In This Issue

By Riaan Vorster Some routes are born wild, and no amount of popularity, publicity or skill can ever tame them. They care nothing for dignity and laugh in the face of subjugation. In July 1922, Ken Cameron and party opened such a route. A century of mountaineering activity on Table Mountain has done nothing to …

Media writers / Photo Christian Pondella Sasha DiGiulian becomes the first woman to free-climb El Capitan’s longest free route DiGiulian waited out record November rainfall, snowfall, high winds, and persistent wet rock to complete the 40-pitch Platinum Wall. Here is her story: “It’s the proudest climb of my career. I can’t believe it!” she texted …

Read the editorial and explore the latest issue—packed with fresh news coverage, expert training advice, in-depth gear reviews, celebrity features, hands-on technical tips, event reports, and stunning photography, all wrapped up in captivating articles. Read now Editorial Why do you climb? “Why do you climb those vertical rock walls? Do you have a death wish?”I …

For those who’ve read Maurice Herzog’s Annapurna, you’ll understand why Warren Eva and I had long dreamed of climbing Annapurna I. But you’ll also understand why so few attempt it. Despite being the first 8000er climbed, it remains one of the most dangerous, with a reputation for avalanches and treacherous conditions. After summiting K2 in 2022, …

By Tristan van der Merwe My first glimpse of the Colosseum came courtesy of the Yellowwood Amphitheatre guidebook, which made a passing reference to a neighbouring “orange ‘sport’ amphitheater”. The description lodged in my mind, and on every drive to Yellowwood, I kept watch. Sure enough, several kilometres after emerging from the Huguenot Tunnel on …

By Frederik and Katharien Bakker Every morning I make coffee for my wife, Katharien, in our house in Johannesdal. While the Bialetti brews, I look across the valley to the Drakenstein Mountains. These days they’re not so famous for climbing – the rock is dubious – yet they pull at you in a way that’s …

Read the editorial and explore the latest issue—packed with fresh news coverage, expert training advice, in-depth gear reviews, celebrity features, hands-on technical tips, event reports, and stunning photography, all wrapped up in captivating articles. Read now Editorial Alone and ropeless – calculated feat or sheer madness? Every now and then free-solo climbing is brought to …

By Richard Halsey Pic by Wesley Antonites “Kyrgyzstan?. . . Where’s that?”“Isn’t that where Tommy Caldwell and Beth Roddengot shot at by rebels?” These were common queries about our foray to the granite slab-lands of Central Asia. But our tale may (or may not) reveal answers to more pressing questions. How much can you shiver …

By Dëon van Zyl It all started in 2019. I had already been living in Mossel Bay for a year and I was gradually transitioning from being a trad climber to becoming a sport climber. The reality had hit home that it was a long way to travel to Cape Town or the Cederberg for …

By Brad Inggs Photo by Brendan Kuhnert The Black Diamond Tradathon is an annual celebration of traditional climbing (trad) held at a different venue each year, and as such is a roving festival. Organised and run by Simon Larsen of RAM Mountaineering, the Tradathon was started in 2012. Simon’s vision is to foster a sense …