Climb the left hand side of the Lower Area. Starting behind a tree, climb up steep rock and move diagonally right to a groove. Climb this to the top. The tree you start behind has a bees nest halfway up the tree.
The climb was first opened ground up on trad trending more left at the start and then up right. The direct bolted variation is about 24. Use the rightmost bolts at the start.
Start from the river bed at the base of the boulders, a spot is a good plan here to stop the climber falling backward into the rock. Continue up as for 'Vandals'. This variation adds a bit of pump to the already sustained 'Vandals'.
A steep natural crack line just left of FABERGE. This becomes a jelly of wasps in winter. It climbs the crack directly above the boulder with a U-bolt in it.
A complex and sequential sport journey, not a give away at its grade! It was the first 31 in the country even though there was no 30 yet at the time. The direct start is grade 32.
Fernkloof forms a short narrow gorge just before it opens out to the north. Halfway down the steep left hand wall of this gorge is an upstream facing dihedral.
20m 23 Climb the dihedral, move right, and continue up a groove to the top.
Starts just right of the arete moving up slightly rightwards up to a cubby hole with chains on the left of this. This route has been recently re-bolted.
Starts in the tree. A good route although a bit necky. Don't fall low down or you could end up straddling the tree - ouch! The bolts are also suspect - take care.
The climb ascends the slab above the first pool, opposite the MIRROR MIRROR wall. Traverse in rightwards above the water and up the seam via a mantleshelf move.
2m Right of THE FAVOURITE GAME is a F2 Corner, BEAUTIFUL LOSERS climbs the face and overhang 1m right of this corner. (Permission has been given to retrobolt this route as long as long as the first ascent remains.)
Starts from the boulders just above the lower pool. There is a dyno start with the route going left and finishing up and around the corner. The old bolts still need to be removed and must not be used at all.
A 10m route. 10m upstream of MIRROR MIRROR is a short overhanging wall. Starting off a boulder on the right, climb the broken crack-line to exit right to a ledge about 2m from the top of the wall. This route was originally opened by Roger Nattrass on natural at grade 24. A key hold has broken off to bring the grade up to 25 or maybe even 26?
This climb starts on the steep face above a boulder which is ascended after the pool. Climb up the face (1 bolt) to a ledge. Traverse left and up to a corner, climb the corner to a roof. Pull through the roof and climb the headwall to the top. (Permission has been given to retrobolt this route as long as long as the first ascent remains.)
Climbs the smooth face on the left of GLASS MENAGERIE. This was Herman du Plessis old project. A bent bolt needs to be removed. Some rather thin climbing on this one!
Start the climb from the tree growing over the lower pool. Climb the face straight up to the groove between the two small roofs of GLASS MENAGERIE and THE LOOKING GLASS. A good route but with one very hard move.
The route starts from the little island below the MIRROR MIRROR wall. Boulder up the start to a ledge and climb the open book to a small roof then pull though to chains.
Scramble up to ledge (just right of Mirror Mirror wall) above first wade pools via roots on the right. Start near back of recess by small tree on this ledge. Climb up leftwards to chains.
An unknown line that can be lead on natural and has top anchors. There is a large 'recess' with a few trees growing in it just right of THE LOOKING GLASS. The climb is on the uneven face just right of this. It can serve as a warm up route. A very easy scramble from the downstream side will get you to the top to set up a top rope.
Located about 40m downstream from the top of the upper area on the true left. The route starts just left of massive overhangs (piton can be seen in small rail just below the overhangs)
23m 21 Start on a jammed block in the river, gain access to a big jug just to the left of a crack with a layback/dyno move, once you gain the crack, climb it to the overhangs above and move left out to recess with two cracks, climb the left crack to a ledge with a tree on it.
15m 15 Climb the finger crack on the right hand side of the ledge, follow the crack to an awkward move involving a handjam, this takes you into a chimney with a big triangular block above it, climb out of this to a larger sloping ledge.
40m 22 Above the triangular block is a jam crack that break through the slightly overhanging wall almost to the top, climb this until the crack disappears following as straight line to the top as possible. The protection is great all the way through this route, many nuts are very handy for the last pitch.
The route takes a direct line up the front of a buttress 18m upstream from AMBUSH and 18m downstream from the 12m waterfall. The start is directly below an inverted V 8m up and at the centre of the buttress wall.
