Classic Climb: El Matador (19)*****
By Donovan Gould Wrestling the BullOlé! However, this is not Spain. I am putting one foot in front of the other up the steep India-Venster approach path behind the lower cableway station on Table Mountain, to reach the contour path. Tributaries of sweat are running down my face through my soaked yellow North Face truckers …
South Africans Summit K2
The news climbers and mountaineers in South Africa have all been waiting for. It’s official- John Black and Warren Eva have reached the summit of K2. The first South Africans to stand on the summit of the Savage Mountain. We are all very proud of both of you and a huge congrats!! Read the report …
The North Face – Glacier Pro Full-zip Fleece
Review by Tony Lourens As fleeces jackets go, the Glacier Pro is near perfect. It can be worn as an outer fleece in chilly conditions, and as a mid-layer when things start getting nasty. It has a great, slim fit that is super comfy and cosy. Manufactured from recycled Polartec fleece, the Glacier Pro is …
The North Face – ThermoBall Eco Hoodie
Review by Patsy Lourens For its size and weight, you would be hard pushed to find another jacket that does a better job than the Eco Hoodie. It’s a synthetic jacket that feels and behaves like a down jacket – keeps you just as warm, and compresses really small. But, with the added advantage of …
Black Diamond – Coefficient Fleece Hoody
Review by Tony Lourens To be honest, it is difficult to know where to start with a review of the Coefficient – there are so many good qualities! You will know exactly what I mean when you put it on. If ever there was a light base or mid-layer designed specifically for climbing, then this …
Black Diamond – Moji+ Lantern
Review by Tony Lourens I know I stand the risk of showing my age, but I remember well taking those blue gas lamp thingies up into the hills. Making sure that those fragile filaments stayed intact, changing gas canisters and keeping them sheltered from the wind and so on . . . what a pain …
Black Diamond – Spot 400 R Headlamp
Review by Tony Lourens “The Black Diamond Spot 400 is one of our favourite headlamps for backpacking because it’s bright, has a long burn time, and it’s full of convenient features. And at only $45, the Spot is a steal for such a powerful and durable headlamp. We named the Spot 400 the best value …
20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Edition | SA Mountain 81 | June – August 2022
Read the editorial and check out the contents of the latest issue. With up-to-date news coverage, training articles, gear reviews, celebrity profiles, technical tips covering a wide variety of subjects, event reports, big glossy pics and enthralling articles. Editorial While most people I have mentioned it to can’t believe it, truth be told, I myself …
The Green Pillar – Dent-Davies Route (280m, grade 20)
New back-country adventure route in Montagu by Carolyn Dent Hilton Davies has had a lifetime of passionately seeking out and creating big, hard, bold trad routes in adventurous places. When we met, he confessed he was done with big missions, and looking to do some easier stuff. And I was a relatively new climber with …
La Bavarese – Multi-pitch 8b+ in Sardinia, Italy
by Alexander Huber After accepting an invitation by Italian climber, Gianni Canale, to try and free climb their wild 6-pitch route, Oiscura, on the south face of Punta Giradili. Alexander Huber was drawn to an even more direct and an even more wild line through the monster cave formation.This is his story. Read the full …