The guide to chosspile now states...
Every person must be a member or accompany a member of one of the following clubs who must show the membership card with current date sticker on reverse:
-Mountain Club of South Africa
-South African National Climbing Federation
-University Student Card with their climbing club sticker on the reverse of the current year. (Pretoria Univ, WITS, UJ, Potch Univ, UKZN, Rhodes, UCT )

i am neither and have been to chosspile in the past before the mount amanzi arrangement.

Can i still go with my 2 mates if we are all not members of anyof the above clubs?
I.E even though this is the rule is it enforced at mount amanzi?

Most likely not...

Problem is that these clubs pay in for the security guards so you will in essence be freeloading.

But you just paid for entrance! yeah but it doesn't quite cover everything (and is quite inconsistent), so the clubs fork out to make sure the guards don't decide not to bother pitching up...

Think about it!

The alternative is that you think of a solution that will pay for itself & the clubs don't have to burden their membership to pay for everyone else

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Really, its not that bad...I think it's my shoes...

thanks for the reply
i have thought about this and would be happy to pay more as a non member. But this option is not offered, which is frustrating!
and still no answer on weather this rule is enforced or not on arrival at chosspile....
cause i cant imagine the average joe soap knowing what a MCSA/ varsity card with climbing sticker card even looks like valid or not!

Please don't mess around with or sidestep the access arrangements. Many people worked hard to make that crag safe and accessible and the requirements for access are not unreasonable.

Who mentioned side stepping the arrangements??
just trying to establish what the arrangement really are?

Last I heard...

There will not be a membership card requirement in the future but if you are an MCSA member you will receive a R5 discount. This was discussed between the manager of Mount Amanzi and Andrew Pedley as the MCSA representative. I'm not sure if the system has been implemented yet but the meeting occurred over a month ago.

In other words, there should be no issues with access if you're not a member but like I said, I don't know if this is in place yet.

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I hate this real world place... I'd be more than happy to live out there rather...

1armbandit just join the MCSA all your'e problems solved

Hey Nic,

Sounds like it's much easier to join the Magalies section of the MCSA these days and being a eager "berg" boy, joining should hold some advantages to you...

Else go climb the Cable way crags, slap on a helmet and a sense of adventure it has a couple of really nice routes once you dig in a bit.

Pierre

if joining the MCSA did not mean giving up my only arm and possibly a leg i would consider it.

Thanks to all for the suggestions i guess ill just go climb elsewhere

Joining the MSCA is also hard when you unable to attend there monthly weekday meeting. I made the trip our to Chosspile, Only for me and my three friends (begineers) to get sent home due to not having any member card from either the MCSA or other clubs.

Garreth i hear you on the meetings thing that's one reason why i am not keen....

But i have just heard that the magalies section of the MCSA dont require meets just pay and play....

will look more into this

Hi all,

I have been in discussion with Mt Amanzi to clarify access. Some important background: Mt Amanzi do not own the land, it is owned by Rissk Estates who agreed to continue to provide acccess to climbers IF the land is rented and the access is controlled. A fence was put up around the land and the Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA) - Neil Margetts at that time - negotiated a solution whereby Mt Amanzi rent the property from Rissik and control access. There are are some benefits to them in that they do not now have a mass of partyers and crime accross the river from the resort and the residents of the resort can hike up the Chospile mountain. This highlights an important point; Mt Amanzi are not renting the property solely so we can climb, we are secondary. Even if there were 300 climbers a month they are making a loss. For this reason, we do not have too much leverage in climber access discussions, if we are more trouble than we are worth they can close it to us. This is one of the reasons they are insisting that everyone who enters is with an MCSA or University climbing club member as this is reassurance to them that all people entering are responsible and climb safely.

In addition, Mt Amazi agreed to this ony if we the climbers pay for the guard at the gate, an average of R500 per month. So who pays this? The MCSA, average of R500 per month. The MCSA also pay for the bolts on new climbs and any rebolting of old ones, R600 a time.

So, with this in mind, the is the access rules from 1 October 2012 until further notice, are as follows:

1. Every climber entering the property must report to the Mount Amanzi reception before climbing.

2. Entrance is R30 for MCSA members or members of a University climbing club. Cards must be shown and must have a photoo and sticker for year of membership.

3. A maximum of 2 guests are allowed with each cardholder. Entrance is R50 for the 1st and 2nd guests. Rather than grumble about this, join the MCSA or your University Club!

4. All climbers must sign the registry boook and indemnity, and if they are the card-holder, must write their club membership number.

5. Opening hours are:- Winter time – 1 May till 31 August – from 08H00 – 16H00. Summer time - 1 September till 30 April – from 08H00 – 17H00. This reflects the hours the guards are paid and their transport.

6. Officers at reception must ask for cards and check validity, it is in the interests of access that climbers remind the desk staff of this.

7. The guard at the gate must check the date and number of people indicated on the reciept, it is in the interests of access that climbers remind the guard of this.

Anyone found to be not complying with the above will be banned from the property and should the access be closed down, will not be very popular!


Sorry that ths is all so firm..but continued access depends on it.

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Thank you for the clarification on the matter, it's much appreciated.

@1armbandit

I contacted the MCSA and they are willing to assist people who cannot attend the Monthly 1st wedensday meeting to join as a prospective member.
For assistance contact <admin@jhb.mcsa.org.za>,

I Quote from the email i recieved from the MCSA today.

"We have a talk for prospective members the first Wednesday of a month. If you can’t attend that, we can give you the information given at that evening over the phone or per email. You do not need to attend other Wednesday evenings ( in any case we do not have a club evening every Wednesday, only if there is a presentation.)
We request that prospective members go out with the section 4 times over a period of 8 months. If you go out with a MCSA Jhb member that can count towards the 4."


Garreth

Just an observation - joining the Joburg MCSA is actually not difficult - you only need to do 4 meets & climbing with a member can be classed as a meet....so whats the real hassle...

The real problem lies with someone who wants access to a whole lot of cliffs & land- club discounts, club huts etc., to climb wherever but is not even willing to go climb with the members of the club four times....or go to one wednesday night meeting...

Sounds a bit pathetic to me, really...

If I owned a property & someone wanted to go have a party or braai on it wouldn't I at least want to meet them in person?

There is something pathologically wrong with the thinking that you just pay & become a member...what if you go off yourself in Tonquani because you don't have a clue what you are doing...when asked the club will say...sure we could have checked if he had done trad before but we never met him because we couldn't care less who goes climbing on our land....come guys...if you join a club then attending a few meets or climbing with a member is nothing...

Besides you can probably ask a commitee member to give you the talk if you really cant make wednesdays...

How lazy can an individual be...as always in SA someone want everything for nothing...

Besides this I hear you about the access (why join a club if you only want to climb at chosspile), but remember Bronkies is also meant to be an MCSA access only climbing venue...that's what was originally negotiated...

All the best, take an MCSA buddy to Choss with you

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Really, its not that bad...I think it's my shoes...