Hiking Table Mountain this summer? The water and numbers you'll need

Save 021 937 0300 before you start up Table Mountain. That's the Western Cape's mountain rescue line, and rescuers are warning that a hot summer and a busy hiking season are already stretching them.

Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) says hikers should start early, carry more water than they think they'll need and turn back when conditions change (IOL).

Why are rescuers worried about water?

Two WSAR trail runners walking down Platteklip Gorge, the most popular route to the top, handed out more than 20 litres of water to hikers at a recent safety event. Many of the people they met had finished their water before the halfway mark (IOL).

On a separate weekend, WSAR spokesperson David Nel said more than 33 litres went to hikers who had run out (The Citizen).

"With a particularly hot summer forecast and the busiest hiking months still ahead, we're asking everyone to take a little extra care," Nel said (The Citizen).

How busy has it been on the mountain?

WSAR handled seven incidents over one weekend in late October (The Citizen). They included:

• a hiker who fell and had to be airlifted off the mountain
• a visitor who collapsed on Platteklip Gorge and was hoisted out by the Air Mercy Service helicopter
• a hiker with severe cramps at the top of Platteklip who couldn't go on
• a hiker who left the trail above Union Ravine, fell about four metres and had to be raised roughly 130 metres by rope
• a solo hiker on an unfamiliar route from India Venster who got stuck when it got dark

The Union Ravine rescue ran through the night. The cableway had stopped and strong wind kept it shut for hours, so the team sheltered at the upper cable station until it could bring them down (The Citizen).

How much water should you take?

The Western Cape government's mountain safety guide says at least 2 litres, plus food in case you're delayed (Western Cape Government). WSAR's advice is to take a bit more than you expect to drink (IOL).

What else should you pack?

Sources: Western Cape Government, SANParks, The Citizen

What are the basic rules on the trail?

SANParks, which runs Table Mountain National Park, says (SANParks):

• don't hike alone; four people is the ideal group
• pick your route, stick to well-used paths and don't take shortcuts into ravines
• tell someone your route and when you'll be back
• walk at the pace of the slowest person
• turn back if you're running late or bad weather moves in

SANParks also asks people not to hike after sunset (SANParks). The province warns against relying on international hiking apps, which can lead you onto unsafe or illegal trails (Western Cape Government).

Fires, gas stoves, matches and smoking are not allowed on the mountain, as fire is a major risk in the dry summer months (Western Cape Government).

Who do you call if something goes wrong?

Sources: WSAR, SANParks, Western Cape Government

When you call WSAR, give your name, what happened, how many people are hurt and how badly, where you are (GPS coordinates if you can), and the number you're calling from (WSAR).

Call early. "We would much rather someone recognise that they're in difficulty and call early than continue into increasingly dangerous terrain," Nel said (The Citizen).

If you're lost, stay together and retrace your steps. If you're somewhere unsafe, stay where you are and wait for rescuers (Western Cape Government).