“Tell the truth…” Kurt asked me, as we stood atop Table Mountain, looking down over the Atlantic Ocean and toward the Chapman’s Peak drive we would take later, “When did you want to quit?”
I just smiled and turned back toward the view. It was a perfectly clear day.
“Okay, I’ll go first.” He said, in response to my silence. He turned to face me, grinning. “When she said we were about a quarter of the way up, all I could think was how much I wanted to turn around and go back down.”
I kept staring at the view, partly because I wanted to memorize it, and partly because I was too exhausted to do much other than stand and stare. Even talking was effort at this point.
I could see out of the corner of my eye that he was waiting, expectantly, for my answer. I had been pretty stoic (for me) on the climb, trying to distract from the effort by pointing out flowers and asking questions of our guide, Binny.
I had tried to make light of how much I struggled, pausing to ask Kurt if he was enjoying the view of my bum. I knew he was bringing up the rear (literally) because he was afraid I might topple back down the mountain. He had also volunteered to carry the camera back-pack and was taking photos of flowers and scenery and anything he thought I might want to use for a blog. He could tell early on that I would not be able to both climb and take photos. I could barely handle the weight of the locket around my neck, let alone a camera.
Around the halfway point I stopped mid-climb, bum in the air, and looked over my shoulder. “You better be taking pictures of my butt in your face, too!” I turned back around to start climbing again. He knew I was serious, but he was reluctant.
I was wearing the only Pittsburgh Steelers shirt I brought to South Africa.
It was a goal of mine to fit into the shirt, and although it was still too small, we had a plan to do a video for my brother at the top, and Steelers’ attire was a must.So there I was in a bright yellow shirt two sizes too small, in undignified poses as I climbed the high steps on my hands and knees.
We both knew the photos would be unflattering. But I didn’t care. I still don’t. I’m pretty demanding that photos should be candid, flattering or not. I believe my readers appreciate raw, often humorous photos of me rather than made-up or posed shots anyway. So I insisted, and he fired away. (You’re welcome.)
A late night arrival the night before had us push back our climb time, and we didn’t begin until mid-morning. Despite packing like twelve-year-olds and only bringing a half bottle of water between us (thankfully our guide had several bottles) and me forgetting my hat (another thank you to our guide for lending me one), I was pretty excited to be checking this climb off my South Africa bucket list.
After a couple hours of stair climbing, the noon gun boomed in Cape Town, which now seemed so far below us. It echoed around us and we watched as the distant smoke rose into the air. I marveled and felt proud of how high we were.
Until I looked up to see how much more we had to go.
I tried not to think about how suddenly defeated I felt, about how the sun was now scorching my bare shoulders, or how few flat portions remained compared to the endless stairs upward.
“Up – relentlessly up!” This is how Platteklip Gorge hike is described on the official SanParks website; a website I did not consult before our climb. Not that it would have mattered. My new Brazilian friend, Andrea, told me “Whatever you do, don’t take the route that starts near the lower cable station. I can’t remember the name, but it’s just steps. All steps. High, steep steps. It’s a very, very hard climb.”
She was right. But I am a stubborn woman.
Facing the hike I knew I wasn’t fit for, I decided the only way to get through it was to pretend. Could I really “fake it til I make it” with a 3km hike up a steep path of rock steps higher than my knee could lift me?
“Just pretend.” I told myself. “Pretend you are six again. Pretend you can do anything.”
I pretended I was tougher than what I felt on the hike; I pretended it when I first looked up and saw the steps; I pretended it when the steps didn’t seem to have an end; I pretended not to hear the joggers we met on their way down, who kept telling us that the hardest part was yet to come; and I pretended when I finally reached just 50% that I didn’t want to just sit down and cry—too overwhelmed to finish climbing up, but knowing climbing back down would be worse.
On top of the mountain, Kurt was still watching me expectantly, waiting for my answer
Finally I turned to face him, saying: “I just kept thinking ‘Up is better than down,’ so I just kept climbing.”
He waited for me to say more, but I didn’t.
He nudged my shoulder with his and we looked at the expanse of water, of mountain peaks and blue sky. “But when, Pookie Bear? When did you want to quit?”
I wanted to lean against him but we were both still a pile of sweat.
“After the first flight of stairs…” I paused, watching for his reaction, “I wanted to quit after about 100 yards.”
We stared at each other for a few seconds, then both started laughing. My gut hurt, my knees hurt, my arms and shoulders hurt and the laugh felt like it might break my body apart. But it felt good. It felt better than any gym workout or casual walk and infinitely better than any act of drive-by tourism.
We had just climbed Table Mountain.
And we’ll do it again.
Happy Over-the-Hump Day, friends!
Love, Marla
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s installment, when I will talk about what it’s like to hire a guide, the company we chose and why I think everyone would find value in a guided Table Mountain hike.
