Yes, even mountains need a little help from their friends! The 2024 Table Mountain clean-up (AKA Operation Rescue a Mountain) was both a big success and a reminder to be way more mindful:
Cape Town, South Africa (19 April 2024) — It’s easy to get lost in the beauty of Table Mountain. To gaze up at her with awe from down below, or hike along her trails feeling a surreal sense of wonder. So often, because of these incredible sensations we experience in her midst, Table Mountain can appear invincible. Undeterred. Like so many other mountains, struggles are not obvious. But, sometimes even mountains need to be rescued.
On Sunday last week, a community of volunteers took a hike. This was not your typical Sunday stroll experience, but an effort to rescue a mountain —Table Mountain!
As it is for many natural wonders, litter stands tall as public enemy number one. How strong, large and loved these natural beauties may be, cannot protect them from those who don’t respect them. And by consequence, the ecosystems that call them home, can become devastatingly impacted by the waste left in their midst.
The 2024 Table Mountain clean-up sought to rescue a mountain. As the Mountain Club of SA—Search and Rescue recalls, a whopping 46 volunteers were at the ready. The group were then divided into smaller teams based on their abilities and experience so that no one would put themselves in jeopardy, and soon the task was on.
Their mission? To collect as much litter as possible. Some took to the upper ledges of Table Mountain, while others cleaned up the lower cliffs. Even climbers soared down to get to those hard-to-reach areas, like Staircase Ledge.
It was an incredible effort of love for our environment in action. And, after all the climbing, hiking, searching and collecting, a total of 168.77 kilograms of litter was successfully removed.
“It’s not a joke; we really did help rescue a mountain. Well done to the hikers, climbers and nature lovers who participated in the 2024 Table Mountain clean-up!” Mountain Club of SA—Search And Rescue shared.
Now, it’s up to all Table Mountain visitors to keep the energy, play their part, and make sure that litter does not rain on our special mountain parade!
Sources: Mountain Club of SA—Search and Rescue
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