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Author	Topic: cape town

j_jones

Member
Posts: 13

Re: cape town
on: November 28, 2007, 04:24

Hey Dan,

Is it relatively easy to naviagte once you get there? Also do you know any good places to stay? I was thinking about heading out to RockLands in June.

danimal

Member
Posts: 84

Re: cape town
on: November 28, 2007, 08:09

Yo,
I’ve spent the past two summers in South Africa climbing up at Rocklands. If you are there this is where you want to go. Rent a car (they are relatively cheap) and drive North to Clanwilliam. You can find more info on bouldering.co.za. As for climbing in Cape Town there is quite a bit of trad on Table Mountain but I hear it’s pretty sketch. There is also some bouldering around there, but haven’t heard of anyone putting together a guide so pretty much the only way you’re gonna find it is with a local. Go on one of the other SA climbing forums, http://www.climbing.co.za and ask for info or even for someone to go out and climb with you. They are super friendly there and more than willing to show you around. But seriously, try to get out to Rocklands, it is, hands down, the best bouldering area in the world.
Cheers,
Dan

rak

Member
Posts: 6

cape town
on: November 28, 2007, 09:03

has anyone been to cape town, South Africa recently? I know that there’s a lot of climbing in the Table Mtn area, but i’m not finding much other info. i know its out there… i’ll be there over the holidays, would like to get spanked on some classics. thanks!

sark astiq

Member
Posts: 252

Re: cape town
on: November 28, 2007, 14:39

So they left you one identity, suzy?

Anyways - contrary to what Dan said, Table Mtn is not sketch, especially if you are from Alberta and used to the Rockies. It is mostly high-quality sandstone or quartzite - not sure which - climbs a lot like Skaha or BoTL with many horizontal features. The wine is cheap and there’s a restaurant and cable car on top for quick descents.The easier routes (< Grade 15) do have some grass in places on the larger ledges.

flashman

Member
Posts: 123

Re: cape town
on: November 28, 2007, 16:14

Not too recent, but I climbed in and around Cape Town 96-97 (in fact I represented Canada at the South African at the SA Climbing championship on a huge wall they set up down on the Cape Town waterfront… Canada didn’t know that until now though). I climbed at two crags quite close to the city, Silver Mine and another whose name I forget, also something Mine I think. Both very good, short sport crags on the SA sandstone that is some of the best climbing stuff in the world. On Table Mountain itslef I didn’t find anything developed, but nice boulders abound to play on. One thing I found though was that if you walk up there from Long Street (the area where you’r elikely to be staying), and scramble up to watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean, when you come down you will have million megawatt spotlights pointing into your eyes. These will make forward progress very difficult and you will spend a lot of time stumbling on your hands and knees.
The best though, the absolute best, is if you can get up to the Cederberg (which includes Rocklands); about 2-3 hours north. Myself I took a commuter train in that direction as far as I could go and just hitched - there’s basically one highway heading north. It was pretty easy and I met some nice folks. Once there you don’t need a whole lot - I slept in huts and under overhangs, cold spring water is in abundance and you can make small fires in seconds for cooking. And, of course, the rock, the climbing and the whole atmosphere (ie as if god made a playground for climbers) is mind-blowing. Get up there if you can.
Sorry I can’t provide more specifics but hopefully this will help. Have fun!

danimal

Member
Posts: 84

Re: cape town
on: November 29, 2007, 10:30

Yeah it’s super easy to get around, the best way is definitely to rent a car, you can get small ones for pretty cheap. Cape Town itself can be pretty confusing to drive around in, but once you get out of CT and on your way to Rocklands it’s smooth abseiling (sorry, bad joke). And June is a great time to climb in Rocklands, might get a bit wet but you’ll still get a lot of great climbing in. Have fun, it is the best bouldering area in the world!!!

Great place to stay up there is the Travellers Rest (http://www.travellersrest.co.za/) but if you’re going solo the Alpha farms has a hostel like set up as well as camping and it’s a great place to meet other climbers.

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