Above the clouds

After a 5am wake up call I headed out to Lion's Head mountain in Cape town, South Africa. It's a relatively small peak, under 700m, that looks over to the more well known face of Table Mountain. After a number of climbs up Table Mountain earlier in the trip I decided it was time to find a new perspective. So, I crawled out of bed and made my way to the bottom of the trail before first light.

Golden Hour in Cape Town

I started to make my way up the path which is steep but thankfully easy most of the the way up. At the beginning of the hike you curve around the back of the mountain and look out over the Twelve Apostles and Cape Point. Another stunning view.

Table Mountain

As you start to curve back around, Cape Town should start coming back into view. However, on this occasion a huge bank of cloud decided to rush in from the ocean and obscure any view of anything! It poured in with the morning breeze as I reached the front of the Lion's Head and I had to use my imagination to believe that the city and the famous Table Mountain were really still ahead of me.

Surely I didn't wake up this early to climb up into the clouds!? As I got nearer to the top I was met by a set of chains and handle bars that I had to clamber up to finish the hike. With sleepy eyes and aching arms I somehow managed to pull myself up and over, wondering whether it would be worth the effort.

A few more steps and I was at the peak. I wasn't sure what to expect, but as I turned around and looked back where I'd just come from I saw one of the most stunning views I have ever seen and think I will ever see! While I was struggling to climb up the chains, I'd come out from under the bank of clouds and now stood above them on top of the Lion's Head.

On top of Lion's Head

No photoshop.