14m 13 Climb directly up to the inverted V, move above it and across left to a stance and peg belay, to the right of a tree.
14m 17 Climb diagonally right from the stance to the twin horizontal cracks in the red wall (peg runner 6m). Move left and pull strenuously over a bulge to a resting ledge. Move 1m left and make an awkward layback move. Then diagonally right to the ledge and peg or tree belay.
9m 15 Move up into the short steep groove, make a difficult move up it and up to a large ledge below the large overhang.
25m 15 Follow the ledge some 2m left and move up 10m over a bulge then right to good holds above the overhang. Continue traversing rightwards some 8m and ascend a short corner then easily to the top.
This route follows a shallow crack/recess which runs almost to the top of the cliffs, to the right of RUBBER SOUL.
30m 10 Climb up to the tree 3m downstream of, and level with, the 'inverted V' of RUBBER SOUL. Follow the crack behind the tree to a ledge, and continue up a recess to a ledge on large blocks. (The grade of this pitch can be raised by avoiding the use of trees and roots).
30m 14 Continue climbing up the now steeper recess, starting from the left hand end of the ledge. This leads to easier rock which is followed to the top.
Note:
From the right hand end of the ledge at the top of the first pitch one can climb to the top over grade 8 rock.
35m 15 The pitch follows a straight line to the top, except for the upper section where it turns diagonally left. The first section consists of crack climbing followed by various face moves.
Variation:
From the right hand edge of the ledge at top of pitch 2, one can lower the grade to 10 by climbing out to the right.
The climb is 100m upstream of the junction with Great Gully. At this point there is a 6m overhang at the top of the face. The climb starts at a 2,5m long rock splinter leaning against the face.
18m 13 Climb sometimes at the crack and sometimes to the right, past a tree 8m up to a small stance at a chockstone.
11m 15 Traverse right for 9m, then ascend at the left of a minor overhang to the second ledge above this overhang.
13m 18, A0 Traverse left for 6m above the traverse of the second pitch to a corner. Traverse left around the buttress (awkward) until the ledge ends. Climb diagonally upwards to the left onto a long narrow ledge.
6m 10 Climb upwards and then diagonally left to a stance on which there are three trees.
Commence about 20m up Great Gully from its junction with Fernkloof proper.
12m 13 Climb a grey face to the left of an overhang which has a crack dividing it from the sloping grey slab on its left. Climb the slab to a ledge.
15m 6 Climb up easy face for 6m. Traverse left and up onto a broad grassy ledge to a grey face 5m right of the largest tree on the ledge. (Battle Crack is the 3/4m wide crack starting about 8m above the broad grassy ledge. It has a tree at its base and a large undercut brown recess below it.)
15m 11 Climb the grey face right of the brown recess, up the side of a detached block, then follow a dassie traverse left to a tree on a small brown platform at the foot of the crack.
15m 11 Chimney up crack to a flake-like chockstone and move left onto arete, then onto blocks at foot of final crack.
10m 8 Move right, past the crack continuing from the top of the chimney and up an easy recess to the top.
12m 13 This pitch is the same as the first pitch of BATTLE CRACK.
16m 7 Climb the easy rock for 6m, then traverse left along a broad grassy ledge. At the base of Battle Crack there is a large recess, containing a large bushy tree in its base, and another fairly large tree at 8m.
35m 15 Climb up the shallow recess on the righthand wall of the corner above the bushy tree. Move right before reaching a small overhang, and continue up to a ledge at 7m. (This is the dassie traverse of BATTLE CRACK.) Climb up diagonally rightwards from the lefthand end of the ledge for 4m, then traverse right onto the arete. Follow this up, breaking through a gap in the overhanging rock, 2m to the right of a prominent open book. Carry on to tree belay at top.
22m 10 From tree at top of first pitch go straight up grey nose on the left, into a corner, then again straight up a grey block to a stance on top.
25m 10 Go straight up the corner above the block and into a chimney, past a big tree near the bottom of the chimney. Carry on up the chimney to a ledge and a tree.
FA:P. Harris, R. Forsyth & Miss J. Humphreys, 1957
Start 8m right of BATTLE CRACK and 12m left of KEY ROUTE where a medium-sized tree grows out of a split in the overhang above.
10m 13 Move diagonally left in a recess past a fixed piton, past the tree and onto a ledge.
