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Overview: A pleasant winter's day climb (it can be very hot in summer) with a number of variations. The final finish is up the famous "11 Inch Crack". It may not be 11 inches, but certainly should not be attempted by the large of girth!
OSM map (Zoom out to view entire route)
The Kloof Corner Pinnacle variation takes in all the rock avoided by the normal route and meets at the 'Poort'.
Route Description:
The start is from the sharp left hand bend in Tafelberg Road before the Lower Cable Car station. Proceed up the steps of the zig-zag path to the Contour Path at Kloof Corner. (the last vertical section of 205 steps was allegedly constructed by Italian POW's)
Two alternative routes start off the contour path.
The classic "normal" route is up the chains about 50m left of Kloof Corner (or the short, harder rock pitch about 15m to the right of the chains, which is the Pinnacle variation.) From the top of this pitch, traverse left and then up to the base of the 2nd pitch - which can be walked around.
The alternative for those who don't like the chains (they are not very pleasant), is to go along the Contour Path and up India Venster for 300m, then traverse on a faint path across to Kloof Corner Gully. This also avoids the 2nd pitch, which is rather messy and not particularly pleasant.
Ascend the gully to the window which looks over into Cairn Ravine. Scramble up on the left and out to the ridge (Pitch 3 or 1 depending on the start taken!). From a stance, move out right on very exposed, airy footholds overlooking Cairn Ravine and then up about 20m to a stance on a platform (Pitch 4 or 2). Not difficult, but very exposed, so many may prefer a rope.
The alternative to this pitch is to move left and go up the slippery, greasy chains!
Once on the ridge again, continue on up with a few more steps and scrambles until the final "11 Inch Crack" is reached. Wriggle into and up this, exiting on the city side on small footholds, admiring the view of the Lower Cable Station between ones feet about 2000 feet below!
Walk off the ridge and meet the India Venster path as it comes round to Fountain Ledges. Return either down India Venster or continue on up to the cable station.
Kloof Corner Pinnacle Route:
This, as mentioned above is a variation to the ordinary route and starts a few meters to the right of the first chain on the Contour Path. Thereafter it follows the rock scrambling to the right of the path under the power lines until at the steep narrow gully where it joins the usual route. This slideshow features the second chain avoided by the climbing variation of Pitch 1.
Explanatory notes on the variations and sometimes confusion between the Original Route and the Pinnacle Route:
Bert Berrisford's 1952 MCSA list of Table Mountain Routes states for Kloof Corner that: Several ways exist through the first belt of rock. The well known pitch just left of the NW corner is the Pinnacle route start.
Berrisford doesn't mention the chain pitch further left, and probably the chain was only added when the Cableway was built in 1929, to assist the maintenance crew working on the telephone / electricity line of poles. There are really only 2 other scramble possibilities and both look no easier than the chain pitch, even without the chain.
So to avoid the Pinnacle pitch which is tricky, and the chain which is strenuous, go up the India Venster path and then traverse across to the gully up to the Poort.
At the Poort there are 2 alternatives, either pull strenuously up the long chain hanging down a chimney crack, or go up into the Poort and do the exposed but easy rock pitch which is featured in the first slide show.
The final variation is for the 11 Inch Crack, and below it there is a traverse out right to a large precarious looking "Saddle" rock below a short scruffy break.
The classic picture of a lady in bonnet and long black dress standing on the Saddle rock is from the 1903 MCSA Journal in an article by G.T. Amphlett.
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