Samstag, 19. Juli 2008

Climbing Report South Africa

This country is huge and the possibilities to rock climb are enormous, from trad and multipitch to sport climbing and bouldering, you can find everything in South Africa! Anneliese and me climbed in Hartebeersport Dam, Waterval Boven, Swinbourne, Oudtshoorn, Montagu, Cederberg and eventually we are bouldering in Rocklands at the moment!
Waterval Boven is by far - compared to all other sport climbing areas - the best place for rope climbing, without a doubt. You will find yourself on red rock with a nice friction on tricky edges and endurance routes! And for the perfect picture I would recommend "As the world disappears", a 26 or 7b, a wonderful line with the waterfall in the background. Montagu is the second big sport climbing area, but we didn't enjoy that area at all because in comparison to Boven it was very little and no quality rock. The Rocklands (Cederberg) have some decent sport climbing routes as well and lots of bouldering. The sandstone is so icredibly beautiful and has a very good grip, it is a dream. Rocklands - the name stands for itself, a century is never enough to explore all these boulders around this breathtaking landscape! I am motivated again and just want to boulder and boulder all the time! It is awesome! What makes your stay a really pleasant one is the local climbing society, which is very open, always helpful and likes to party! There would be so much more climbing here in South Africa: in Durban, Table Mountain, Paarl, ... but we simply don't want to leave the Rocklands! Trust me it must be good, because first I wanted to go sharkfishing, hunting, Big Wall climbing, snake catching, ... I skipped it all and just climb all the time! Yeah, that's the spirit again!! Have fun & climb hard!
Klaus
P.S.: On the 24th of october we are going to have a slideshow about our trip and climbing! It will take place in Lower Austria! Everybody is more than welcome! Actually - come people come!

Rocklands