Hikers have been urged to research the trail they intend to hike on, and ensure that they have the means to navigate their intended route on Table Mountain, after two German tourists needed to be rescued.
On Monday, two visiting German tourists, aged 23 and 24, set off on Table Mountain’s popular India Venster trail, and about halfway up the trail, the pair missed a turn and continued on a path that forked off from the main trail and ended up on a dangerous ledge.
According to the Mountain Club of SA – Search And Rescue, this offshoot path has seen an increasing amount of foot traffic over the past decade, and worryingly, it is also resulting in an increase in the number of hikers calling for help in this area.
“This offshoot path may appear to be the regular trail but veers off and peters out higher up and becomes increasingly steep and loose as it approaches Kloof Corner Ridge.
“The hikers, convinced they were still on the panned India Venter trail, pushed on past Kloof Corner Ridge and eventually followed a narrow and dangerous traverse on a ledge system up until Cairn Buttress. Running into increasingly dangerous terrain and fading light, they stopped and called for help with the assistance of some concerned friends at the upper cableway station,” the club warned over the weekend.
They said that a team of park rangers was unable to reach the pair and the incident was escalated to WSAR.
Due to the steep and inaccessible terrain the pair was on, as well as uncertainty as to exactly on which ledge system they were, a WSAR team was taken up by the cableway for the rescue.
Wilderness Search And Rescue’s (WSAR) David Nel said that the two stuck hikers were located shortly before 2am on Tuesday morning, and that rescuers gave them torches and checked that they were warm enough, before expertly guiding them down to the Lower Cable Station.
The incident was concluded at 3.47am when everyone was safely off the mountain.
“We want to remind all outdoor enthusiasts that the seasons are changing and ask them to plan accordingly. Start any outdoor activities earlier remembering that the sun sets earlier as the seasons start to change,” Nel said.
“Pack a torch and an extra warm layer of clothing before venturing outdoors. Most importantly, ensure you save the correct emergency number and call us sooner,” said Nel.
The Mountain Club of SA has also urged hikers to research their hiking trail, that it is within their ability, and stay on the trail.
“While the Table Mountain trail network might appear to be a ‘straight-forward’, anyone who has been monitoring our rescues will realise that the reality is that during the past more or less hundred and fifty years of recreational hiking, a plethora of tracks, trails and ill-defined ways to go have sprung up-many of them navigating dangerous and high-consequence terrain.
“Depending on how you count, there are more than a hundred trails and scrambles on Table Mountain, and only a very small portion of them are suitable for first-time, casual hikers on Table Mountain,” the club said.
“It is a fact that due to the combination of its topography and the extensive trail network, Table Mountain is more unforgiving for navigational errors than many other high-use mountainous areas. In fact, we regard the majority of trails on Table Mountain as only suitable for experienced and equipped hikers. Hence, navigating and staying on the intended paths is crucial,” they said.
In case hikers find themselves in an emergency situation, they are encouraged to call 021 937 0300 for assistance.