More of Table Mountain by Traveling Marla:
Stop and Smell the Flowers of Platteklip Gorge
Marla, I love reading your blogs. That looks like an incredibly hard hike for anyone. Reminds me of the hike I did at Old Rag in the Shenandoah. My friends said it was a faily easy hike. They didn’t tell me if would take 6 hours and that just when I thought I was at the top, we had a rock scramble that seemed to go on forever. I must admit once I got to the top it was a beautiful view. I thought I was done with the hard stuff until we went down. I think that was worse on my knees then the climb up. Regardless, its something all remember and talk about. Enjoy your journey. Janice Hughes
So awesome! I’m way proud of you. For deciding to do it, for not quitting all the times you wanted to, for following through and accomplishing something few would. What a proud moment reach the top had to be. So how did the knee hold up? Also, not sure you are noticing it or not, but the hard work is definitely paying off. No question about it.
Thanks, Coach! The knee was baaaaad. I mean wow that was painful. I had a lot of tears in my eyes but I was too stubborn to cry in front of the guide. If it had just been Kurt and I with nobody around that might have been a bad situation but as it was I was too proud to show how much it hurt. Boy that night and the next few days was a different story though. Pain and very very swollen. I always avoid taking medication for the knee but I was gobbling ibuprofen like it was going out of style.
It was SO worth it. And thanks about the hard work. What was really interesting was how much easier it was for me to do the “scramble” type climbing, because my arms and shoulders are so much stronger now that I was able to pull myself up easier than push myself up with the knee. Of course that put the shoulder out for a few days also but again…so worth it. 🙂
Glad it was all worth it and the hard work made it easier! Sucks about the stupid knee though. Fix that thing would ya? (insert sh– eatin grin here.)
Wow that’s a impressive climb, well done. Those steps look incredibly steep! I really want to climb Table Mountain one day! Do you know how high it is?
Hi Luke, It was definitely more than what I thought I could do. I’m sure serious climbers would tackle it easily. In fact, there were many quite fit people who passed us. The height is only about 1080 meters, so there’s no worry of altitude sickness. It’s mainly a matter of the steepness of the terrain. I’m putting up the guide info today and it will have info on the different trail options as well.
You should definitely put it on your to-do list. And while you’re there, climb Lion’s Head, where you can paraglide off the mountain! 🙂
That sounds amazing, thanks for the advice its going straight on my to do list 🙂
Make sure you give us a shout when you’re in South Africa. If we’re still here (definitely til mid-2015, probably until mid-2016) and we’re in the same area, we’ll be happy to show you around a bit. It’s always nice to meet fellow bloggers. And in any case, be sure to message me before you travel and I’ll be happy to share my own opinions of what to see/do in the time you have.
In the meantime, watch a site called AirFareWatchdog.com for the best rates from the United States to Johannesburg. Wintertime (US winter that is) has been having roundtrip tickets around $800 which is wonderful, especially since we cannot get that same price from here to the states and back.
Happy Travels.
How did you get down!
Haha. Oh my gosh I forgot to mention that! We took the aerial tram back down. No way this knee was going to take each of those gazillion jarring steps back down the mountain. I think I would have collapsed. 😉
I’m so proud of you guys! QUITE a hike! Beautiful views, too!!!
Thanks, Brianna! It was really amazing. Next year we’re going to try a different route.
congratulations Marla!….I hike (often reluctantly) with my nimble, gazelle-like husband and three daughters…and ALWAYS I am cranky most of the way…the relentless climb…huffing and puffing…I know what you mean…and I know how proud you must be of yourself! Yikes… You did great!
Thanks so much. Yeah I was really wishing for a longer pair of legs for those steps for sure. There was a (German, maybe?) couple who passed us and they were both really tall with legs to the sky and they just took those steps like they were six inches high.
Hahaha, Fantastic!! The Marla version of “The little engine who could” hahaha!! Great post, and I REALLY feel honored now by the video you guys made!!! (I’ll pretend the grueling climb was solely for the purpose of making the vid!) 😉
Love you guys!
Hahaha. Thanks. I’m so glad you liked the video. I still need to upload the big one and send it.
Love this one too… I am waiting for the next part… we are going to Capetown the coming December and I really want to climb up the Table Mountain… the cable car option is a far safer one, but I want to hike up… I am really waiting for your next post… 🙂
Thanks, Sreerupa. It will have all the information in it, so I hope you’ll find it useful. You can also message me if you have any questions after reading it. You’re going to have such a nice time there!
Great post Marla.
I love to pretend too, it keeps me going.
The view is great from up there!
Joggers are vicious creatures….
🙂
I know my Leo wouldn’t be a vicious jogger.
He would be sweet and (a) tell me it’s only 5 more minutes to the top; (b) tell me to close my eyes and push me off the mountain, ending my miserable climb; (c) push me the rest of the way to the top.
<3
Whoo-hoooooo!! Way 2 B, Marla! Wonderful photos – omg…what a spectacular reward from Up There.
Thanks, Pierr! It was amazing!