When to turn back: the hiking decision that can save your life
In October 2019, Tim Lundy was in Scotland with a long-held ambition to climb Ben Nevis.
At 1,345 metres, Ben Nevis is Britain's highest mountain. For someone who has spent much of his life walking and working in the mountains, reaching its summit was something Tim had wanted to do for years.
There was just one problem. The Springboks were playing Wales in the Rugby World Cup semi-final that morning.
South Africa had lost their opening game of the tournament to New Zealand, and few people watching that match would have bet on the Boks going on to win the tournament. They entered each match with low expectations, and they kept winning.
Tim hadn't expected to watch the whole semi-final against Wales; he didn’t expect the Boks to do well at all, but by half-time, he couldn't tear himself away.
It turned into a nail-biter. The scores were level at 16–16 before Handré Pollard kicked a penalty with only minutes remaining, putting South Africa into the World Cup final.
It also meant Tim started up Ben Nevis considerably later than he had planned.
The summit isn't always the goal
He eventually set off with determination to make up time, and he made good progress. But, tantalisingly close to the summit, the light was beginning to fade and he knew time was running out.
Continuing onwards would mean coming back down in darkness. So, despite having travelled halfway around the world and being within reach of something he'd wanted to do for years, he turned around.
Tim didn't summit Ben Nevis that day. And that's the point.
One of the most important decisions you can make in the mountains is deciding not to continue.
Official Ben Nevis safety guidance advises walkers to set off early, allow at least six to eight hours for the walk and avoid returning in darkness. Conditions can also change quickly, particularly higher up.
There's a very simple piece of mountain advice associated with Ben Nevis: the mountain will always be there.
The same principle applies when hiking any mountain, including Table Mountain.
Five signs it may be time to turn back
Table Mountain can be deceptive. You're in the middle of a city, often with mobile reception and buildings visible below you. For many people, especially locals, it feels like your back garden.
But it's not.
Knowing when to abandon the summit is part of good mountain judgement. Here are five signs it may be safer to turn around.
1. You're running out of daylight
Before setting out, know roughly how long your route should take and what time the sun sets. If you're progressing much more slowly than expected, don't allow reaching the summit to become more important than getting safely off the mountain.
Allow enough time for the descent too. Tired legs, loose rock and poor visibility can make going down considerably slower and more difficult than expected.
2. The weather is changing
Cape Town's weather can change remarkably quickly. Cloud can reduce visibility, strong winds can make exposed sections dangerous, and temperatures on Table Mountain can differ greatly from those in the city below.
If conditions ahead are deteriorating, don't keep going simply because you've come this far.
3. Someone is struggling
A route suitable for one member of a group may be too demanding for another.
Don't dismiss increasing exhaustion, unsteadiness, dehydration, anxiety or someone repeatedly falling behind simply because the rest of the group feels fine.
A group moves according to its least capable member, not its strongest.
4. The route is harder than you expected
Photographs and route descriptions don't always convey exposure, scrambling, steepness or difficult terrain particularly well.
If you encounter something beyond your ability or comfort level, turning around is not failure. Trying to push through because you've already come a long way can turn a manageable situation into a dangerous one.
5. Something just doesn't feel right
Experienced hikers learn to pay attention to small things: weather building over a ridge, a route taking longer than expected, fatigue accumulating faster than usual or uncertainty about the way ahead.
You don't need a dramatic emergency to justify changing your plans. Sometimes several small problems together are enough.
The mountain will be there another day
Enormous psychological pressure can push you to reach a summit, especially when you've travelled a long way, planned the hike for months, or told everyone where you're going.
But mountains don't know about bucket lists.
Tim didn't summit Ben Nevis in 2019. Instead, he followed what years of mountain
experience told him was the right move.
A week later, the Springboks beat England 32–12 to win the Rugby World Cup, so all was not lost.
And Ben Nevis? It's still there.
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