20m 6 Scramble up diagonally left to the broad grassy ledge below the main krantz.
28m 13 Climb the grey recess to the left of the large tree which lies below BATTLE CRACK. Beyond a small tree about 10m up the recess becomes a narrow chimney. Climb the chimney to the top passing a chockstone and a deep narrow cave high up.
Variation:
3a. 15 Something Further: From the small tree 10m up, climb the brown vertical wall to the left. Zig-zag up and enter a conspicuous brown square recess with blocks at its base. Swing around the block to the right and re-enter the chimney on to the top. (Sep 1979 R. Fox and D. Scott)
15 From the small tree 10m up, climb the brown vertical wall to the left. Zig-zag up and enter a conspicuous brown square recess with blocks at its base. Swing around the block to the right and re-enter the chimney on to the top.
Commence in Great Gully at its junction with the main kloof.
12m 7 Climb recess behind a 35cm wide smooth blackish tree. Bear slightly left to large sloping ledge.
10m 5 Traverse left and ascend a bush covered recess to a tree.
12m 7 Climb through recess on right to a triangular patch of grass and a small tree.
Note:
Pitches 2 and 3 are seldom climbed and the variation below is the more usual route.
Variation:
2 & 3. 25m 10 Instead of traversing left, climb directly up to small tree in recess. Move right onto nose and up diagonally right into a brown recess. Climb recess past a stamvrug tree. Continue up and left over blocks and step left under nose to triangular patch of grass.
4a 25m 7 Climb crack at back of ledge and move left to enter final chimney to top.
Commence in main kloof approximately 15m below junction of Great Gully. There is a small overhang 18m above the starting point.
18m 15 Climb 3m to bottom of small smooth recess. Traverse to right into a small crack which is ascended, after which climb a face on the right on small holds to a broad platform and small tree.
5m 10 Reach another platform by a layback in a corner.
30m 7 Traverse to the left and upwards over a number of blocks until underneath a conspicuous "prow" jutting out from the top of the kloof. Traverse under a nose to the triangular grass patch described under pitch 3 of KEY ROUTE.
22m 10 Climb exposed nose on right of grass patch then up underneath and to the right of the prow to a ledge. Traverse to the right along the ledge and up a short chimney.
Variation:
1a. 15m 10 Avoid the first pitch as described by starting 3m downstream from Great Gully. This is the more obvious route.
Start as for QUIVER FACE, about 15m downstream of junction of Great Gully below a small smooth recess, and 18m below some overhangs.
28m 19 Climb directly up the recess, stepping out left at the top (crux). Traverse 3m left, move up 2,5m and then traverse back right for 3m and pull up onto a ledge and resting point. Standing in a sling from a piton, move up into the base of a steep recess above the ledge and climb this to the overhangs. Traverse left under the overhangs to a good ledge and piton belay.
28m 13 Layback up the corner above the left hand end of this stance and continue straight up to ledge and block belay below and slightly to the right of a steep red recess.
25m 15 Climb the recess strenuously for 9m and then swing out right on good holds. Continue straight up and finish up a deep chimney past chockstone at the top.
Variation: (QUIVER DIRECTER)
1a. 28m 17 Start in smooth recess (same as QUIVER DIRECT). Climb up and move left at top (15). Move 2m left and climb 2,5m up. A number of delicate moves brings one to ledge below overhang with two breaks. Move delicately up to the left of the left hand break until a very thin slit below the overhang acts as a handhold. Move right to the break in the overhang and then make a difficult move up the recess to below the second overhang (17). Move left to belay point. (This recess is 2m to the left of the original route which climbs the right hand recess with the aid of a peg.) Variation opening party unknown.
Start 3m downstream of the start of QUIVER DIRECT and 3m upstream of the big chock boulder above the wade pool. The pitch follows a crack system on the left hand side which is entered by starting on a large boulder just downstream of it.
25m 15 Step up onto a small footledge and move by an awkward hand-swing left around the bulge to gain the start of the crack (3m). Follow the crack via two bulges (good nut runners) to a horizontal break (8m). Climb the wall above moving diagonally right and then back left to stand on top of a large flat block at the start of the reddish rock (9m). At this point one is below the downstream end of some large overhangs. Move right to gain a small crack and climb this to the belay ledge (tree belay to right) (5m).
