Mountain guide Riaan Vorster launched his book, Lines of Least Resistance: Vignettes on Table Mountain’s 101 hiking and scrambling routes, at Exclusive Books, at the V&A Waterfront, on Wednesday February 8.
The Higgovale author was in conversation with John Compton, the emeritus associate professor in UCT’s department of geological sciences who provided geological background for the book
Table Mountain was a blank map 100 years ago until mountaineers such as Ken Cameron came along and regularly had route descriptions published in the Cape Times, according to Mr Vorster.
Mr Vorster’s love and knowledge of Table Mountain, among other peaks, grew from childhood and he has many scars from exploring its routes.
Mountaineer and Table Mountain expert Mike Scott, of Orangezicht, describes the book as “a marvellous piece of historical detective work that shatters lots of myths and mystery around first ascents”.
The book is not a guide to the routes but more a compilation of essays on routes opened prior to 1952, from A to C+ grade. It is suitable for anyone with a love of mountain matters, from hikers, climbers and trail runners to historians and tour guides.
