Shady Pipe
This is one of three caches placed in celebration of my first hike along the wonderful Pipe Track from Kloof Nek to Slangolie Ravine. The others are Kasteelpoort Pipe GC2Y72M and Woody Pipe GC2Y6DH.
To Reach the Cache:
Park @ Kloof Nek near S33 56.546 18 23.703 and locate the Pipe Track trail head @ S33 56.533 18 23.679 some 50m NW near the main road junction. Head along the track passing two other great caches en route, Henzz’s The Easiest Cache on Table Mountain GC2XXFN and cobusvanbosch’s Heritage Cache GC11QAR.
After some 20-30 minutes walking you will reach a lovely shady grove of trees. The cache, a camo-taped peanut butter jar is hidden near the bench which provides a fine resting and viewing spot ideal for that late afternoon sundowner – weather permitting of course!
Please take care retrieving and replacing the cache as this is a popular muggle location!
The Pipe Track
The track is named after the pipeline built in 1887 which carried water down from the Hely-Hutchinson and Woodhead dams up on the Back Table down Disa Gorge to Orange Kloof then through the mountain via Woodhead tunnel (1891) before emerging in Slangolie Ravine and proceeding to a filtration plant near the start of the track. It is no longer functional having been replaced in 1964 by the Apostles tunnel which crosses Woody Ravine and emerges from Wood Buttress just south of Kasteelpoort. Although no longer in use, many sections of the old pipe can been seen along the track.
The Waterworks Museum next to Hely-Hutchinson Dam, has some fascinating old photographs of the path in the early 1900s. It is amazing to think that all the construction materials and tools for the dams construction were hauled by man or donkey power along this path (see attached photos below).
The Pipe Track is one of the easiest walks on Table Mountain and at least as far as Slangolie Ravine it is relatively flat as it basically contours along the side of the mountain above Camps Bay. After crossing Slangolie, a continuation trail gains considerable height before skirting around Slangolie Buttress to Corridor Ravine and ascending to the Back Table. A fainter, less used path also branches off from Corridor Ravine, traverses the foot of Corridor Buttress before also heading up to the Back Table via Oudekraal Ravine and Ridge, finally emerging near Grootkop, the highest of the 12 Apostles.
Apart from these two access routes to the Back Table, the track also gives access to several other alternative routes there including the Diagonal Path, Kasteelpoort, Woody Ravine and the steep & exposed Three Firs track. Unless you ascend one of these trails, the Pipe Track is an out-and-back track which can be done in approx 4 hours. Otherwise various circuits are possible, depending on conditions, time available - and fitness.
The views along the trail of Table Mountain, Lion's Head (some of the best views of this – especially in late afternoon), the dramatic buttresses of the Twelve Apostles and coast of Camps Bay are wonderful for such an easy hike. Because this track faces West out over the ocean spectacular sunset views in particular may be on offer and there are several benches along the trail which make good spots for a rest-stop or sundowner. As the track is a little more secluded than some others, be aware and preferably avoid hiking alone.
After walking for about half an hour, if you look up to your left towards the Upper Cable Station, you may spot a cave in the rock face near the summit of Fountain Ravine almost directly above you. This was home to Joshua Penny, an American who had been press-ganged into joining the British Royal Navy. When his ship, the HMS Sceptre, anchored in Table Bay in 1799, he escaped and hid out on Table Mountain for 14 months living on dassies and shrubs before escaping on a Scandinavian ship. Some relics of his stay were discovered in the area of the cave in 1958. See also Henzz’s fine Joshua Panny cache GC2NWMA for more details of this extraordinary bergie!