43m 15 Climb the obvious corner and system of easy broken ledges, moving slightly right, to a short free-
standing pinnacle at the base of a steep shallow red corner (23m). One can belay here. Climb the pinnacle corner above until it is possible to move right with difficulty to a sloping ledge on the arete (9m). Move up the left side of the deceptive face by an awkward move onto a large ledge (5m). Climb the right hand edge of the next wall (3m) to a large ledge and walk 6m to a large tree belay. Scramble to top.
Note:
The first pitch is the same as that of QUIVER FACE apart from the first few moves.
The climb starts from the tree in the gully 30m from the corner of QUIVER FACE.
25m 13 Climb the tree for 7m and do a delicate step across onto the face. Move 7m right to a right-angled diedre. Climb diedre for 11m using the parallel cracks which are 1.5m apart to a stance at a small tree. Chockstone belay.
25m 13 Ascend the crack above the stance for about 3m. Traverse 6m to the right to a small pinnacle. Continue upwards for about 11m to the top.
The pinnacle is situated on the left hand side of the kloof about 100m below the junction of Great Gully and is only detached at its top. Slightly up kloof of the pinnacle is a small gully on the left. The route starts by entering the gully by a short pitch, after which the pinnacle is climbed in the corner formed by its upstream side and the main face.
12m 10 Take off from a large tree onto a greasy wet slab, from which a short chimney is reached.
15m 8 After walking up the gully for about 10m, climb out on the pinnacle side up a slight recess to a stance on the top of a block.
22m 8 Start in a large chimney separating the pinnacle from the main face, below a large chockstone forming a bridge between the pinnacle and the main face. Climb secondary chimney on the right and over blocks and face to a narrow ledge. Traverse left onto top of chockstone.
12m 8 About 2m back along the traverse referred to under pitch 3 the pinnacle proper may be climbed. (This is actually part of the last pitch of the Frontal route.)
Variation:
10m 10 Climb the very steep, clean corner/recess directly in line with the gully proper.
The route follows a direct line up the front of the Fernkloof pinnacle. Start 5m to the right of PINNACLE GULLY on a smooth sloping slab facing upstream, slightly left of prominent open book breaking through the overhangs.
26m 16 Ascend the sloping slab to a boulder pinned under a roof. Break through the first roof using this. Climb into open book, moving diagonally left to the left ridge. Climb this until the bulge. Move 1m right into the recess again, which is climbed up a handjam crack to a sloping ledge below the overhanging headwall. (The top half of this pitch is the same as that used by HOROSCOPE)
24m 17 The crack continues above. Climb up some boulders on the left and step left into an overhanging jam crack. Climb this (strenuous) to a ledge. Step up and right onto the front of the pinnacle. Up this (airy) to below summit overhang. Break through the roof on big holds to top.
Notes:
This route is on superb rock and is exposed.
The direct start to pitch 2 to enter the crack directly has been climbed at grade 19 (Oct 1985 S. Middlemiss and S. Kellet.)
Instead of climbing the handjam crack of pitch 2, it is possible to continue up the narrow chimney just left of it at grade 16 (Jan 1997 P. Fatti, M. Prior and M. O'Reilly)
The route commences at an overhung damp, grey face immediately below the summit.
12m 11 Start on right and climb up to a dassie traverse below the overhangs, then traverse left round an awkward corner to a tree and good stance.
18m 14 From the tree, traverse diagonally up to the right for 2m to the bottom of a steep recess. Climb the recess to a large tree.
12m 7 Climb chimney to top of a large block.
22m 10 Climb on upstream side of pinnacle to top.
Variation: (3 stars)
4a. 15m 13 From the point at which the pinnacle becomes free-standing, ascend middle of upstream face in slight chimney and move right into the gap beneath the huge top block of the pinnacle. Crawl to outside tip of pinnacle and pull-up spectacularly. Rope work is very tricky here. Continue easily to top.
This route follows a line about 6m to the right of PINNACLE FRONTAL, ending at the top of the pinnacle on its north (downstream) side.
18m 13 Start about 3m right of the start of the Frontal route. Ascend right up to the overhang which is about 6m above stream bed, and traverse left (i.e. above the dassie traverse of the Frontal route) to the bottom of a V-shaped recess which is about 5m right of the recess in which the second pitch of the Frontal route is situated. Climb up the recess for 5m, traverse left onto ridge, ascend a further 5m, traverse right (overhang above) onto the right hand wall of the recess and then ascend the ledge.
