FUTSOC 2010 wishes

The inimitable, the indomitable, the stubborn, tenacious, one and only Roger Natrass is back on trad. He was enticed up to the Ledge on TM yesterday and in fine style made small fry out of Africa Edge aka L’Edge of the Ledge (22/3) and Africa Lunch (23). Despite cooking his forearms on the second pitch of l’Edge he got to standing on is feet and cruised everything else ignoring the beta and trusting his instincts.

It was while we and Dave Vallet were making tea at the Tea Cave that two Brits arrived with the India Venster route description download in hand:
http://www.climb.co.za/wiki/index.php?title=India_Venster_Trail that includes the following description:

“The trail splits and takes one left about 150m to the “Lily pond” where there is perennial water; or, right and around the corner to "Fountain Ledge" that faces west and the Atlantic Seaboard and ocean. About 100m or so to the left and before the Lily pond is an overhang where one can cool off and compose oneself in the shade. This is colloquially known as the “Tea Cave” where much posturing, psyching up, procrastination and tea drinking occurs. This is the centre of this little climbing universe and should you find any old geezers drinking tea there, you are likely to be heartily welcomed (which means that you are going to be dissed and insulted.) If anyone is nice and kind to you, it probably means that they disapprove of you and you should move on.

Ignore their manners, get over yourself, drink their tea, eat their biscuits and give as good as you get. They will give you invaluable information of the conditions and the routes and, if nothing else, make your day memorable.”

Roger, Dave and I caucused and decided that the Brits warranted being made welcome so we dissed and insulted them, their island where they live and I think their cricketers seeing as the England captain and two best batsmen are South Africans and their coach is from Zimbabwe. It was as we engaged these hapless creatures that our in-patriat team were being given a drubbing by the likes of Andrew Strauss, Keven Pietersen and Jonathan Trott. Anyway we resentfully gave them the tea, Alet’s rusks and the beta to find and climb Jacob’s ladder. And then told them to f**k off and go climb a rock.

They seemed to enjoy are overtures and then did indeed f**k off with a smile…

We continued with our tea.

I led the first pitch of Odd-shouters to upper Africa. Dave led the 1st pitch of Africa Lunch and to my great dismay I broke of the fragile flake that indeed kept the grade at a manageable 21 at the start of the first tricky move on the arête proper. Thankfully I was on a top-rope and only went slamming into the face on the left because a lead fall at this point is not pleasant. I now have to do a very challenging sketchy move using a rounded nubbin on the left and a painful finger tip mono on the right to reach the first good holds.

Roger then led the 3rd pitch with aplomb - a pitch that rarely has been on-sighted having spat off amongst others Dan Donovon and George Mallory.
Dave and I followed and I must say it does get easier once you have on-sighted it about 5 times or so.

It leaves to be said that I bid you all a motivated, inspired and passionate 2010. If you want to make it exciting and memorable, then get out a rack and go climb trad. (Roger had just been to Milner and could hardly remember the pitches, the moves and certainly not the names of the routes he had climbed there).
There is always tea at the Ledge, lots of pontification and provocation. You will not feel neglected and if you feel intimidated then get a hold of yourself and measure up……as I wrote on the Wiki: get over yourself, drink their tea, eat their biscuits and give as good as you get.

FUTSOC

FUTSOC (pronounced Voetsek).


Tony Dick is 62 years young. He skin is thin, his hair is white and his body is generally wizened, shriveled and withered. And yet, yesterday he was at the Ledge giving it horns. After a very hot and exhausting walk up to the ledge, I lead the very pumpy Arms Race crux, graded 23 and Tony followed whipping out the gear claiming that it is harder than any of the 4 routes at the Hole that are graded 24 or 25 that he did 2 days ago.

He then led the 2nd pitch and had a pretty good whirl at climbing the top pitch of TATWOC which is probably grade 25 trad. (Does that make it grade 27 sport?).

We had some lunch and finished off on Africa Lunch 23 with Tony leading the final pitch with aplomb. We were down by 5 pm.

The FUTSOC club (Fired Up Totally Stoked Old Climbers) club has just two members right now. Hilton Davies and Bruce Daniel are vying for membership rights (although they are a little young still). Tini Versfeld and Dirk have the credentials but are still in rehab after their injuries. And younger aspirants are always welcome to apply for honorary membership.

There are only exclusion criteria. Taking the cable car up to the Ledge is a definite no no. Climbing routes all day within your grade does not cut it at all! (You are not going to make the cut if you climb 25 on Sport and fiddle around on 19’s on trad.) Sagging onto gear is certainly not going to score you many entry points!. And don’t bother doing your 10th repeat of Jacobs Ladder or Atlantic crag…..

