Hiking Table Mountain in Cape Town?

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.

Inexpensive Tent Camping near Denver CO?

Katie

Some friends and I are heading up to the mountains for a quick weekend camping trip and need a good place to stay. I would prefer something rugged and private- nothing crowded or fancy (although I wouldn't complain if the site had a picnic table or fire pit) I'm looking for something within a two hour drive from south Denver- far enough into the mountains that it's cool at night, but close enough we can set up camp on Friday night. Also, we need a relatively large area because there will be at least two (possibly three) large tents.

Please include as many specifics as you can in your answers- any information is really appreciated!

Answer
You have a lot of possibilities. Inexpensive? How about free? The USDA National Forests allow what is called dispersed camping. This is camping outside a developed campground, and it's available all over Colorado.

Close to Denver, the Pike National Forest is one of our favorites. Take Hampden (US 285) into the mountains from Denver about 50 miles. On top of Kenosha Pass is a US Forest Service campground that costs about $15 per night. Just a few miles further is the town of Jefferson.

Turn left (east) in Jefferson, (there is only one street heading east out of town) and go 8 miles. The road starts to wind along a creek, and turn left where the sign says Lost Park Road. Once you cross the steel cattle guard 1/2 mile up the road, you are in the National Forest. The first road you come to on the right has many good large campsites. If you stay on the main road, there are also many open areas with great views. Set up your tent and have a great time.

Here is a map to this area...
http://www.rv-camping.org/CO_Jefferson.html

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when is a good time to go camping?

sunny

we are going camping thsi weekend and my friend said this is a bad time bc the bears are collecting for winter? when is a good time to go camping?? is there one?

Answer
Anytime can be a good time to go camping... it's mostly a matter of personal preference. Probably the most significant issue to be concerned about is the weather. Stormy weather, be it rain or snow, can certainly have a negative impact on your camping experience by limiting your activities, but more importantly it can also be dangerous. While rain can make it fairly difficult to enjoy a camp fire... or even have a camp fire... it can also cause flooding and/or flash flooding which tends to be rather dangerous if you're in the right location at the wrong time. It can wash out roads making them impassable.... flood roads where you could get stuck.... rivers & streams can rise and prevent you from crossing them, sometimes for several days, or longer. The primary concern with snow is how much snow actually falls as well as how much if any is already on the ground. Just a couple inches of snow can obscure all sorts of hazards as well as make roads disappear... and depending on what kind of vehicle you're driving, as little as 6 to 8 inches of snow can make driving very difficult and getting stuck very easy. A couple feet of snow could result in an extended camping trip. Of course it depends on what part of the country you're camping in, what time of the year it is and the elevation you're at... as well as your specific location. Most developed campgrounds in National Parks & many of those in National Forrests as well as most private campgrounds have paved roads with good access. But if you're going all out & camping out in the boonies by yourself.... weather can be a significant issue. Also what you're camping in makes a difference too. if you're camping in a tent or just a sleeping bag... rain & snow kinda sucks... while a pickup camper, travel trailer or motor home offer more of the conveniences of home. Other than precipitation, the temperature can affect your overall experience as well. Best thing to do is check the forecast before you leave home and be prepared. If you're camping trip will be longer than 2 or 3 days it would be wise to ensure you have some method of receiving updated weather information where you're camping at. Regarding the issue of bears, that really depends on where you're going camping as bears are quite numerous in some areas & quite rare in others... and some have no bears at all. However, it only takes one bear to be a problem so the thing to keep in mind when camping is to put all your food away and secure it. Food inside an ice chest, box or plastic container sitting on the ground or table is not put away and secured... put it in your vehicle with the windows rolled up. If you're camping in a tent... don't take any food inside the tent with you at night.... not even a little snack. If you've been standing over a grill cooking meat of any kind with the smoke & grease billowing up & around you, the aroma will likely linger on you... and more importantly... on your clothes for up to several hours. So going to bed, or your sleeping bag, inside a tent at night smelling like a nice juicy steak isn't very wise either. When you go camping, wherever that may be... you're not in the city anymore and there are all kinds of critters out there.... any of which you could encounter at anytime. Remember, it's their home... they're wild animals... they have a right to be there.... and it's all about survival. Just because you're camping in a developed campground with a lot of other campers in close proximity is not a guarantee you won't encounter a wild animal. While bear attacks on humans are quite rare... even in bear country... they do occur.... and people have been injured, from slightly to severely... and even killed too. However, most of those attacks could have been prevented simply by taking proper precautions. There are other critters in the wild to be concerned about while camping too. A mountain lion is just as dangerous, if not more so than a bear.... and lion attacks on people have & do occur as well... and some of have been fatal. While bears & lions are about the only two significant threats, there are many other critters to be concerned about for various reasons such as skunks, racoons, spiders, snakes, bees, rodents, bats, moose, elk & deer. The skunk issue is rather well known, coons can terrorize your campsite searching for food & are quite clever & quite capable too... spiders & snakes can deliver a poisonous bite, bees can swarm n sting (we've got killer bees here in the SW from Texas to California)... rodents & bats can carry many diseases including bubonic plague & rabies... & moose elk & deer have antlers. Don't think the latter is too cute or afraid to hurt you. This time of year bull elk are in the rut... their hormones are ragin... they're horny n huge with big horns & lookin for a fight. If you take your pet(s) camping with you... then you also have to consider their safety as well as how they affect yours in that they may attract the attention of something lookin for a meal. Most pets, especially cats & small to mid sized dogs can be considered prey for a variety of predators. A bear or a mountain lion can easily take out nearly any domestic dog, including sheperds, dobermans, pitbulls & rottweilers Even the largest breeds one on one are no match for a grizzly bear & likely to be lunch for a lion. Other ground based threats to pets include bobcats, coyotes, badgers & wolverines.... and airborne threats include eagles, hawks & owls. Eagles are large & very powerful birds... they can easily swoop down without warning & without beeing seen.... snatch up a cat or small dog while remaining airborne..... and be well on it's way with your pet before you even realize it... in broad daylight.... with a lot of people around or even in town...... and even if your pet is on a leash. A large owl can do the same thing and can do so in total darkness as well. While all these and more are possibilities that do occur..... the fact is they occur very rarely. Being prepared and taking proper precautions for the area you're camping in... as well as applying common sense is the best way to ensure a safe, happy & rewarding experience camping in the great outdoors.