9m 8 Traverse left into recess (above overhang at the top of last pitch) and continue directly up to rock ledge.
9m 7 Walk right along down-sloping ledge and enter gully on immediate downstream side of pinnacle. Ascend gully past chockstone jammed against tree, and then climb on face of pinnacle. This brings one to the level of the neck between pinnacle and kloof wall.
9m 15 Climb steep crack on downstream face of pinnacle.
Note:
The route is a little contrived, as escape to the right is possible at the top of every pitch, except the third.
70m downstream from HOROSCOPE to the right of a large pool at first obvious break in rock face.
15m 10 Climb diagonally left up a recess break in rock face. Up to a tree belay behind large block.
Now walk to the right (facing rock) to a gully. Walk up this (4) to very large cave (60m).
15m 7 Start pitch at right hand corner (facing the cave) and belay from tree above cave.
25m 15 Traverse to the left of this tree for 1m and then climb straight up for about 5m (crux) then traverse delicately to easier rock on left. An alternate route can be made by moving left to the far corner and then up. The latter route is easier (9). Continue up easier rock to two small bushes on a large flat sloping platform. There is a tree for a sling runner just before the two small bushes are reached.
15m 8 From sloping platform move left along traverse to break through in corner.
FA:J.E. Stapley, R.L. Stapley, S. Rademeyer & P. Finsen, 1969
Start at end of long earth ramp which commences about 50m above the junction of Middle Gully, just downstream of an exceptionally large chockstone blocking the kloof.
12m 7 Start at the highest point of the earth ramp and traverse right for 6m past a small nose, then climb recess to a tree.
18m 5 Traverse left along an upward sloping ledge into the bottom of a very narrow chimney behind a large block.
8m 7 Climb chimney.
9m 7 Climb sloping recess.
Variations:
2a. 6m 8 Move up leftwards then back right along a ramp to a block belay.
3a. 22m 15 Traverse up right, round the arete and up a bulging crack. Step left and up a shallow corner crack to the top.
4a. 15m 10 Traverse round a nose on the right and climb a crack in an exposed position.
From Middle Gully Left go up the kloof keeping high on the right hand side until all further progress is barred by a great column which protrudes from the face.
28m 13 Ascend the face to the right by means of the four opposing ramps. The 13 move is getting onto the final ramp. (A grade 10 variation is possible by chimneying the crack between the column and the face above the start of the third ramp.) Tree root belay point.
29m 13 Behind the column a delicate move gives access to an open book on the opposite left hand face. The route bears up and left until a downward sloping ramp leads to a tree at the base of a gully. Ascend to the left on the face behind the tree which leads onto ramp which ends at the base of a deep crack.
18m 15 Ascend the crack (crux) and then bear left up a ramp through a rounded section to the final stance. A variation crack of equal standard may be found directly above the crack crux.
About 70m upstream of DEXTER, on the left hand side of Fernkloof, is a steep wall of auburn rock with the bottom of the kloof forming a ramp.
15m 13 In the middle of the face, and approximately 10m up, is a small tree as thick as a man's wrist. Starting on the left where the ramp meets a sloping ledge, traverse 10m right over sloping rock and climb up steeply, directly below the tree, to a stance.
35m 19 Above are two cracks. Climb the one on the right for 5m. Move right and diagonally up across a steep slab to vanish around the corner. Climb the off-width crack through the roof to a stance.
Situated halfway down Middle Gully Left, the route takes the pronounced groove (cairn) 25m upstream of CHOCKSTONE FACE and follows the left-leaning openbook/ramp system to the top (wormhole visible from bottom).
45m 14 Pad up the right extremity of the ramp next to the crack to the wormhole. Worm through this moving out leftwards under pressure. The face steepens here. Continue up open book to roof and straddle through this favouring right hand wall to clear. Move up ledge behind to gain groove with narrow overhanging crack system above. Straddle and jam up crack to comfortable belay stance at top.
About 40m upstream of SCAR in middle gully left is a cave with a left facing open book above.
?m 10 Gain the left page of the open book by climbing up some poised boulders just left of the apex of the cave. Move into the crack on the right and ascend till under the roof. Break out left.
This route commences in a recess at the actual point where the face of Middle Gully Left meets the face of the main kloof.
