Lines of Least Resistance (2nd ed)

By the late 1880s, after more than two centuries of European presence at the Cape, only eight routes led up Table Mountain. Thousands had climbed to the summit via the gash in the face of the mountain known as Platteklip Gorge, yet vast tracts remained unexplored. Only with the formation of the Mountain Club of South Africa in 1891 did climbers begin a systematic exploration in their quest for new routes.

Lines of Least Resistance tells the story of Table Mountain through its 101 hiking and scrambling routes. Drawing on his intimate knowledge and experience of the mountain, Riaan Vorster pays tribute to the early pioneers by examining their routes, clearing the sands of time from those which have slipped into oblivion. No two routes are alike; each possesses unique qualities that reveal something of the mountain’s character. Written from a personal as well as historical perspective, the book takes the reader on a journey of discovery along the highways and byways of Table Mountain.

 

The book comes with a vintage A3 map of Table Mountain showing the location of all 101 routes.

Riaan Vorster runs a mountain-guiding business specialising in Table Mountain. Over the years, he has shared the magic of the mountain with thousands of people from all over the world, guiding them up more than 40 different routes. From his experience he has acquired a deep understanding of the psychology around mountaineering. His knowledge of Table Mountain flows from an abiding passion for nature, history and exploration. When not guiding, Riaan can be found probing its remote corners or piecing together forgotten routes. Lines of Least Resistance is his second book. His first, Beyond the Ranges, is an acclaimed novel set in the Amazon jungle.