Navigation

    Jan   Feb  Mar
   Apr   May Jun
   July  Aug  Sept
   Oct  Nov  Dec
Home‎ > ‎Table Mountain‎ > ‎Atlantic (West)‎ > ‎

Grotto-Fountain-Cairn

Line of route on Grotto-Fountain-Cairn Traverse

Grotto-Fountain-Cairn Traverse

Location: High level traverse under the Western cliffs below the Upper Cable Station.

Overview: Spectacular composite route with only 1 pitch in Fountain Ravine that should be roped provided one traverses off to the Poort on Kloof Corner and down instead of climbing up to Fountain Ledge.

Key Statistics
Grade:  4 **** An exciting complicated route
Height gain:  620m: from 180m at Rontree to approx 770-800m Traverse line
Time:  5 hrs up, 1 down to Contour path, another 1-2 back to Rontree

Route Description: Start from Rontree Estate (Theresa Ave), take the Pipe Track back to Blinkwater ravine, up this then into Grotto ravine which is climbed until a large beacon indicates where to access the long ledge running below the huge white cliff under the Western Table and the Upper Cable Station. After crawling under a chockstone, the ledge is followed all the way and around the corner of Fountain Peak Buttress into the bed of Fountain Ravine. Here there is an awkward move up past a tree to gain the higher continuation, and often a rope is useful to help the party safely up. Now climb diagonally up left on a slab to where a narrow rock ledge provides the way out of the ravine. This is followed all the way onto the shoulder of Cairn Buttress. Beacons indicate a short descent and the traverse continues around the amphitheatre of Cairn ravine, and then up a bit to under the cliff below the Kloof Corner ridge. Keep traversing left to the Poort on Kloof Corner, descend this until the open slopes, where a traverse may be made over to the India Venster path which provides the easy way to the Contour path.