Ascents in Africa having Beta

First time climbing with Ben and Deneal. Cool day out. We all aided the 25 pitch. I took a hang on the 19 lead, maybe it was a 20 but funky offwidth stuff. Was pleased to get up it. Then I OS the top 21 pitch on lead. My first 21 OS on trad But we think that pitch is soft, it's just quite run out. Very cool route, but I'd skip the 25 pitch next time and just loop round via Red Rooster.

First two pitches of slab, then two more of vertical crimps.

Last pitch felt harder than a 6b, probably because of tiredness and the fact that it changes from crimpy to slab.

Be careful with the staff in the camp, they are not very experienced.

First 19 OS on trad. Used this pitch to go directly to stance for Magnetic, nice and direct option, saves time.

Either tired from surfing and yoga or previous days climbing but it it felt hard!Great variety of rock styles and moves on one single pitch. Very good gear before roof and beyond lip, looking forward to the rest of the route!

Finished up OSW because WED was crammed. Noah solo'd most of P4, clipping only one bolt at the first set of anchors.

Next level route, with stellar cruxes I lead P1 & P3.

Lead P1, the 17/18 variation that Anton / Ryan suggested. Found the start fairly easy and really enjoyed this pitch. Things didn't go so well after that. Mist and cold came in and got the full TM experience. Kind of turned into a bail up exercise.

100th trad lead Lead P1 (19) and P2 (16). Nice 19 OS Following the 21 crack pitch I was psyched to get my hand jams and finger locks to work.

Second pitch is mega. Hung at the final boulder problem on TR. Psyched to get on lead on this.

Onsighted P1 / P2, followed P3 clean and P4 took a fall working out the crux on top rope. The 21 Boltergeist finish is quite full on

Beautiful climbing, what a shame access is such a mission. I recommend getting dropped in the river right side by someone to avoid having to cross the top of the falls in the horrible water.

Absolute mega classic at the grade! Climbed on an 80m single. Linked pitches 1&2, 3&4, 5&6 and 8&9. There’s only 9 pitches though, not sure why it’s listed as 10 here. Not polished and not super sharp either. Descent is easy scramble up a bit and right until you see the cairns. Delightful day.

Crux pitch was definitely the chimney for all 3 of us, maybe because of the style? I hated it and had to pull on a draw, but all the other pitches largely made up for it.

Scary!

Retro onsight after 8 years of leading P1. Lead pitch 2 this time. Exceptional climbing. Very safe. A must-do at Tafelberg.

Take a double rack, I ran out of 17 extenders on one of the 3 x 45m pitches P1 is a warm-up; P2 is serious, ran it out at top, a fall would have been dire, small holds, no time for gear, but slabby. High end climbing some of the best ever. P3 gives you a taste of the proper crack climbing to come. P4 has a wild start, that gives you a mental warmup, further up when you get into the slot it tests your metal!; sandbag pitch, it felt harder than the grade-20 pitches's of 'Roulette'. Prob the best pitch of climbing I have ever climbed to date, very very wild. P5 is the best crack climbing I have ever experienced, long bomber hand jams. Top out in very high mountains, difficult to believe only 1 hr drive from Cape Town.

So so good for the grade! Whipped on P1. Need to return to do a clean send.

I climbed most of the route as a 2nd. Lead P1, I found the 19 pitch very hard, I cried like a baby and cursed the first ascensionist! But was my 9th day climbing, maybe that had something to do with it! Farewell great holiday.

So so fun for the grade.

Lead and linked P1 and P2. The 17 P2 felt fine, hauling on jugs through a roof although they were kind of thin flake jugs. Hanging belay stance, first time I did this and I felt I set it up very well, coiling the rope over the clove hitched rope. Lovely to climb with two ropes again, so much easier. I got hit with a small stone in the cheek, really surprised this didn't hurt more or draw blood.

Had followed P1 and lead P2 before. Took Matt on his first trad climb, he did really well. That P1 is a bit nasty with no gear and certain deck potential. P2 felt really relaxed, I remember being totally gripped the first time I lead this. Crux pitch was cool.

First proper trad since August! Came back to me, felt very calm, gear placements were good, logistics were rusty. I lead first and third pitches which were the money picthes.

Onsighted P1, dogged P2 hot slippery crack thing

Fun first traverse pitch for the grade. I took the second crux pitch. Set off at 8 back at base of climb at 12.

Took sailor Phil (USA) for his first outing on TM. First time climbing together, made a good team. Did the route clean with no hangs or falls. I lead the first 18 and Phil lead the 18 crux pitch. My favourite pitch was the 14 open book, crack, flake (14?). I had seconded P1 and P2 with Simon before, we bailed as the wind picked up and it was nearing the end of the day.

Lead P2 fun handrail traverse with Josh. Want to go back and lead the 5c / 17 P1.

First two pitches. I shied away from the onsight because everyone had said it was sandbagged and full on and I wasn't really that psyched. I found this very easy on a top rope. I didn't really get what everyone had been saying about the thin fingers (too small to get fingers into) it all seemed like jugs. Actually kind of confusing. But I was only in the passenger seat.

Did P1 of route on the right as I didn't like the 17 chimney start. Simon lead the crux, probably more 19 than 18. Think I would have been gripped to lead this. I combined the two last pitches and ran us to the top. The final easy 11 pitch was suprisingly good, like going up a granite arete corner in Chamonix

Deserving of its classic status. Would love to return and lead the other pitches.