Now all this may sound rather provocative and puffy but it is really hard for us old geezers to keep at it all alone. Where are all the aspirants? We used to be so inspired by guys climbing hard grades. And it made us want to do them and do it harder and better.

Willem Le Roux, Dark Horse Dave Vallet Hector Pringle. Who else? There is a “Joe” from the Eastern Cape? Step up and do the harder routes… C’mon and embarrass us. Come show us that we are actually just Tired and Totally Wanked-out Old Climbers and raise the bar. Show us how “last generation” we are.

There is still a bottle of Lagavulin on any dudes who on sight Prime Time on Yellowwood in a day!

The Ledge, Du Toits, Wolfberg, Krakadouw et al is calling you up, loud and clear…

Remember "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."

TTATWOC Newsletter 7 August 2009.

TTATWOC Newsletter 7 August 2009.

Dear TTatwocians, aspirants and others.

The rains are upon us and it is not deemed necessary to head for the mountain to have a wet epic. One has to merely find an appropriate spot in our house and bivouac where the roof leaks to have a similar experience. Which brings me to thinking of a German film we saw last week called the “Nordwand”. This is about the disastrous attempt of Germans Hinterstoissier and Kurtz and the Austrian climbers Angerer and Rainer. Despite the side show of the petty reporter it was a very credible rendition of what most likely happened on that dreaded mountain in 1936. Not since Heinrich Harrers book, “the White Spider” and Joe Simpson’s “Touching the Void” have I been quite so captivated by a Mountain Movie. It is German Language with sub-titles so it has a feeling authenticity. (no twangy – out –of-place American accents). The photography is awesome… http://www.viewedinburgh.co.uk/films/north-face-film-review-26490.html

Climbing has been little but Bruce Daniel and I added another variation to the second pitch of Africa Edge. We also found a really good nut placement on Mellow Steady Flow at the same level of the critical Rock 3. It is a big size 11 Wild Country Rock that slots sideways into hole at your nose where you are standing once you do the first crank from the ground to gain the gnarly white face.

Deon van Zyl has added two fine trad leads to his repertoire including Left Wall 20 which is a boldish route and on the same day we added a pitch off the deck that is not exactly awe-inspiring, but quite tricky and makes a change from the usual Frazer’s start. Deon also did a very bold lead of the first pitch of Don’t Squeeze I’ll Laugh 21. He got very pumped getting to the first belay ledge and had quite a serious run-out. Haven’t got him out climbing since….

We (Hilton, Bruce, Robert and I) also trashed our calves at Paarl Rock recently and we wobbled and whimpered up some of those tricky slabby friction things.

I have also decided that one cannot go through life without having an “affair” –especially as I am supposed to be having a mid-life crisis. So I recently snuck off with a super babe and climbed Jacobs Ladder with her. Most impressive is that my gorgeous mistress climbed Jacobs ladder with aplomb not having done so for 12 years. As a result of these tough economic times I decided I would have a low cost fling and settled on having same affair with Margaret who happens to be my wife – after all, it’s just a head thing. What gave the whole process authenticity is the following: late middle aged married couples cannot climb with each other without some serious acrimony. But we were like two young lovers and even abandoned our children after that to have lunch together and then…. after that…… you know…….

I strongly recommend it i.e. having an affair with your spouse.

CityROCK is in its 8th year, and yes, it is still a labour of love. We had a bouldering comp last Saturday that was immense fun. My not-so-small-mate-that-has-lost-15kg-and-is-always-low-on-house-points forsook watching us bludgeon the All Blacks into submission for a second time in a row and only left CityROCK at about 7pm that night.

Jacques our shop dude came up to me and coyly told me that there was a prize for the oldest climber and apologetically informed me that even though I was, I could not get the prize. Now how bout that? You gotta business that you pump money into all the time and you cannot get a prize – purely based on objective criteria = old age because you are an owner????? What next.

Anyway my not-so-small-mate-that-has-lost-15kg-and-is-always-low-on-house-points aka Mark Straughan, was therefore the oldest. He got incontinence pads and a Zimmer walking frame……At least that was the instructions from me.

We are expanding the climbing wall at CityROCK and almost doubling the climbing area….

