North Peak
Location: Jan Smuts Drive, Simonstown
Overview: A fun easy cross country scramble up the front of North Peak via the Baboon's Armchair. Return via Simonsberg or Klawer Steps.
Key Statistics OSM map (flip layers to see all features)
Grade & stars: 1/2 ***
Height gain: 60m to 480m
Time: 3-4 hours + return
Route Description:
From the parking in Jan Smuts, follow the Smitswinkel path to 220m elevation, or use the OSM map (on an Android phone) to find the turn off. Turn off the path going across country on a gentle ascending right traverse to the Baboon's Armchair.
Have endless fun threading through the Armchair and popping out the other side (not for the portly!) Continue the ascending traverse through several rockbands heading straight towards North Peak.
Either go up the gully to the left, or, for a more satisfying finish, traverse to the right and ascend some steep steps going left back to the top of the gully. Either option emerges at the nek.
Several options from here:
Explore the old lookout point that marks the top of North Peak
Go down on the west side for a few meters, south along the base of the cliff for 50m, up a gully, across an airy step across on the Simonstown side, then wriggle up a hole to a spectacular lookout ledge. An ideal lunch spot.
There are two options for the return:
Continue south up and over Simonsberg following the ridge all the way, descending at the end to the Blockhouse Gap. Don't forget to find the interesting Sangar above the nek.
Go north all the way down the ridge to Just Nuisance's Grave and then down the Klawer Steps to Simonstown (requires cars at bot ends or a longish walk back along the firebreak.)
