to play on friends? Traditions? We are going camping at Pinecrest Lake this weekend.
Answer
The whole area is like a huge summer camp for everyone so I'm sure you'll have fun with your family.
"Pinecrest Lake is located 30 miles east of Sonora on State Highway 108. The Lake lies in a timbered setting at an elevation of 5,600 feet. The California Department of Fish and Game regularly stocks Pinecrest Lake with rainbow trout. Groceries and other services are available nearby at the Pinecrest commercial center.
Pinecrest summer visitors enjoy swimming, boating, hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking, interpretive programs and biking.
* http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/summit/biking.shtml
* 300 camp sites with tables, grills, flush toilets and piped water in 2 campgrounds (Pinecrest Campground and Meadowview Campground)
* 3 group sites with tables, grills, fireplaces, vault toilets and piped water in 1 group campground (Pioneer Trail Group Campground)
* Day Use Sites: Pinecrest Boat Launch; 50 picnic sites with grills, flush toilets and piped water in 1 picnic area (Pinecrest); Designated swim area. No dogs allowed in Day Use Area (between Pinecrest Lake Road/Pinecrest Avenue and the boat launch and the fishing pier) from May 15 to September 15.
* Fishing (accessible fishing pier)
* Hiking: Pinecrest National Recreation Trail, a 4 mile hiking trail around the lake; Paved pathways connecting points of interest."
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/visitor/pinecrest.shtml
There's also the resort with activities: http://www.pinecrestlakeresort.com/Activities%20in%20Pinecrest.htm
Here's a story and some traditions:
"August is the month my family makes its annual escape to Pinecrest Lake, a pretty little jewel north of Yosemite. We've been carrying on this tradition for decades, and now my own children jump into the cold water just as I used to, heart willing and teeth chattering.
As lakes go, Pinecrest isn't particularly spectacular, and it isn't even large enough to allow waterskiing. Nevertheless, when I read our cover story on best lakes (page 86), I thought of Pinecrest because it's the setting for so many of my best summer memories. I caught my first fish there (a brown trout I carried back to camp clutched in my hand after my brother took off with the creel). Made old-fashioned peach ice cream and roasted marshmallows. Learned to drive my uncle's outboard, and did more bailing than sailing aboard the Suzy Q his ancient wood sailboat. When I think of summer, I think of these pleasures at the lake...."
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1216/is_2_207/ai_77875543
I actually caught my first trout here too, and just thought of it after reading this story. Here's the pic: http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z106/yahooanswersimages1/PINE1.jpg
The whole area is like a huge summer camp for everyone so I'm sure you'll have fun with your family.
"Pinecrest Lake is located 30 miles east of Sonora on State Highway 108. The Lake lies in a timbered setting at an elevation of 5,600 feet. The California Department of Fish and Game regularly stocks Pinecrest Lake with rainbow trout. Groceries and other services are available nearby at the Pinecrest commercial center.
Pinecrest summer visitors enjoy swimming, boating, hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking, interpretive programs and biking.
* http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/summit/biking.shtml
* 300 camp sites with tables, grills, flush toilets and piped water in 2 campgrounds (Pinecrest Campground and Meadowview Campground)
* 3 group sites with tables, grills, fireplaces, vault toilets and piped water in 1 group campground (Pioneer Trail Group Campground)
* Day Use Sites: Pinecrest Boat Launch; 50 picnic sites with grills, flush toilets and piped water in 1 picnic area (Pinecrest); Designated swim area. No dogs allowed in Day Use Area (between Pinecrest Lake Road/Pinecrest Avenue and the boat launch and the fishing pier) from May 15 to September 15.
* Fishing (accessible fishing pier)
* Hiking: Pinecrest National Recreation Trail, a 4 mile hiking trail around the lake; Paved pathways connecting points of interest."
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/visitor/pinecrest.shtml
There's also the resort with activities: http://www.pinecrestlakeresort.com/Activities%20in%20Pinecrest.htm
Here's a story and some traditions:
"August is the month my family makes its annual escape to Pinecrest Lake, a pretty little jewel north of Yosemite. We've been carrying on this tradition for decades, and now my own children jump into the cold water just as I used to, heart willing and teeth chattering.
As lakes go, Pinecrest isn't particularly spectacular, and it isn't even large enough to allow waterskiing. Nevertheless, when I read our cover story on best lakes (page 86), I thought of Pinecrest because it's the setting for so many of my best summer memories. I caught my first fish there (a brown trout I carried back to camp clutched in my hand after my brother took off with the creel). Made old-fashioned peach ice cream and roasted marshmallows. Learned to drive my uncle's outboard, and did more bailing than sailing aboard the Suzy Q his ancient wood sailboat. When I think of summer, I think of these pleasures at the lake...."
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1216/is_2_207/ai_77875543
I actually caught my first trout here too, and just thought of it after reading this story. Here's the pic: http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z106/yahooanswersimages1/PINE1.jpg
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