We all know that accidents can happen – but thankfully, when they happen on Table Mountain there’s a team of incredible volunteers to help
Did you know that the first recorded search and rescue in Cape Town was in the 17th Century? Apparently, a British sailor left the port to go for a hike and took his time returning to the boat. While it’s unclear what happened (although it’s suspected he was just in the local pub, not up the mountain) there’s clearly a long history of people getting into sticky situations on Table Mountain.
And really, that’s unsurprising – Table Mountain is the most photographed attraction in the country, it’s surrounded by the city and quick and easy to get to, so no wonder it’s often underestimated. In fact, there are more rescue calls from Table Mountain every year than calls from all other wilderness regions in South Africa put together.
But when something does go wrong and a hiker gets lost or injured, the volunteers from the Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA)’s Search and Rescue team are there to help. Under the umbrella of Wilderness Search and Rescue, together with other teams such as logistics, national parks and canine, they’re dispatched where needed to put their knowledge of the mountain and climbing skills to good use.
A Particular Set of Skills
“It’s our way to give back to the community,” says Brent Jennings, the former co-convenor of MCSA Search and rescue. “Some wash penguins or help out in soup kitchens – but we have a specific skill set that can be useful in these situations. We know that things can happen no matter how much you prepare, so if anything happens on the mountain we want to help.”
There are MCSA Search and Rescue teams around the country as well as a second team in the Hottentots Holland area, but the Cape Town team is the largest with 60 volunteers contributing technical rope rescue and search skills.” Most of our volunteers have a rock climbing background – that’s our speciality,” says Brent. The volunteers undergo intensive training on a regular basis and are trained to world-class standards, with courses covering all the skills they’ll need during search and rescue operations – these include helicopter training, search and rescue management, navigation, kloofing, stretcher carrying and cliff-based rescue.
What makes it all quite remarkable is that the MCSA Search and Rescue team does this all for free – “Everyone will be rescued, no matter who you are,” says Brent. “All our volunteers have jobs and responsibilities but we’ve always been able to send rescuers, which speaks to the dedication of the volunteers and their passion. Sometimes the rescue operations will take a couple of days, but if it’s particularly serious then everyone pitches in.”
Lending a Hand
Back in the day, if a hiker broke their leg then a message printed in the newspaper would call for volunteers to gather with stretchers to walk up the mountain. Today, it’s a lot simpler. Teams are activated through various channels after a call for help is received by Metro Control, of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from a hiker or climber in trouble.
The busiest times of the year are the summer months, and since Covid there’s been a marked increase in mountain users and, as a result, a higher number of incidents. “There’s all sorts of reasons why mountain users would need assistance,” says Brent. “From tiredness and exhaustion to medical events and heatstroke, falls, crime or getting lost. A lot of rescue calls are for people getting stuck after following a path that goes nowhere or climbing up to a point that’s too difficult to descend.”
So, make sure safety is a priority on your next hike, but rest assured that if an accident does happen, the MCSA Search and Rescue team will be there to help.
Stay Safe Out There
Remember, accidents can always happen – even if you do everything right. So rather be over-prepared than under, even if you’re going on a short ramble. Here is Brent’s advice:
Don’t wing it: Plan your route and know where it goes – or bring someone who does know the route. There are very few easy ways up the mountain, so don’t overestimate your path-finding abilities – many trails are tricky to find unless you know where you’re going.
Prepare for all seasons: Pack warm clothing, raingear, proper footwear and plenty of water because the weather on the mountain can be severe – in fact, people have been known to get hypothermia on Table Mountain in the middle of summer.
Tell someone: Let someone know where you’ll be going and when you expect to be back. Provide details on which route you’ll be taking and then stick to the route.
Take a map: While there’s online maps of hiking routes, not all of it is verified and so the most reliable option is a map such as Slingsby – these include advice on safety, approved paths, written descriptions of the most popular routes and GPS co-ordinates of major junctions.
Know the route’s difficulty: Be aware of what you’re in for – and whether you can handle it easily. You can read up on the hike online, or contact the Mountain Club if you’re unsure.
Go in a group: Try not to hike by yourself, rather take a group of friends with you or join a hiking group. Don’t take valuables with you and do a bit of homework to make sure you’re not hiking in a high crime area where there have been recent incidents.
Bring a phone: Have a fully-charged phone with you on the hike and carry a power bank with you as well so that the search and rescue team can stay connected.
Get Connected
In an emergency, there’s only one number to call – 021937 0300. In fact, multiple phone calls to different organisations can slow down the rescue process, so stick to the main phone number.
