Hiking the Ladys Slipper in Port Elizabeth -- May 2018 -- Peter Giddy Guided Tours

Hiking the Ladys Slipper in Port Elizabeth -- May 2018 -- Peter Giddy Guided Tours

peter.giddy@gmail.com    -- Contact Peter (Tourist Guide)

Tourist Guide in Port Elizabeth.

• Hikes in the area
• Addo Elephant park, Kragga Kamma and other Wildlife reserves
• Transfers from Airport to hotels and Wildlife reserves
• Historical; Cultural City and Township Tours in Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown
• Garden Route adventures 

Today my guest is Sarah who is a Scuba Diver; Journalist; Writer and Traveler from Germany.

I meet Sarah at 7.30am and we drive to the Ladys Slipper Mountain at the Falcon Rock.  We just make it in time for the 8.30am start of the hiking trail.  On the way there Sarah points out to me that the "slipper" looks more like a tea pot.  I suppose it is the way you look at it.  Also I had not mentioned that the slipper is upside down.
There are 15 other hikers on the trail today and Robin is the Hike Leader.  Other names I can remember: David; David; Bill; Peter; Paul; Flo and Lynne; Shelly; Russell; Jurgen; and of course the Labrador which loves to keep hikers company.

We start the Hike.  The Mountain looms ahead of us. 

 The Mountain Club own the property and make it available to anyone who wishes to climb.  Falcon Rock are the administrators of the admission and take a fee for this.

 This is the New Pathway up the South Side of the mountain.

 It may be an idea to take a Walking Stick on this climb as the path is fairly steep at times and the rocks and soil can be slippery.

 The fire of 2017 burnt all the Cone Bush but the grasses and protea is starting to recover.

 Up and up we walk.

Paul connects with Sarah -- sharing stories of the Spanish Camino -- Paul has done two and is addicted as he is planning a Camino for each of the following few years.  Sarah did a section of the Camino this year at the same time that we were there -- also walking around 20k per day for 200km.

We start from the Restaurant area and make our way along the path in an easterly direction. At the Mountain Club Sign we turn left along a new path that I have not been on.  This path was developed after the fires of 2017.  It is an interesting path but not at all easy.  There are many steepish sections with rocks and wet soil.

The group gathers for a breather at the lookout rock

 Sarah enjoying the views below.

 After the lookout rock there is a bit of rock climbing required.  See how the Labrador looks on curiously.

 The group manages this section well.

Heading towards the North Side of Ladys Slipper and a bit of sunshine.
After a while, Robin stops at a lookout rock for a bit of a breather before continuing up a rock climb towards the North Face of the Ladys Slipper.  From here we warm up as we are in the direct sun.  There is a bit of an easterly breeze but it is certainly not cold.

 Watsonia or Gladiolus

 Top of Ladys Slipper with views across the valleys and on to J Bay

 We take a short snack break

 Sarah spots this on the rock.  The lines show directions and distances to a variety of mountains and other points of interest

Gladiolus I think.
We reach the top of the mountain and stop for a snack break.  The views from the top of Lady's Slipper are great -- Looking across to Jeffreys Bay on the one side and back to Port Elizabeth on the other. And behind us we see the Winterberg Mountain range towards Uitenhage.

 Climbing downhill and back to the Falcon Rock Farm.

At one point I slipped into a bush.  On this side of the mountain there is little direct sunlight and so the path remains slippery.
Robin calls the restart and we descend on the old pathway back to the Falcon Rock farm.  The descent requires a bit of caution as the soil and rocks are slippery as I found out when I slipped down into a bush. Fortunately no injuries except my pride maybe.

After the hike we drive back to the lodge where I, with much sadness, say goodbye to Sarah who is going home to Germany the following day.

This hike takes us around 2 hours and is quite doable for anyone with a reasonable fitness. 
To be part of this or other hikes around Port Elizabeth -- peter.giddy@gmail.com

Peter is a Tourist Guide and is able to collect you from your hotel and will include you in these hikes or arrange a hike to suite your needs.

Check Trip Advisor --- Peter Giddy Trip Advisor -- Tours.