25m 7 Straight up recess to tree and big stance.
22m 10 Climb 4m in a chimney to a chock stone, which is avoided by a face climb on the right and a pull up to a rock above the chock stone. Continue out to left, reaching a many-boughed tree.
20m downstream of Middle Gully Left is a wide red slab at 9m, both undercut at its base and overhung above. This slab is traversed from left to right. Start behind a large boulder at the upstream extremity of the slab.
25m 15 or 19 Ascend the recess for 5m and step right onto the slab. Traverse 2m to a peg runner (in place). Either continue at this level (19) or step down 1,5m (15). Traverse 3m to a shallow groove and up this to an overhang on the left. Make a descending traverse (peg runner in place) then up rightwards to a tree belay in a chimney. A very fine pitch.
12m 10 Ascend the chimney to a huge ledge and belay. Walk 25m left.
18m 7 Scramble up the corner to the top.
FA:Paul Fatti, J. Anderson, A.C. Carmen & M. Makowski, 1966
30m 19 As for DEXTER (using the lower grade 15 variation) to the shallow groove in the middle of the face. Climb up this, past the overhang on the left, to the second overhang. Step left to a crack, climb up past the overhang and continue up the recess above to stance and tree belay.
10m 13 Traverse right along the ledge to a huge block on the skyline. Climb up this and continue up to a large ledge.
30m 15 Climb diagonally up left to the base of a big recess. Climb the crack in the left hand wall, stepping out left at the top. Continue up to the top, either via a shallow groove above or by stepping right and pulling up spectacularly through the overhang on good holds.
35m 23 Starts directly below DEXTER and DEXTROSE. Pull through bulge at bottom (strenuous and devious) and up onto slab above. Up slab and move slightly left and up steep bulging rock/corner past peg to rejoin DEXTROSE at 20m. Follow corner to tree.
20m 21 Start directly below the stance at the end of the first pitch of DEXTER. Climb up short open book to a roof. Awkward moves through the roof, then climb the corner above moving left onto the face at the top to gain the stance.
12m 10 Scramble up the corner and chimney behind the stance to a belay point on top of a flat boulder on the right.
43m 20 Ascend the right hand of two cracks to a ledge with a tree. move left behind the tree and up another short crack and continue to the top.
Note:
The first free ascent was in Aug 1987 by S. Middlemiss and M. Hyslop.
First ascent: 16 Nov 1986 R. Dodding and P. Greenfield (Pitch 1); Feb 1969 A.D. Barley and M. White (Pitch 3).
10m downstream from THE RIGHT STUFF, a downstream facing slab cuts through the overhangs which guard the base of the crag. This route follows the slab through the overhangs, then breaks up right below further overhangs to finish up a series of steep cracks above.
14m 17 Start from a boulder and climb up the centre of the whitish slab using a flake crack. At the overhang traverse left and around the arete to a small stance and peg belay.
12m 19 The slab continues through the overhang as two thin cracks. Layback up the left crack to reach a small tree. (A peg was used on the opening ascent, but since climbed free.) Make a long step right to reach an easy angled slab at the top of the right hand crack and continue to a good ledge and peg belay.
18m 10 Go diagonally up right to avoid the overhang and over wide ledges to belay below a steep chimney-crack.
15m 19 Follow the shallow chimney-crack which is difficult for 6m until a small ledge is gained on the left. Continue more easily to a wide ledge and block belay on the left.
9m 11 Continue in the same crack line to a wide ledge below a right-angled corner.
20m 15 Climb the corner crack on layback holds, step left and up to a cave with an awkward final move above.
Climbs through the large overhangs guarding the base of the crag near HIGH NOON. This is approximately 50-70m downstream of DEXTER. The route follows some obvious cracks through the roofs (about 5m above the streambed) into a shallow chimney/corner, which is followed to easier ground.
15m 21 Climb up to the roof and move gymnastically through to the chimney, follow this past a small tree to easier ground.
Start by a large tree at the base of two parallel cracks which lie midway between HIGH NOON and AMPUTATION CHIMNEY.
This climb starts up the left hand of these 2 cracks. About 15m above are two recesses, each containing a single tree.
35m 18 Climb the crack for 2m, step left and ascend the smooth face directly without reference to either crack. Protection is by tying-off the thick tree root. Gain the blunt arete above (between the two recesses). Follow this delicately to the grassy gully above. Tree belay. (Common stance with AMPUTATION CHIMNEY.)
