Articles

First featured in issue 37 (June 2011) of SA Mountain Mallory and Irving were a pair of keen beginner trad climbers based in Johannesburg. They were tired of the usual Magaliesberg kloofs and felt in need of some exploration further afield. The Magaliesberg kloofs are particularly beautiful in an unexpected sort of way because they …

First featured in issue 15 (December 2005) of SA Mountain Mountains are made of rocks. Sounds obvious, really. Problem is just how well those rocks are stuck together. Pull up on a Cederberg jug or a Montagu crimper and you know that this is quality quartzite. A Drakensberg lead is a far more fragile, frightening …

by ANDY WOOD illustration by RICHARD SMITH Featured in issue 33 (June – August 2010) of SA Mountain. Swan Lake at the Mine is a well-respected test piece among Cape climbers. For many up-and-up climbers it is an exam, and one with a high failure rate. The crux comes after a small roof and involves …

First featured in issue 32 (March – May 2010) of SA Mountain Lo, Mo and Flo were a trio of very experienced, weather-beaten Cape Town trad climbers. With expeditions to big walls all around the world to their credit, they were a tough and capable team. While Lo had many El Cap nail-ups to his …

Just before they left for Tokyo, I caught up with James Barnes, Erin’s coach, and chatted to him about Erin’s climbing and his role as coach. Tony Lourens: Can you give us some background on Erin with regards to her climbing and how she rose to this level of competition? James: Erin started climbing in …

by David Naude For newcomers, Rocklands can be an intimidating place. Situated 25 minutes from the town of Clanwilliam, Rocklands can be viewed as rather remote. However, with the right information on accommodation facilities, rest day activities and grocery options. Rocklands can become much more accessible for everybody! Getting there Rocklands is around a 2.5-hour …

By David Naude The 2021 Rocklands season has seen some amazing sends and memorable events that have made this predominantly local season one for the history books! On the 19-20th of June, the first annual Rocklands Rally was hosted. And the psych of the local South African climbers who took to the boulders was incredible! …

Ah projecting, we’ve all been there, and if not, don’t worry! This should help give some insight on exactly what it is like to project a climb at your limit and give you some tips and tricks to help you along your projecting journey! Ever since I started coming to Rocklands in 2014, I always …

words by Dylan de Castro illustration by Andrew Sutherland Featured in issue 40 (March–May 2012) of SA Mountain. I’m thirty metres up, clinging to yet another crimper with sweat cascading from every pore of my body and what feels like neat vodka coursing through my veins. My next clip is just out of reach and …

by Jeremy Samson Featured in Issue 8 (March 2004) of SA Mountain. I was busy putting my foot in it – again. I was on a 3,000 foot wall in western Norway trying to make small talk with Eline, the Norwegian girl next to me. A cold wind was blowing from Stavanger and she had …