HIKING THE SLIPPER

The Lady Slipper hiking trail- or any hiking expedition for that matter- should preferably not be done unaccompanied. Fortunately for me, my friends are quite supportive and even join in some of my adventures.

The Lady Slipper gets its name from the shape of the rock, which looks as if it has been glued to the side of the mountain. It resembles an upside-down lady slipper and can best be seen when you look at the mountain from a distance.

The reserve and mountain belong to the Mountain Club of South Africa in the Eastern Province and a permit is needed to enter the hiking trail. The rugged trail is approximately 3.2 km up and down and takes anything from one to three hours to complete.

Taking on the Lady Slipper trail is not a walk in the park. Young adults and teenagers reach the top huffing and puffing and boastfully flaunt a bruise or two. The older generation, however, celebrates when reaching the summit by gulping down heart and blood pressure tablets with suspicious looking fluids from their silver flasks and plastic bottles.

Although the peak is only 585m above sea level, it felt much higher. As we made our way through branches and bush to ascend the rocky Lady Slipper trail, the sudden drop in temperature was a welcome relief from the scorching sun that had been burning on our skin at the start of the trail.  

For those brave enough to take on the Lady Slipper trail, stunning views of the Groot Winterhoek Mountains on one side and the Sunshine Coast on the other await you. The jaw-dropping views are worth the steep and sometimes slippery walk through a beautiful landscape and untouched fynbos. The raging fires of last year are all forgotten when you become aware of the indigenous saplings breaking through the black earth, and can rest assured knowing the mountain will soon be covered in colour.

A comfortable pair of hiking boots/shoes suitable for rocky surfaces is advised when taking on the Lady Slipper trail, as it is far from a smooth walk. As with any hike, it's also important to bring the standard gear: enough water, a strong sunblock, snacks, a hat, and a sweater. A hiking stick for older and unfit hikers like myself comes in handy when crossing the particularly rocky and coarse parts of the trail. Be prepared to go down on your derriere or use all fours to get you over some of the steeper rocks and obstacles. Children under the age of 8 and pets are not allowed on the trail although we were met at the top by two friendly dogs belonging to some of the locals living in the area.

We were absolutely exhausted after the climb to the top but somehow mustered up the energy to explore the area for another 3km. The descent, however, was easier said than done. Simon and Garfunkel's 'Slip-sliding away' was the song that came to mind as I was trying to keep my balance on the steep rocks and slippery paths. 

After 5 hours out in the blazing sun, we reached our car, bruised, sweaty, dehydrated and dirty - but proud of our achievement. Our next hike is already on the drawing board.

GALLERY

The Slipper from a distance
Photo credit:  Geoview