15m 18 Traverse 3m right and ascend the steep appealing crack system above to a ledge with a tree. Good protection.
15m 15 Follow the sharp, stepped arete above, move left and follow a short corner-crack to a broad, vegetated ledge. Scramble to top.
Start by a large tree at the base of two parallel cracks which lie midway between HIGH NOON and AMPUTATION CHIMNEY.
30m 15 Climb the right hand crack for a few metres then step left to the other. Continue up this to a ledge and then climb the recess above. Above the large tree, break out to the right. Ascend diagonally right to a hidden stance.
25m 13 About 18m above is a slanting overhanging crack with a short bottomless chimney below it. Climb up to the chimney, into it and then break out right. The stance is a tiny sloping ledge below and to the right of the crack.
25m 19 Make an awkward step-down to the right, below a short overhanging wall. Using a layaway grip for the right and poor pinch grips for the left hand, move up to reach good holds. Getting as high as possible on these, move up and find an excellent jug up to the right. Bridge up the corner above.
Start 7m upstream from SUSTAGEN at the base of a 4m long crack. Above lies a downstream-facing buttress, which has a mass of tangled roots at its base.
35m 16 Step off a boulder to start, ascend the crack, then move right behind a tree. Follow the SUSTAGEN open book to the second tree, step onto the left hand face and take a leftward-trending line to belay at a bushy tree, below an obvious chimney/groove capped by a huge chockstone.
15m 15 Climb the chimney/groove, through the hole, and belay on top of the chockstone.
15m 17 Ascend the left wall of the corner above, keeping just left of the true corner. Mantleshelf delicately onto the huge ledge above. Walk left and belay at a bushy tree below a right angled corner.
20m 15 This right angled corner is pitch 6 of HIGH NOON. Follow this to the top.
Note:
Rather scrappy first pitch. Good climbing above that.
The climb starts 5m upstream of AMPUTATION CHIMNEY.
25m 15 Start the climb beneath a large block with layback holds on the right. Layback for 5m and carry on straight up an open book to an old horizontal tree. (Not more then 2 persons should occupy this tree belay stance.)
25m 11 From the old tree traverse to the right and up a chimney to a large ledge.
20m 16 Climb the face to the right of the bushy recess and move out left into a narrow chimney which carries on out to the top.
The chimney is an obvious 1m break in the wall about 80m below Middle Gully.
30m 10 Commence on the left hand side of the chimney and carry on up for 7m to a break. Continue up the second half of the chimney to a large ledge and tree.
7m 5 Scramble over some looshish rock and traverse right into a corner with a sheer face on the right.
20m 15 Climb up for 7m in 40o recess formed between the vertical face on the right and a small subsidiary ridge as far as an overhang, then step out left and climb a further 7m to a good tree.
23m 10 Carry on straight up the recess which now takes an easier angle to the top of the climb.
20m downstream from AMPUTATION CHIMNEY, on the same side, is a group of three large trees. Climb starts up face directly opposite these trees with a very small corner at the base of the face (cairn).
25m 15 Move up corner onto face above. Climb through bulge into recess above and continue to top of pinnacle. (Protection is sparse on first half of pitch.)
22m 13 Climb large rightward-leaning crack above until a large rightward-sloping ledge is reached. (The crack is blocked above by loose looking rock.)
20m 17 From the right hand edge of the ledge move right (2m) onto steep wall. Move up using opposing layaways until angle lessens. Climb corner to top.
The climb starts 25m downstream from AMPUTATION CHIMNEY. The climb ascends a shallow open book which continues as a crack through a bulge near the top. A large tree is found just upstream and the open book is flanked by a greyish slab to the left.
15m 19 Ascend the short crack into the open book. Continue up steep section to crack. Ascend layback crack with difficulty (crux). Continue up to good ledge with tree belay.
15m 13 Move leftwards for 2m then ascend crack/ chimney to good belay on top of buttress.
25m 15 Continue up the face above following the right hand tending crack system. Take a good stance on top of a series of blocks.
35m 16 Traverse right for 5m (1 move 16) to the attractive and easy grey face. Ascend the grey face tending right to the arete.
The climb starts directly below the lower overhangs on the buttress on which PRIVATE EYES is located, and starts from the top of a boulder adjacent to a whitish face and large root.