The sun is out today and Bruce and Hilton want to go hurt their fingers at Silvermine. Me, I am coughing up pus so I will settle for a crank at CityROCK, lots of flu meds and coffee. I shall also make my daily sojourn up Cecilia forest to collect all the dead wood that’s causing a fire hazard from the recent felling. The petrol stations sell wood at R50 for 20kg = R2.50 a kilo. So my kids make pocket money by carting wood down which we burn to keep the house warm. It’s the only heating we have used this winter. Duncan, himself weighing in at a mere 27kg tried to stagger down carrying 18kg but eventually managed 12kg. I am gonna be broke soon but I suppose its better paying the kids than eskom.

I am initiating a new Orthopaedic practice at the Life Claremont Hospital from 7 September 2009. I am not quite sure why but it seems to be a good idea to go and do some proper doctoring for another few years or so. And I think my wife and kids want me out of my office so they can turn it into a games room.

December sees Kevin and Michelle Smith entering the fray in sunny SA. Kevin sounds unusually optimistic about climbing and mentioned desire to visit Milner, Blouberg, Rocklands etc. So any keen okes out there?

Tini and Dirk decked and shattered their heel and wrist respectively - April May 2009

The sharp end proved a little to sharp for Tini Versveld who fell and hit the deck when a foot hold broke while attempting a direct variation of the last pitch of La Vida on Fountain Ledge TM on Saturday 9 May 09. Despite his candid and considered opinion of himself that he felt like a "right heel" it was actually his left calcaneus (heel bone) that was shattered and that required surgical re-assembly yesterday.

He is laid up but remains un-laid and lonely with his heel encased in a plaster cast and elevated on pillows at the UCT Private Academic hospital. So call him or sms him. Send me a PM for his cell phone number or make a post here and I shall print and take it to him or forward it.

Tini was just coming back into his own and was warming up for a red-point of his test piece "No Longer at Ease" 25. He recently ticked Sanitorium 25.

He has led a charmed life on trad being a bold climber on lead. This is his first injury other than bruises and scrapes in about 35 years' of climbing. This accident comes hot on the heels (sic!) of his brother Dirk's shattered wrist after he pulled a cam aiding a route called Bowstring on the lower buttresses of TM just 2 weeks ago!

Turkeys and Eagles at the Ledge 26 February 2009

I was at the Ledge yesterday with Robert. Somehow, after his umpteenth attempt he "sent" Magentic Wall (grade 21 the reason being that to put out all the gear in the places he did made it at least that grade). 10 outa 10 for tenacity. He did it! He styled it! This is what climbing is all about. You try, you try, you fail and you try again. And hey. You do it. He did!!!!

Meanwhile, Tony and Darkhorse appeared and so did Hilton Davies and Bruce Daniels. One could call it an accidental TATWOC meet with one wannabe: Darkhorse aka Neil Havenga. Bruce and Hilton were cajoled, if not bullied, into doing an independent (albeit riddled with beta) ascent of the upper 3 pitches of Africa Edge. At the end of it I was throat hoarse (if not Dark Horse) from giving Hilton move by move and piece by piece and number by number beta on every inch of the route. But by golly gumdrops the old F***ker did it in sorta good style. At the last pitch he had to wait for me to abseil past and talk him up the arête. There he was lying on his back having placed the gear sunning himself on the ledge. I detailed exactly how you do it and once he turned around, did the mantel back-step and found the little divot on the edge he got it. Their ascent confirms the on-sight grade at 22. But once you know the tricks there is hardly a move harder than 20 on the whole route. He was coerced (by me) into agreeing that it was an “all time classic” on the Ledge. And indeed it is. Bruce muttered something to Hilton about my vision to spy out new lines. Now I know that I am pretty good at it but when somebody complements you, then its rather nicer than stroking your own ego. It’s a bit like good sex versus wanking.

This morning Tony tells me that Darkhorse gobbled up Sanitorium 25. This means he shook, rattled and railed up it like a turkey, not quite in the same style as the black eagles that were soaring around. I have to give Tony at least 60% of the credit for the ascent because he has forsaken me yet again and climbed with Darkhorse 3 times in the last week or so and nursed him up a variety of routes to train him up.

Another thing that struck me is that all my old mates were up to the ledge and I did not get an SMS or a phone call or an email inviting me. Only poor old Robert can suffer me right now. Last year all my mates would not climb with me claiming I was too fired up and climbing too well and this year, being stuck on my back for 2 months with sciatica I am not good enough? Fine friends I have! I think that perhaps they just can’t deal with me. Shame on them seeing as I have to live with myself all the time and they, only once or twice a week when I climb with them.

