Because It's There - Gert Scholtz - South Africa

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago · 2 min. reading time · ~10 ·

Blogging

Gert blog

Because It's There

“Why would you want climb it if you can go up by cable car?” – the question from my wife.

“Because it’s there”, I replied, recalling the words of George Mallory.

She also reminded me of what Junko Tabei said on being the first woman to climb Everest: “I can’t understand why men make all this fuss about the climb – it’s only a mountain.”

Towering 1086 meters above Cape Town, and around 500 million years in the making, Table Mountain was once (a very, very long ago) an island, now boasting more plant species per square kilometer than a tropical jungle. Today it is one of the new seven natural wonders of the world, and probably the most iconic travel image of our country.

The flat-topped monolith begged our pedestrian exploration, and with a group of family, in thirty five degrees Celsius, we stood at the base three days later. The climb was to come. Now do remember that I am a national level long jumper (or a far-hopper as my wife says), and that bounding up rocks and cliffs should have been a breeze to me.

Except that it wasn't. At all. With a totally inflated sense of my mountaineering prowess I set out to the summit. Only a little way up and I had newfound respect for those that do the grand (and not so grand) peaks of the world. The going was much tougher than I expected. A few hundred meters of slow and steep ascent to the top.

But I did save some fragile competitive dignity. I managed to overtake an elderly lady walking along the lower path and an ex-rugby player now overweight and suffering from a bad holiday hangover. Oh, and one very fit climber - who on passing I realized was actually busy with the descent.

A few hours later, I reached the crest. The view really is glorious. Cape Town spread below and Robben Island in the far distance out to the sea. The dazzling white beach and aquiline waters of Camps Bay. Stone pathways meandering between the vegetation on the mountain top. And the stillness and freshness of mountain air.

The view is so much better when the Table Mountain is climbed, instead of gliding up by cable.

Next time I will do it again because "it will still be there."

""""""""

#Cape Town #Everest #Table Mountain #George Mallory #Junko Tabei

Comments

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #39

#39
Phil Friedman Now that is a good way to approach life - at times it is better to "make a molehill from a mountain." Right now I am off to my next molehill - if only I can find the mountain :) Thanks Phil, for your valued reading and commenting.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #38

#37
Debasish Majumder Thank you for sharing Debasish. I wonder what poems you will write atop a mountain like such as this.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #37

Juan Imaz Thanks for sharing the post Juan. Table Mountain is a small hill compared to the mountains you have climbed! But one day you must come down south and we will do the climb together.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #36

Juan Imaz Thanks for sharing the post Juan. Of course, Table Mountain is a small hill compared to the mountains you have climbed! But one day you must come down south and we will do the climb together.

Graham🐝 Edwards

6 years ago #35

Gorgeous !!

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #34

Very mice piece, Gert. I have immense respect for those who make molehills out of mountains — in all walks of life. Cheers!

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #33

Very mice piece, Gert. Ii have immense respect for those who make molehills out of mountains — in all wals if life. Cheers!

Debasish Majumder

6 years ago #32

lovely buzz Gert Scholtz! enjoyed read and shared. thank you for the buzz.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #31

#35
Pamela \ud83d\udc1d Williams Glad you liked the views Pamela. If ever you are down in SA, I will do the camping climb alongside you! Somehow, even though I don’t have a fear of heights, I find the cable car more daunting than a climb. I have gone up the cable once on a windy day – a bit scary when the car sways in the wind. I guess the view is better after the climb because of the exertion and because of being closer to nature. I did not take a camera or smartphone along - photos are taken from the web, but the experience is very real!

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #30

#28
Randall Burns Oh yes, there certainly were a few nebulous senses that I had never known about!

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #29

#30
Vincent Andrew Good to see you back on the BeBee mountain and thanks for the share!

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #28

#30
Vincent Andrew Good to see you on the BeBee mountain again! Thanks for the comment and share.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #27

#28
Randall Burns Indeed there really is something about a climb. And the view is better. Thanks for passing by Randal.

Randall Burns

6 years ago #26

HaHa! Great post Gert Scholtz very entertaining. But there really is something to be said about climbing, even just hiking, it engages those other nebulous senses outside of our 5 senses. Doesn't it? And the view just seems so much better after the climb than the ride.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #25

#25
Irene \ud83d\udc1d Rodriguez Escolar That is a very nice way of saying it: "Foot, boots and attitude." Thanks for reading Irene and I am glad you enjoyed the photos.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #24

#25
Irene \ud83d\udc1d Rodriguez Escolar That is a very nice way of saying it Irene: "Foot, boots and attitude." Thanks for reading a enjoying the photos.

