In This Issue

In the Tankwa Karoo and a First Ascent that nearly ended badly. by HILTON DAVIESpic by MIKE SCOTT We shared the same desire. The plum would be the tough and menacing looking line on the south side of the main tower. Having climbed the easier north side of the tower the day before, we knew …

by TEODOR ILIEVpic by ANDREW COURT I first met Andy Court and Nic van Doesburgh a few years ago at the battered and ramshackle UCT climbing gym in Cape Town. Stomping ground for broke-ass students. We shared a common interest in the world of terrifying big-wall climbing and weep-with-laughter at each other’s dirty humour. And …

Seeking healing in the Blue Mountains of Australia. by DAVE BARNESpic by PHILLIP BOOTH The Blue Mountains West of Sydney had a hell of a summer and had been licked end to end by ferocious forest flames. What was once a deep green wilderness wonderland is now a charcoaled skin, leaving its sandstone walls standing …

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. [su_heading]SA Mountain Editorial – Issue 73[/su_heading] I know it’s been said a million times already, but I’ll …

words by Keith Jamespic by Douw Steyn The first time I really travelled to the dolerite hinterlands of the eastern Cape was with Alwin Wood — we had organised a South African Climbers Club (SACC) national meet at Queenstown’s Hangklip — and the two things that struck me were concerned with the smell of anger …

words by Duncan Souchonpic by Sandra Studer The Quest for The Pure Line – An interview with Fred Nicole, Scott Milton and Bernd Zangerl Climbers the world over know that Rocklands, tucked away in the mountains of the Western Cape, South Africa, is arguably the world’s most prolific bouldering area. It lies at the northern …

words by Lizanne Tuckerpic by Arvind Varsani Lizanne Tucker and Alison Hughes did the first all-women ascent of the Western Cape big-wall classic – Oceans of Fear. Here is their story We were finally ready, after discussing climbing Oceans of Fear for two years, only to be denied access because of a fire hazard caused …

words by Matthew Lloyd-Simpic by Hilton Davies One of the ‘Last Great Problems’ of the Western Cape lays down its arms. It is done and every muscle in my body is happy that I don’t have to do that slog again. I was reflecting on the route, comfortably ensconced on a soft couch with two …

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. [su_heading]SA Mountain Editorial – Issue 72[/su_heading] Crag Etiquette It really baffles me how some people think it’s …

words by Tony Lourenspic by Willie Koen Die TrapSanddrif Campsite, Cederberg Niewoudt had showed interest in having some easy, friendly bolted routes on the little crag immediately opposite the bridge as you drive into Sanddrif Campsite. Routes that would be fun for beginners, families and kids. So, after some discussions, they very generously funded the …