Anyway all’s fun, that’s good fun. My butt is a little better and I only spend half the day chewing pain killers and lying on my back. You all better start training up cause there are lotsa routes to do!

Wetpups campout 22 February 2009

Kids being dragged behind a 4X4.____________Chocolate puke on Duncan's sleeping bag


Terror, Mayhem, Chaos and Anarchy. Our work was well done at the Wetpups Grade 1 and 2 Camp-out. The day ended with the kids being dragged behind a 4X4 after being fed bacon and egg rolls by Ray Cadiz. Prior to this every vehicle was clambered on, in and under; every nook and cranny searched and inspected.

But I digress and lets start at the beginning. It was perfect camp out weather. Nice and cool, and clouds threatening rain, which it did. The men precisely followed the rules. They bonded, puffed their chests, postured (just a little) talked about expensive toys, hunting and the like and us older dudes compared our various ailments. We benignly neglected our children who all got on famously around an endless cricket game. Some of the kids were very entrepreneurial selling everything from Marie biscuits to their Dad's cars to each other at cut-throat prices. Marie biscuits went for 50c and the cars, 25c each. Around my fire was a General Surgeon, a Plastic surgeon and me, an Orthopaedic surgeon and despite our children's best efforts there was no business to be had.

We exposed our kids to some very special education about certain things that adults do and kids simply don't and that includes drinking beer, wine and whiskey, telling naughty jokes and communicating in some choice language. And as the evening was just gaining momentum a mom was spotted but she scarpered when we told her that she would have to tour the camp-site and spend 3 minutes in each tent.

The kids ate and drank but I don't recall any of them eating anything that could be called food. Around 11 pm Duncan, my son begged to go to bed. But he really had to plead before I let him and only if he did not brush his teeth. And then an hour later a very bewildered kid came out from a tent into the rain where I was feeling a little miffed as Ray Cadiz was one upping me with his endless supply of fire wood.

This kid said he was getting wet in his tent so, as I had spare sleeping bag, I tucked him up in my van. About 02h00 this kid, Harry, decided he would part company with his meal which had consisted of a litre of coke and a kilogram of chocolate. This he duly puked over Duncan's back and into his sleeping bag. He then wondered off into the darkness back to his tent where Roger nursed him back to health and this morning he was running around fit as a fiddle again. Kids are so strong!

I was just settling down to sleep, around 04h00 and when Martin's dog raided my campsite and I spent the rest of the night listening to him crunching through JJ's spare rib debris.

Next morning another mom was spotted cleaning up after her husband, Clive Elliot, who ostensibly went off to run a marathon, but she also soon scampered off when I tried to get her to pack up my mess.

Of course the day had to end with a moment of high drama when I got locked in the pavilion clubhouse, without a cell phone, when on a visit to the porcelain. I just managed to attract attention with much hollering and banging but I was beginning to think I might have to don my Houdini hat and escape through the roof tiles as the pavilion is a veritable fortress.

Shocking this all must sound indeed. But believe me it was spectacularly successful and we all got to know the inner darker secrets of many new friends. And to boot the Cobras won the Pro20 cricket final and none of us got to watch it on TV!

Africa Edge 21 The Ledge Table Mountain South Africa

Of late, my perspective of the “Ledge” on Table Mountain has drastically changed. I have been climbing here for about 30 years and have always thought that the best lines have been done. Well I can admit for once that it is most gratifying to be wrong. For some months now Margaret, my wife, and I have been regularly walking up India Venster and even our 10 year old son has recently joined us. We then race up Arrow Final and the Margaret takes the Cable Car down while I join my mates for another route or two. It was on one of these sojourns with her early in January that I noticed the arête that parallels Quake on the left and around which Quiver Crag winds. It is a classic ledge arête. Tony Dick and I, on our first outing this year and having rested (sic) for the last 4 weeks decided to look at it. Tony was intrigued that I suggested it as Jeremy Colenso had mentioned the possibility of a route on this arête just 2 weeks previously.

Glancing up one gets the impression that the arête will yield a few meters of tricky climbing and then the angle eases. In fact this is not the case. The first pitch is tricky and quite bold. It took several starts to work it out including placing pro around a dicky bollard on the right of the arête. On the arête at about 4m one can spy a good hold. A thin lie back move gets one to the hold where a less than optimal RP or other micro-nut and half-in cam was be placed on the first ascent. On a repeat ascent a pretty good Rock 7 (or an 8 will also work) was found to fit in a cunning constriction rendering the pitch much safer.