One more thing... very important.... don't wear perfume or cologne or use scented lotions, soaps & shampoos when camping... or even out in the wild for the day... as doing so is the best way to attract the attention of a wide variety of unwanted critters with undesirable results. Just leave them & the cosmetics at home..... and enjoy nature.... naturally.

Remember... undesireable encounters with wild animals of any kind are almost always a situation of it doing what comes naturally and the fault of stupid humans. Far too often the result is an innocent wild animal being killed.

cape town clifton and camps bay beaches?

aminf31 a

i have planned 4 nigfhts in cape town: one day table mountain, kirstenbosh garden, V & A waterfront shopping. 2nd day: cape point and peninsula tour and penguins at boulders...and 3 rd day relax on the beaches of camps bay and clifotn mainly and visit bloughberg beach.

Is one day neough to do these beaches and relax on camps and clifton? mind you..i am going to a carribean destination after that....

Also, i find car rentals very expensive..55$/day...any other suggestions of car rental places (automatic gear)
what i really need to know is if 1 full day is enough to relax on camps bay, clifton and blougberg beaches? should i spend like few hours on each and then the rest of the day on clifton beach, or do i need 2 days?
ok guys i have added one more day for the different beaches. I would like to know which beach would be ok to stroll on clifton (4 th?) because that website says it is not that appropriate..

and how do iget to camps bay and clifton if parking is a problem? the shuttles and taxis are reliable and feasable>? I dont wanna be stressed and climb stairs. What is the best way to visit the beaches from our hotels?

