By Don Hartley

In March 1897, CW Schneeberger ascended Devils Peak, Table Mountain and Lions Head, starting for each peak from the Johannesburg Hotel in Long Street, and returning each time to the hotel. On 25th September 19127, Sandy Trimble improved on Schneeberger's time. Fifty years later, Geoff Pitter unproved on Trimble's time by 26 minutes.

One hundred years after Schneeberger, I thought - why not celebrate the feat(feet !). This was not "Hiking" with whistles, sandwiches etc, not high tech - but low key, high powered vasbyt. Pure cardiovascular goodness.

For myself it all goes back to 1963, when I first walked from Fish Hoek to Cape Town over the mountains and caught the tram home. Hard mountain walking has always played an important part in my life. My conversion from mountain walking to marathon running in 1971 achieved good results. 1981 saw me moving from marathon running to the "Platteklip Club". Up and down - what a lovely gym!

1977 saw Du Torts Peak up and down in three hours. 1992 saw Milner Frontal, car to car, in 10 hours with David Davies.

Training became quite earnest from March 1997. I was "only" 15 kg heavier than in my "hey-day" and twice Fitter's age. Running three days a week up steep paths and roads and ascending Lion's Head on Fridays, Devil's Peak on Saturdays and Table Mountain on Sundays, all from my house in the City Bowl. For three years prior to this I hadn't run - I had only done hard weekend walking. In order to do 6 hours 51 minutes, Pitter ran all the tarred sections.

John Brimble (VOB) was keen, so was John Hilliar Zyl - but let's keep it small ' I never really matched Fitter's tune in training - over three days - never mind all in one morning ' - but plugged on and on!

Winter training in the Rain

Gentle rain - mist so close ~ a tiny bird lets me pass - silver leaves move - outside is a great silence! In a world of machines and worldliness - perhaps to "see " ourselves?

One evening Alfred Schneeberger phoned me I thought he was bluffing! He was the grandson. History flowed. His grandfather was a jeweller and artist who used to walk from Cape Town to Hermanns! More and more people showed interest - mainly marathon runners.

Eventually - the event. Heritage Day 1997. Newspaper articles "Hie Schneeberger brothers and wives were at the start The World of Endurance TV people were there! The start at 108 Long Street interfered with the morning night-clubbers. Some, on seeing our table, asked "Where do we sign? Who are we petitioning?

How many people would pitch - well - I suppose I could have guessed - 13 - my permanent number in the Two Oceans and 1165 - permanent number in the Comrades Marathon, 13 runs in each, and my birthday on 13th February it had to be!!

Our timekeeper, Roger Price was five minute late with motor bike problems - as had Schneeberger's pacer 100 years before been late with bicycle problems. Sarah Abrahamson, my good wife and Angela Dalziel stepped in and started the clock, as Wally Struthers sent us on our way.

We went up Long Street, heading towards Devils Peak. First to the summit was Glen Castle in 78 minutes, with a small group including Gavin Snell, Chris Goldschmidt and myself not far behind. Anton Wilkinson had gone up the Ledges Route to the top of Table Mountain first, but basically the rest of us were following in the footsteps of Schneeberger.

Then back to the start. Glen first in 2 hours 15 minutes. I was 2 minutes back Gavin and Chris were third. Grab some chocolate and raisins - OFF! Up Platteklip Gorge - not so easy 10 minutes behind Glen at the top Across to Maclear's Beacon in the mist - walking - suddenly no Glen. Am I in the lead ? He got lost, until John Brimble "found" him, only lost about an hour. After Table Mountain I knew the record was off - for now.

I could now only start with a weak jog, rapidly to become a definite walk all the way up Lion's Head in a thick mist. On the top, the TV man and Wally Struthers. I posed!

I wish to thank all the people who supported the event. Also thanks to Piet van Zyl - seconding on Tafelberg Road, John Langer - seconding at Kloof Nek, Sarah Abrahamson, Angela Dalzeil and Roger Price at the start and end-all day Wally Struthers for his efforts, the TV chaps, Eben Human of Die Burger and the other press people who showed interest.

Each competitor, on completion, got his very own Table Mountain. Mr Schneeberger is to make a wine label of a special wine commemorating the event! And the TV nogal! Talk about no commercialism! What a great day!