30m 15 Gain the sloping ledge 3m up and traverse diagonally up left into the recess. Climb up to tree belay. (May be undergraded.)
30m 17 Traverse diagonally up right, over a small arete, to a sloping ledge and open book. This is on the main arete of the buttress. Climb the open book to a ledge.
25m 19 From the belay ledge, move up and right onto the buttress' downstream face. Climb the recess above using layback and chimney moves. At the top of the recess move left onto easier rock and climb up to the top.
Notes:
An old piton was found on the ledge below the open book of the second pitch. On pitch 3 the rock at the base of the recess appears to be loose, although it was solid when climbed.
Pack your leopard print broeks for this one. Climbs the impressive downstream facing wall on the next major buttress downstream from HIGH NOON. This is about 30m upstream of the roped boulder problem in the kloof. The base is guarded by fearsome ferns and barbed bushy brambles. Start to the right of these below a shallow weakness.
25m 15 Climb the weakness to beneath a roof. Traverse left then up the slab, past the veg. Clamber up some blocks and traverse left and up to belay on a ledge below the right hand side of the impressive face.
45m 20 Traverse left through a wide, bottomless recess and up to a shattered crack. Keep trending up and left in steps to reach a sloping ledge on the left skyline. Climb straight up to the hanging corner above. Use your leopard-print superpowers to climb this until able to step out left to a ledge. Either belay here or continue to the summit. Remember: you are more attractive than you think!
From the summit two convenient raps on the upstream side of the buttress put you back in the river.
FA:Hector Pringle, Craig De Villiers & Andrew Porter, 2012
Devious route finding, sustained climbing. About 80m downstream from HIGH NOON is a buttress with several prominent noses about 20m up. The downstream face is red and is capped by several white roofs. The route starts about 15m above the stream and winds its way up the face, finishing on the right.
30m 19 Start in a corner that faces the river and has a roof 2m up. Climb the left face of the corner into a chimney position. There is a recess 2m to the left but move up diagonally right to under a small triangular roof. Pull up diagonally right to reach a large open book. Traverse 4 metres left to a hanging stance.
25m 19 From the hanging stance, move up diagonally right past some hand jams to easier rock. Continue to the top of this scruffy recess. Step across right and climb up easy rock to the top.
The climb starts about 30m downstream of the prominent undercut buttress on which PRIVATE EYES is located, therefore being about 15m upstream of the wade pool at the lower end of the kloof. At the base of the climb is a cave-like recess, and at its' entrance a tree which is growing across the kloof. High above, and slightly to the left, is a prominent open book. The climb starts on the extremity of the left hand wall of the recess, the initial line being capped by a chockstone and cubbyhole at 5m.
25m 20 Climb the vague recess on the left hand wall of the main recess to reach the cubbyhole. Traverse left to the first ledge, then move up and further left to second ledge. From this ledge climb the undercut vague open book, and take the recess above, to a tree at the base of the prominent open book.
37m 16 Climb the open book to grass ledge and belay.
The route takes the right-slanting line starting at the apex of the cave mentioned in GRAND BIZARRE. Cairn.
25m 19 Climb the right hand wall of the cave moving left into the apex recess. Heave up and through to easier ground. Follow this to the cave above where a stance can be taken.
40m 16 To avoid the fractured rock in the natural line above the cave take a ballsy traverse right to the arete. Move up this until crampons can be donned for the mixed climbing above to a stance on top.
FA:T.P. Willmot, G. Zippel & Stewart Middlemiss, 1986
30m 17 Climb a steep face for 3m to reach an alcove at the foot of a shallow groove slanting to the right. Climb more easily up the groove top a good ledge and belay. Even using every possible assistance from convenient roots the move into the alcove is extremely awkward.
40m 13 Behind the stance is a buttress split by a broad crack. Climb the buttress for 25m to a tree and then finish up a groove.
Exact location unknown.
The route starts about 75m up the kloof, past the cascades where the kloof widens slightly. Walk past the cascades to where the kloof is blocked by a large boulder on the right and one or two on the left. The stream makes a small waterfall here. Climb up on the left using the thick roots of a tree growing on the left wall and the boulder closest to it. Walk left and find the cairn. Look up and you will see three large roofs above you. Dyno for a nice jug on the face above you and climb to the open book.
