Table Mountain hiking encompasses far more than simply reaching the iconic and famous tabletop summit. Sprinkled across the length and breadth of the Table Mountain massif are topographical tidbits worth the time and effort required to reach them. One such tidbit can be found on the north side of Porcupine Buttress, the first of the Twelve Apostles. Known as Blinkwater Needle, this lone pinnacle makes for a rewarding goal when hiking Table Mountain. Getting to it takes about 2 hours’s uphill hiking (most of it along a somewhat overgrown path) and one bit of intermediate scrambling. Once at the base of the Needle, you have the option of enjoying your well-earned lunch /croissants and tea on one of the several rock terraces surrounding the Needle – all of which offer grand views – or scrambling to the top of the Needle (via 2 tricky B-grade scrambles; a rope may be necessary), where you will arrive on a small platform elevated above the surrounding landscape, giving you the sensation of floating. Few vantage points on Table Mountain compares to the summit of Blinkwater Needle: the solitude, wildness, views and grandeur of the place makes it one of my favorite places on the mountain. Not for beginners or those who don’t know the mountain well; best to go with a knowledgeable person or a Table Mountain guide.
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