When I told people back home that I was going to Cape Town for the summer, a response I didn’t expect was, “oh, it’s really similar to Vancouver!” Despite being located in different hemispheres, both cities have the rare combination of oceans, mountains, and urban hubs all in close proximity. But as much as I have pride for my hometown, I have to admit Cape Town just might have it beat in terms of natural scenery. The jagged cliffs, crashing waves, and sunsets here are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Coming from a very outdoorsy city and family, it’s probably no surprise then that I wanted to experience here one of the “New Seven Wonders of Nature”, the crown jewel of Cape Town: Table Mountain.
After finding out that our planned class excursion to Table Mountain had been postponed, Safa, Yasmin, Emaan, and I set out to climb it ourselves on a Saturday afternoon. We chose to hike the Platteklip Gorge, the most direct route to the summit (and also the path taken by the Spanish explorer António de Saldanha on the first recorded ascent of the mountain in 1504!). The trail was steep and lined with thousands of species of indigenous shrubs called Fynbos, many of which are unique to Table Mountain. Taking in the curious flora surrounding us, and the city and ocean sparkling hundreds of feet below us, I almost forgot about the hour or so of mastering the stairmaster that awaited us.
About halfway up, we passed into a thick cloud layer that blocked our view of the rest of the trail. Capetonians call this the “table cloth” that drapes over Table Mountain on windy days. Another legend traces the origins of the cloud to a mythical smoking competition between a local pirate called Van Hunks and a more globally famous pirate called the Devil. Either way, it was a jarring transition going from enjoying an endless view of the water below to being shrouded in a thick mist, with only the next switchback visible ahead. As the air grew colder and the wind picked up, we each silently contemplated whether we were in over our heads.
Luckily, our anxieties were soon swept away by the sounds of energetic chatter coming from above us. There was a large group (they looked like university students) coming down the trail, and their excitement and accomplishment at having summited the mountain was apparent on their faces. As they passed us, we exchanged greetings and words of encouragement. This is another reason I love exploring the outdoors—you end up forming all sorts of serendipitous connections along the way. Whether it was, the Cape Town locals who asked us about our allegiances in the World Cup, the pair of Saudi guys in polo shirts and jeans (!) who played marco-polo as they bounded up the trail, or the visionary Australian woman held an elaborate group photoshoot for us at the summit, being in the mountains made us briefly part of this memorable cast of characters.
Being part of that larger whole also brought the four of us closer together. When we finally poked our heads out of the two edges of the Platteklip Gorge and saw…well, nothing, really (the “tablecloth” obscured what would have otherwise been a spectacular view of the whole city), we still felt the elation of having accomplished a common goal. Sure, we would probably return to see the Mother City from above on a clearer day, but it was our particular set of experiences and the individuals who we met on the trail that made the initial journey irreplaceable. The cable car ride down from the top—even with the fancy 360 rotating floor and panoramic windows—felt underwhelming in comparison.
As we are now entering into crunch time with our group project, yet are also continuing to wade through a fog of uncertainty, I’m reminding myself to carry with me some of that mentality that revealed itself as we climbed Table Mountain—trusting in myself and my peers. The view at the end might not be what we initially expect. But leaning into the unexpected encounters and supporters along the way (and also what we discover about ourselves) will enable us to walk away with something that was undeniably worthwhile. (Isn’t the tablecloth what holds the feast together?)
All this is to say to my classmates that, if you haven’t yet hiked Table Mountain, we should totally go together sometime when the table is NOT set for dinner! You don’t know what you’re missing out on!