Irene 🐝 Rodriesco

6 years ago #23

Undoubtedly nothing like reaching the top on foot, boots and attitude are climbing companions 😁. Tank you for the climb and the views. Wonderful pictures

Ken Boddie

6 years ago #22

That damned bucket list's getting longer and longer, Gert, but hey, if there's food on the "Table" count me in! 👍

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #21

#22
Ken Boddie Thank you for the great comments Ken. I found the climb a very immersive experience as one’s mind is only on the step you are taking, and then the next. I can see now that there is something addictive about climbing whatever is out there. How about at some stage you come over and climb Table Mountain, and I will join you in a trip to the Cairngorm Mountains? I hope to qualify as Sherpa Scholtz in the near future!

Ken Boddie

6 years ago #20

For me, Gert, it's the sense of physical achievement and the accomplishment of a clear cut goal, plus a certain degree of ownership of the mountain, even if only for a short while. I bought into this drug of choice as a young lad in Scotland, where the Cairngorm Mountains were virtually on my doorstep (a few hours bus ride away). Although now a lot older, considerably less fit, and with less opportunity (or need) to claim peaks as my own, the challenge of physical goals still manifests itself from time to time, egged on by the hypnotic rhythm of each step, deliberately and steadily, one after the other. "Each journey begins with a single step" - for sure! "Slow and steady wins the race" - no doubt! "The cable car trip gave me a magnificent sense of ....." - I don't think so!!!!! You can achieve anything with a walking frame and two Sherpas, Gert. 😂

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #19

#18
Preston \ud83d\udc1d Vander Ven Thanks for stopping by Preston - and now I also learned something - that Captain Kirk also uttered the memorable line. Great that you like the photos.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #18

#18
Preston \ud83d\udc1d Vander Ven Thanks for stopping by Preston - and now I know Captain Kirk also uttered the memorable line. Great that you like the photos.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #17

#17
Paul Walters There is a heatwave in SA at the moment and a severe drought in the Cape. We climbed via the Plattekloof Gorge. Glad to have rekindled some old memories!

Paul Walters

6 years ago #16

Gert Scholtz to climb the mountain is one thing...to do it in 35 degrees is another!! I have always climbed from Kirstenbosch ...more of a stiff walk than a climb. Thanks for the memories!

Ian Weinberg

6 years ago #15

#13
Another good man becomes a Bergie! Aish!

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #14

#11
Franci\ud83d\udc1dEugenia Hoffman, beBee Brand Ambassador Thank you Franci - glad you enjoyed the views - it really is spectacular.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #13

#11
Franci\ud83d\udc1dEugenia Hoffman, beBee Brand Ambassador Thank you Franci - glad you could liked the views - it really is special.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #12

#12
Ian Weinberg Eh...well... I am actually still stuck up here on top - but mind you the last fourteen sunrises have been astounding!

Ian Weinberg

6 years ago #11

It's there and it is what it is! The burning question Gert Scholtz is how did you come down? Or are you still up there waiting for the sunrise?

Lisa Vanderburg

6 years ago #10

#7
Yes please, delightful Sherpa Gert Scholtz!! I will do pretty much anything to try and race you from here to.....here! :) Seriously - one day!!

Lisa Vanderburg

6 years ago #9

I love phobias CityVP \ud83d\udc1d Manjit!! You haven't LIVED 'til you've fallen off a cliff! :)

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #8

#3
CityVP \ud83d\udc1d Manjit Well I would join the search and rescue - only to get you back into the cable car and atop the mountain!. Thank you for sharing Manjit.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #7

#1
Lisa Vanderburg My dear Lady VanderBurg. Please allow me the pleasure of accompanying you to the top of Table Mountain, so you too can savior the view. Thanks for sharing!

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #6

#1
Lisa Vanderburg My dear Lady VanderBurg. Please allow me the pleasure of accompanying you to the top of Table Mountain, so you too can savior the view.

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #5

#2
Pascal Derrien Thanks Pascal - next time I will join you in the cable car - as long as we sit on top of it :)

Gert Scholtz

6 years ago #4

Joel Anderson Thank you for sharing the post - much appreciated.

CityVP Manjit

6 years ago #3

My fear of heights precludes me from this great wonder. Considering that about the sixth step on a regular ladder is where my comfort zone is, cable car please !!! Even if I managed to climb upwards, it would require a search and rescue team to get me back down :-)

Pascal Derrien

6 years ago #2

I took the cable car a couple of times when I was there... I did not even know you could climb it ...... well done to you :-)

Lisa Vanderburg

6 years ago #1

How drop-dead gorgeous Gert Scholtz! I'm right there with you...the one you overtook (no, the other one)! :)

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