From here there follows a tricky step up to a rail. One then has some respite on the left of the arête but as it gets chossy you avoid the lichen by swinging back right around the arête to get to a rail and ledge. Again there is an easy option up left but sticking to the arête yields excellent airy climbing and the pro is good.

The second pitch starts on the face 3m right on good crimps to a rail that is thin to the right but much better to the left of the arête. Another little trick gets one to easier moves and another decent ledge. One can continue straight up on the left but this really amounts to climbing Quiver Crag and does no justice to this route.

The third pitch again starts around to the right of Quiver Crag with a powerful crank to a good rail. One is still in the shade if it still morning. A high nut/RP is placed and then a lie back move is made on the edge on the right which is rather reachy and balancy for us vertically challenged dudes. But a good rail with excellent pro is arrived at. One then steps around to the right and does awkward and balancy moves to get back left and into the obvious crack or a straight through lie back crank allows you to attain the crack. From there it is a doddle but still aesthetic climbing all the way to the abseil station.

It is best to do this section of the route in 3 pitches both for the leader and the follower as there are large ledges at the start of each pitch. With rope stretch a second can deck if one combines pitches. The route is not trivial to do on-sight.

Anyway I did not rest there and considered adding pitches on the lower two buttresses and this was successfully achieved. With Robert Breyer another aesthetic pitch was added on an arête situated just off the trail where Africa Ledge ends on the corner of Fountain. It is a nice easy warm-up on good clean rock.

I then again returned on the 29 January to inspect the final buttress and again it yielded to my efforts and an interesting pitch evolved at around grade 20. As none of my mates wanted to play with me I did the first ascent solo using a TRE as a self belay device and tying it off every now and then. It was objectively fairly safe but subjectively quite scary.

The route was opened on-sight without pre-inspection or any cleaning except the second pitch that had a lot of lichen and loose flakes in places. The upper pitches had enough lichen and scary, brittle little holds to be very exciting at times. This has now been improved to render another stoncking good addition to the Ledge repertoire and a definite test piece for anyone who is maxing at grade 21 or even 22. Repeat ascents, as is so often the case, can belittle one’s appreciation of the “head” factor required to on-sight a route such as this. I certainly found it more mentally and physically challenging than the Good Doctor 22a route we have both done a few times. So time will tell.

Start: Just before the India Venster trail turns the corner from Africa to Fountain ledge there is a left facing corner. The first peg ascends the right edge on the clean arête.

Pitch 1 12m 16

Climb the arête to the top of the buttress.

Pitch 2 15m 20

Ahead is the next buttress. Start on the right on blocks under the huge overhang. Climb up into the corner and rail right onto the arête and round it to easier ground. Continue easily to the top.

Pitch 3 20m 21:

Step up on blocks to the rail on the right side of the arête and then to thin moves up to a good hold on the edge at about 4m. Place some pro including a half-in cam and an RP and a reasonably good rock 7 and then do a lie back into and under cling to reach the next rail. Continue up the arête with good gear on the left. Avoid the lichen and choss by staying on the arête higher up – the holds unfold as you climb. Belay on the large ledge.

Pitch 4 15m 20

Step up onto the face on the right around the corner to a thin rail. Continue up the arête to another large ledge.

Pitch 5 20m 22

Climb up to the obvious rail just right around from the main edge of the arête (see photo). Lay back up the right edge after placing a high micro-nut or RP and the step around to the right. Continue up a move and then back left into the crack and continue more easily to the bolted abseil point.

First ascent: Pitches 3 to 5 Charles Edelstein and Tony Dick January 21 2009.

Pitch 1 Robert Breyer and Charles Edelstein

Pitch 2 Charles Edelstein

Rock rally and meet Du Toit's and Hellfire 21 to 28 April 2008.

Introduction:



The Cape Town section of the Mountain Club of South Africa confirms that a meet and rock rally will be convened in Du Toit’s Kloof region from 21 to 28 April 2009. The meet is open to everyone and not limited to club members. The MCSA Du Toits kloof hut will be used as a base for most of the activities.

Du Toit’s Kloof sports some of the finest classic country trad routes, some wickedly good crag trad routes and some very challenging sport routes.

At the end of the valley near Rawsonville there is a completely un-developed boulder field second to none.

And finally, there are several easier sport and trad routes to cater for all needs.

The Du Toit’s Kloof range also has some of the most adventurous hikes and rock pools for those less inclined to the vertical.