I would probably add Llandudno beach by car later...my plan is to stay 3 nights somwhere near the table moutain and V &A, 1 night on bloughberg beach and 1 night near camps bay..what you think? (i have total 5 nights now)

Answer
Like Trent says, Camps Bay and Clifton are not for relaxing. If you like climbing stairs, then do all 4 Clifton Beaches. There are some lovely and interesting houses built on the slopes. The Camps Bay Beach is viewable from the road while driving. If you really want to sun bathe, then there are other more peaceful beaches.
http://www.clifton.co.za/

But, by all means, take a stroll along Camps Bay Beach and one of the Clifton Beaches, but parking is a problem. It might be best to take the mini-bus shuttle from Victoria Road. If there is enough sand and the tide is low, it is possible to walk from Clifton First Beach right through to Fourth Beach or vice versa.

Blouwberg has some lovely views of Table Mountain, but the water is cold. Check the weather before you go, as it can be very windy.

A tip: Plan an alternate day for Table Mountain. Sometimes the weather is disappointingly bad (low cloud or even rain) and then one will be happy for a "second chance".

Hope you have a marvellous stay.

*Edit*
Camps Bay and Clifton could be done together in one afternoon. They are quite close to each other. And neither all 4 Clifton Beaches nor Camps Bay Beach are very long. If you started at say 14.00 (much too hot for the sun, though. Take sunscreen and protective clothing)) at Clifton, walked along for an hour (if the tide is low), sunbathed for another hour, then you would still have time for a 10 - 20 minute drive to Camps Bay, depending on the traffic, and spend some time there.

This way, you can plan half a day for Clifton and Camps Bay Beaches, and the other half a day at Blouberg.
http://www.aboutcapetown.com/beaches.htm

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Which campground in the Seattle area is the best to stargaze?

camping on table mountain image

Vishal

We are planning to do a camping trip next week to see the Perseid meteor shower. Any suggestions
which campground near Seattle (about 1 hour driving) would have a clear view of the sky?

Thanks!

Answer
If you really want to go see the stars why not drive out to the Table Mountain star party next weekend outside Ellensburg? Its more like a hour and 45 minutes but it's the coolest start gazing get together in the state. See the link below...

What should I bring to go on a mountain camping trip?

Latte2001

I have never been camping before and I am going to spend a week tenting in the Poconos in August. I am not sure how much or what I should bring and I don't want to forget anything important!

Answer
Shelter and Bedding (essentials)

tent
tarp
sleeping bag
sleeping pad
headrest

Shelter and Bedding (optionals)

books
cot
comforter
throw rug
pillow

Cooking and Dining (essentials)

water
food
cooler
camp stove
mess kit
can opener
charcoal

Cooking and Dining (extras)

charcoal chimney
smoker
Dutch oven
hot dog sticks
pie irons
folding chairs
folding table
table cloth
butane lighter
screen room
chuck box

Chuck Box Items

salt and pepper
herbs and spices
cooking oil
pot holders
paper towels
napkins
plastic trash bags
tongs and spatula
aluminum foil
measuring cups
plastic silverware
paper plates/bowls
plastic cups
zip lock bags
knives
cutting board
cork screw

First Aid Kit

personal medication
bandages
aspirin, Tylenol
medical tape
sterile gauze
elastic wrap
antibiotic wipes
antiseptic cream
burn ointment
sunburn lotion
hydrogen peroxide
scissors
tweezers
eye wash
sanitary napkins
snake bite kit

Personal Hygiene

tooth brush
tooth paste
wash rag(s)
towel(s)
soap
comb/brush
nail clippers
razor
toilet paper

Cleaning Items

broom
dust pan
whisk broom
lawn rake
dish pan
detergent
dish rags
pot scrubber

Clothes

t-shirts
shorts
jeans/pants
socks
shoes/boots
camp shoes
hat/cap
sweater
rain poncho
underwear
swim suit
laundry bag

Miscellaneous Items

binoculars
bird guide
bug spray
bungi cords
camera
candles
cards, games
cell phone
clothes pins
compass
duct tape
fishing gear
flashlight
frisbee
GPS
kites
knife
lantern
matches
pen and paper
rope
shower bag
sun block
tools
water filters
whistle

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