Hi Twekinites:
1. I was attempting to obey Scott's request and fill in the climbing logbook in the guard's hut at the picnic site, bottom of Bridal drift road (downstrean side) yesterday (sunday 16 aug).
However at 5h30 the normal blue climbing file was missing.
Admittedly it was early but its been there at that time for the last 3 years...(and last Sunday).
Anyone else climb at Kloof yesterday and fill in the log? Was the file in the usual place?

2. A white hand-sized road reflector with cats eyes on the path side has been glued onto the rock at the top of the main Boothill crag (above the "lunch blocks"). Doesn't seem to be climbing related.
Any ideas anyone ? Possibly trail running related?

C ya on the rocks,
Bruce

_________________
LCD SCUM

Hi Bruce

I dont know about the logbook, but there are also Cats Eyes at the Boneyard and Rumdoodle.
I asked the guard about it at Rumdoodle and he said that it was for helicopter rescues at the crags, presumably to sight the top of the crags at night for a rescue? I don't know who placed them there, but I guess it is a good thing.

Aha - thanks Lowry, yup that makes sense and is a good thing.

_________________
LCD SCUM

I also noticed the cat's-eye there the other day. Glad some light has been shed (excuse the pun). I wonder if they're been put specifically at the crags or throughout the gorge where choppers could land...?

As for the log book, sorry, no news on that...

_________________
I'm not a complete idiot... There're some parts missing!

5h30??????

Cool, I was also wondering what those cat eyes were for.

Not only that, he has the cheek to complain when people don't show up at his meets..

_________________
At the chaaaaains boet!!

Maybe that explains why my main climbing partner is a shunt?
One of the very few advantages of being an old fart is the increased ability to get up early...
Talking about cheek, I was going to be polite and not mention this, but a certain Scott S. signed in the climb register the previous week and somehow "forgot" to sign out - this
after "requesting" us all to sign in EVERY time...

_________________
LCD SCUM

No, he didn't forget. We just carried on climbing till it was dark and the gates were closed. The game ranger okie called to check on us.

OK - he's excused then, but wasn't the blue file in the guards hut, so you could sign in even if the guard wasn't there?
The hut is always open.
I'm impressed that you got phoned - implying that if mr. shunt fails me, some-one will come and pick up the pieces - thats cool.

_________________
LCD SCUM

You should always have a backup for "mr. shunt", or at the very least wear your newest pair of underpants, my mom always warned she'd pass out from embarrassment if I had an accident while wearing a manky old pair...

_________________
At the chaaaaains boet!!

Hi Bruce.
I am not sure it is appropriate to refer to your climbing partner like that.
This is a family website.

_________________
Feel the Qui

I see Gavin Peckham's shunt failed him. He has had the opperation & is at home recovering.

I didn't ask what underpants he was wearing.

Uh Dave, I think I'm missing the innuendo here? maybe my mind is not depraved enough? or more likely, I'm just out of date (being an old fart an' all...).
More seriously, Scott, did your mother give you fore-sight as well as clothing advice?
No sooner did we mention shunts and accidents and one happens!
As Derrick said, we nearly lost Peckham:
apparently using a shunt in the normal manner, sat back as he had several times on the same pitch, and it just failed to catch...
A ledge snapped his archilles and sorted out the system, activating the shunt and preventing him from fulfilling one of his later route names (Hell Bound Infidels)...
Engineer Bruce Sobey has done an accident report which he will publish - I'll let you know where when I find out...
I better start thinking about those back-ups...

_________________
LCD SCUM

Those cats eyes are indeed something to do with choppers and rescues. A few times over the last month there has been an Oryx jawling around doing some neat twists and turns. I think it involves a local group of volunteers, forget the name, who aim to rescue people in the area. I don't know what their pedigree is, but if they are anything like some of the ER Rescue type people who existed in the late 80's, I would rather lie in a mangled heap until somebody comes along with proper training. I strongly advised one of the esteemed rescue squad back then to retreat off a route called "Cowgirl Blues" at Boothill when I saw the leader approaching a long run-out section (with a crux which has confused many and a very long fall potential) while being belayed solely off a sapling (the thickness of my forearm), lassoed by a sling (the belayer did not have a harness). He followed my advice, and then a while later he boastfully told me of a rescue they conducted in another part of the Gorge. The truth is that the 1st arrival at the scene had to go back to the ambulance to get his gloves so that he could rap down the 15m 11mm rope. That was the start ..... Shame, he could have gotten rope burns.

Regarding the signing in - I signed in the other day, and later on I got a call from the Ranger. It seems as if my name was crossed off or something, but whatever the reason was, I was very impressed that he took the trouble to call. He does check the book, and gets messages from guard if cars are sitting in the parking lots later than normal. We all carry a phone, and while it is a hassle to stop and sign, there is a number at every access point. Just give him a call to tell you you are climbing and then leaving. His concern is about safety, not control, and we should cooperate.

Agreed.

The benefit of taking 3 minutes extra to physically sign the register is that this is a more "formal" record of when and where climbers access the crags. Formal records strengthen our status as a legitimate user group. Informal relationships are also great (and very important), but only last as long as the current manager is in office..

_________________
At the chaaaaains boet!!

Unfortunately it is true that that the individual OIC bring their own agenda's. I know - I was "banned" by a drunkard for 2 years!

Guys, the wasps have gone, so Kloof is open season...
BUT - this post is addressed to the two parties who did not sign out after signing in on saturday afternoon (13th March 2010) to Boneyard.
There is a new guard who is very jacked.
The register was missing on Sunday morning (14th) - yes it was 5h30 - so I left a message.
When I returned about 9, he was somewhat p'd off that they had had to phone the night before.
I don't know the full story as to why you didn't sign out, but please, if you can't sign out for some reason, phone the ranger Johan Vermeulen 0829318335. A sms would probably be fine as well.
The accident at Winston Park illustrates why this is important...
I'm a wimp, but there are several non-wimps who would be rather upset if we lost access to Kloof gorge due to your actions...
C ya,
Bruce

_________________
LCD SCUM