Lion's Head Pipe Track

Date: 5 July 2009

Location: Lion's Head

Walkers: Michele, Delphi, Tracy, Dorothy, Helen, Richard, Claudia, and dogs Daisy and Coco

**** Route plotted here ****

We started at the Lion's Head parking lot but instead of heading straight up like usual, we walked back down the road towards Kloof Nek.



Lion's Head was now behind us.



From Kloof Nek, we turned right down Kloof Road (towards Roundhouse Road and Camps Bay) and, after a little way, took a path to the right signposted to Lion's Head.



The path went up the slope for a bit, through a thicket of silver trees. We had an unusual view of a cloud-wreathed Lion's Head above us.



Great views of Camps Bay and Twelve Apostles lay to our left.



The path levelled out and lead us to the patch of pines. From here we got a wonderful view back onto the side edge of Table Mountain. And in front of us, the Atlantic Ocean.




And still above us: Lions Head, with the sun now behind it. Wisps of mist continued to float about, creating strange patterns and ghostly effects.



We continued along the contour, with the beaches of Clifton below us.



On this section we noticed a stretch of pipe (which no doubt gave this path its name) and, of course, the grand old lone pine standing sentry.



Further on, we encountered a strange creature in a gum tree. Very odd :-)



The western slopes of Lions Head are characterized by huge granite slabs and boulders. The path along this stretch ran very close to the houses at the top of Fresnaye. We stopped for a bit for a snack and to admire the wonderful views of mist rolling in below us.





We continued round, up the grassy slopes...



... until we came out on the Signal Hill ridge. This is the spot where Maskew's Path and the route to Signal Hill intersect.



One can also go up Lion's Head from this side.



We didn't go up, though. Instead we followed the path that runs parallel to the road, back to our cars.



I don't think Table Mountain has ever looked so lovely!


(Photos by Michele and Helen)
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