If Leg 2 taught us that the mountain doesn’t care about your plans, then Leg 3 reminded us that the mountain definitely doesn’t care about your schedule.
On 31 May, the 2026 13 Peaks Challenge continued with what was always going to be one of the longer and more demanding stages of the journey. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to join the hike myself, so what follows is a collection of stories, observations and lessons gathered from those who were there.
And judging by the feedback, there were plenty of lessons.
The day was led by Bapoo and the legendary B. Cassiem, assisted by Abdul Malick and Asgar, who stepped in to help manage what turned out to be a long and challenging day on the mountain.
The plan seemed straightforward enough. Catch the 7:30am cable car to the top of Table Mountain, make our way across the plateau, tag Grootkop and Judas Peak, then descend via Llandudno Ravine.
Simple.
At least when you’re discussing it over coffee.
The reality, as many hikers discovered, was rather different.
A Perfect Day For Hiking
After months of postponements, weather dramas and winter storms, Cape Town finally delivered.
The weather was magnificent.
Clear skies.
Little wind.
Spectacular visibility.
One of those rare winter days that reminds you why we live here.
The sort of day that makes every photo look like it belongs in a tourism brochure.
Unfortunately, perfect weather can sometimes create a false sense of security.
The mountain was beautiful.
The route was still long.
Very long.
The Challenge Begins Long Before the First Peak
One of the recurring themes from hikers was how quickly time disappeared.
Despite having a planned schedule, the day got off to a slower start than intended. Bathroom breaks, last-minute adjustments and general mountain faffing meant valuable time slipped away before the real hiking had even begun.
Now, on a normal day hike, that might not matter.
On a route like Grootkop and Judas Peak, it matters a great deal.
One thing that became clear from speaking to participants is that some hikers underestimated the commitment required for this leg. Grootkop and Judas Peak aren’t conveniently located next to the cable station. They sit a considerable distance away, and while the Table Mountain plateau often looks flat from a distance, anyone who has walked it knows there are countless rises, dips, climbs and descents along the way.
The route has a sneaky way of accumulating kilometres and fatigue.
Before you know it, you’ve been walking for hours and you’re only halfway through your day.
Many participants admitted they had not fully appreciated how demanding twelve hours on the mountain would be.
That’s not criticism.
It’s experience.
And experience is exactly what this challenge is designed to build.
A Walk In Nature Is Not Always a Hike
One lesson that surfaced repeatedly during Leg 3 is something many hikers learn sooner or later.
A pleasant two-hour stroll once or twice a week is wonderful for physical and mental health.
But challenges like the 13 Peaks Challenge require something different.
They require endurance.
They require resilience.
They require the ability to keep moving when your legs are tired and your enthusiasm has packed up and gone home.
There’s a saying that came to mind while listening to the various accounts of the day:
A nature walk is not always a hike.
A hike is always a nature walk.
The difference lies in the challenge.
Improvement rarely happens inside our comfort zones. Strength is built when we stretch ourselves slightly beyond what feels easy. Fitness grows when we tackle routes that expose weaknesses we didn’t know we had.
The mountain is an exceptionally honest teacher.
It reveals exactly where we are.
Not where we think we are.
And while that can be humbling, it’s also where growth begins.
Respecting the Mountain Means Respecting Time
One of the most valuable lessons from Leg 3 wasn’t about fitness at all.
It was about time.
When you’re hiking with a large group, every minute matters. A few extra minutes at a viewpoint. A longer-than-planned break. A delayed start.
Individually these seem insignificant.
Collectively they can mean the difference between finishing comfortably in daylight and finding yourself negotiating a difficult descent in fading light.
This is where leadership becomes so important.
One thing that often goes unnoticed in organised hikes is the amount of planning and responsibility carried by hike leaders and their assistants.
The leaders in this challenge aren’t being paid.
Many have already completed the full 13 Peaks Challenge themselves.
They aren’t there because they need another summit photo or another achievement.
They’re giving up their weekends, their time and their energy to help others achieve something extraordinary.
That sacrifice deserves respect.
Respect doesn’t mean blind obedience.
It means understanding that when a hike leader sets a pace, recommends equipment, asks people to move along or makes a difficult call, they’re doing so with the safety of the entire group in mind.
The mountain rewards teamwork.
And teamwork begins with trust.
Sometimes the Right Decision Is Turning Around
One aspect of the day that deserves recognition is that not everybody completed the route.
At one stage, three hikers descended via Oudekraal Ravine rather than continue toward Grootkop and Judas Peak.
From all accounts, this was absolutely the correct decision.
A combination of pace, footwear issues and developing blisters meant continuing would likely have created problems later in the day.
More importantly, it would have increased the risk of the entire group being delayed and potentially descending Llandudno Ravine after dark.
Anyone familiar with that route understands why that matters.
Making the decision to turn back is never easy.
There is often disappointment.
Sometimes embarrassment.
But experienced hikers know that mountains aren’t conquered through stubbornness.
They’re conquered through good judgement.
The 13 Peaks Challenge is not going anywhere.
The mountains will still be there next month.
And next year.
There is no prize for pushing beyond your limits when a safer option exists.
In many cases, turning around requires more maturity than pushing forward.
Peaks Tagged, Lessons Learned
By all accounts, reaching Grootkop felt like a major achievement.
Reaching Judas Peak felt even bigger.
Not because the peaks themselves are technically difficult, but because by that stage many hikers were already carrying the accumulated fatigue of a long day on the mountain.
Yet everyone kept moving.
One step.
Then another.
Then another.
That’s the thing about big mountain days.
Eventually they become less about fitness and more about mindset.
And mindset carried many people through this hike.
Llandudno Ravine: The Final Test
If the route to Judas Peak was the physical challenge of the day, then Llandudno Ravine became the emotional one.
Several hikers described arriving at the descent already exhausted.
The missing rope.
The aging staples.
The steep terrain.
Twelve hours on the mountain.
It was enough to test even experienced hikers.
Yet somehow, as mountain people tend to do, everyone found a way through.
The descent was completed.
The route was finished.
And another chapter of the challenge was written.
Four Peaks Down. Nine To Go
Looking back, it would be easy to focus on the struggles.
The sore feet.
The blisters.
The fatigue.
The long hours.
The moments of doubt.
But that would miss the bigger picture.
People showed up.
People committed.
People challenged themselves.
People discovered strengths they didn’t know they possessed.
Most importantly, people learned.
The 13 Peaks Challenge Cape Town has always been about more than summits. It is about commitment. It is about preparation. It is about resilience. It is about learning to trust the experience of those who have walked the path before you.
Every person who completed Leg 3 has something to be proud of.
Every person who turned back made a mature decision.
Every volunteer leader gave up their time so others could achieve something special.
And every lesson learned on this leg will make the next one easier.
Or at least less surprising.
Four peaks down.
Nine peaks remain.
The journey continues.
Thanks
For pics:
Meenakshi
Shanaaz
Aslm well written blog. Absolutely Stunning
On point…..great review.
Lotsa lessons learnt.
1. Like it says……a nature walk is not a hike…….
2. Endurance is key!
3. Be realistic of your hiking fitness.
Well done Bapoo for your leadership.
On point 👏👏
Big shout out to the hike leaders and assistants👏👏👏
Definitely rewarding to push further than your comfort zone💪💪
Many lessons learnt indeed😊
Looking forward to the next ..and…the next ..and…