Oudekraal Ravine and Grootkop (18/24)

Oudekraal Ravine to Grootkop down Woody Ravine with Hikers Paradise club led by Anwar Adams. Gusty winds at the 7am start from Theresa Ave Camps Bay. We followed the Pipe Track all the way along past Woody Ravine to Slangolie and Corridor ravines and then continued on the vague extension to Oudekraal Ravine where we headed up the green slopes of Oudekraal into the face of a strong wind.

Haemanthus (April fool flower) alongside the Pipe Track. Many of them were rather chewed up or just emerging, but this was quite a good specimen.

This is the point where you head across the stream bed after a steep ascent, and then continue up again on the other side.

Camps Bay in the distance through the gap.

And Lion's Head shows itself a little later and higher up beyond the cliffs of Corridor buttress.

A spectacular valley with beautiful low green fynbos.

That's where we came up - a few or our party still making there way up the steep green slope.

We had a break on a spur while Anwar rounded up a straying member.

This picture was taken later in the day from a vantage point that showed a reverse view of  the path we had taken up Oudekraal ravine.

Eventually we reached the mountain top and headed across to Grootkop.

 We started going up and around towards the sea side on a route marked by occasional cairns.

This formation is about a metre tall.

We then contoured around on the Yellowwood Traverse.

And around that corner we reached a steep gulley heading upwards which we hoped was the B Route up Grootkop. It was seldom used and required considerable bundu bashing and scrambling as the cairns quickly disappeared. 

But it was quite fun and full of interesting nooks an crannies.

We made a breakfast spot on a terrace which provided some wind shelter and sunshine.

Nearing the top, the path along the Apostle's spine was visible leading towards the huts and back table.

Top of Grootkop 

Erica plukenetii

Superb Protea cynaroides (King protea)

On the way down Grootkop we stopped to explore a lovely big crevice in the east ridge.

Not sure what this plant was but it stood about a metre tall with wide green leaves the size of your hand.

Gladiolus, what sp?

And a deep blue Agapanthus africanus along the Apostle's path that we took back to Woody Ravine and our descent.

We reached the cars after 3.30pm and it had been a long hard day that we felt in the bones and muscles for some more days.