The format of the meet and rally will be somewhat different to the past. The rally will be held over 36 hours and there will be several categories. The score attributed to an ascent of a route will depend on a variety of factors including whether it is on-sighted, or top roped or red-pointed. And also it’s accessibility and difficulty. A variety of super prizes have been pledged for each category.

The provisional programme is a follows:

Tuesday 21 April 2009

Meet and Greet at the MCSA clubhouse in Hatfield street, Gardens from 18h00 onwards. Bring and Braai and a cash pub i.e. bottle store prices (but as things are developing we are sure to get a round or two thrown in by our sponsors).

Anybody who participates in the meet or the rally will qualify for a free entry at CityROCK, Indoor Climbing Gym (www.CityROCK.co.za) anytime on Tuesday for climbing and bouldering prior to the social. The gym is well attended on Tuesdays by many of our local rock jocks who train there. Overnight accommodation will be provided at CityROCK for those in need.

Wednesday 22 April 2009

Convene at CityROCK 41 Anson Street, Cnr Collingwood, Observatory, at 09h30 for registration and head for Paarl Rock and then on to Du Toit’s Kloof. Accommodation will be provided at the MCSA hut.

Thursday 23 April 2009

Guess what? more climbing….An ascent of a major country route will count towards your score in the competition. Climbers with local knowledge will assist with the beta.

Friday 24 April 2009

More climbing or a rest day fishing trout at the Du Toit’s Kloof lodge

Evening social at the MCSA hut: Free Pasta meal; Movie, talk, slide show….Music, you name it… Again, our sponsors are making some good noises and there no doubt will be free beer too…. Aaaahhhh…. We have a generator! Noisy but nice! But Lights out at 22h30…. I mean the generator.


Saturday 25 April 2009

5am! Rock Rally starts.

(Late) Registration for the Rock Rally at the MCSA hut from 07h00 to 09h00.

19h00 Social, talk or movie and (spit) braai by at the Du Toit’s Kloof lodge (or at the MCSA hut depending on availability). Die-hards sleep on a ledge somewhere. But there will be a few bonus points awarded for attending the social and a few more for anyone on a proper bivvy!

Sunday 26 April 2009

Rock Rally continues and finishes sharply at 5pm at the MCSA hut. Although if you proved you epic-ed you will probably score some bonus points but you must have a functioning cell phone!

And while we hang out getting the geeks to work out who won or who should have won, we are surely going to have another feast and as already mooted, this is likely to be sponsored. There will also be a slack line competition.

This must happen at the MCSA hut for the simple reason that no-one will be allowed to drive, (through fatigue of course!)


Monday 27 April 2009 (Freedom Day)

Free day to do whatever. Climb on Paarl rock, chill, hiking, kloofing. Again our local talent will be there to sandbag you…

Tuesday 28 April 2009

Back to Cape Town and farewell…

Backup plan if the weather is bad.

Montague is but an hour from Du Toit’s and we shall divert to there if necessary. Check out www.Debos.co.za for camping and accommodation.

The rally and the social events will be arranged at Montague if the Du Toit’s Kloof weather is poor!

Costs:

There is a nominal cost of R50 per person to cover (some) of the costs of the event including permits, designer T-shirt’s and other bits and pieces. The entire event is being organized by volunteers and any profit will go into buying beer or be allocated to next year’s event.

All accommodation at the Du Toit’s kloof MCSA hut will be gratis but one must be self catering depending on our sponsors. Watch this blog and the relevant websites for updates or subscribe to caperocknews@yahoogroups.com. To do so, send a blank email to caperocknews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Transport to and from Cape Town will be provided by us local dudes gratis. But we must have numbers ASAP.

It helps to have a Wild Card so please let us have your number.

Should we divert to Montague then camping costs R30 per person but transport will be provided.

What to bring:

Ideally bring a climbing partner and climbing gear; sport and trad if you wish to do both.

You need camping gear as there are limited bunks in the MCSA hut.

Please try to plan and print route descriptions in advance. Info about many of the trad routes is available on the climb.co.za wiki. Greg Hart and Ross Suter have committed to publishing the “Hellfire route guide” well in advance.

Food and booze supplies can be obtained at the Spar in Obs, walking distance from CityROCK prior to departing on the 22nd. Once at the hut arrangements will be made to replenish supplies at Paarl which is 20 minutes drive from the hut.

Finally, this is your sport, this your passion. Arrive! and the bleeding heart organizers will make it happen year after year. Without your support, the sponsors will stick to pumping time, money and effort into the “bling” activities like cycling where you don’t have to be a winner to look like one.
Let’s give our sport some horns…..Capice!