hey everyone..So yesterday there were a bunch of climbers doing their thing at the pinnacle, when all of a sudden a swarm of angry bees decided to get us out of their territory. They started stinging everyone the climbers came down and we all ran over to the disney wall side. The bees started coming around the corner aggressively stinging anyone in their way, so the allergic few scrambled down the to the road with some bundu bashing to get away as quickly as possible. The others waited it out being stung a few times until the bees calmed down. After half an hour or so, the guys left up at the crag got all the gear and came down. The problem is that there was an oomie who was climbing solo and he was the one who must have put his hand in the hive...no one saw him after that. Can Lukas Malan or anyone else tell me whether you found out if he got away?

Was pretty scary...lets hope they have calmed down but please be careful!

Juli

Hey Juli!

Yes we did locate him in the end. He made it down and home with around 50 stings and had to be admitted to hospital. Fortunately he was out of danger. His daughter came and collected his stuff so it all ended well!

His surname was on his pack and I remembered him from Cityrock, so I phoned them and got his details, after which we contacted his family.

I HATE bees!!

_________________
"I have no more friends, and my nuts are too small!"

oh wow!!!! shame the poor guy! I am glad he is okay. Thanks so much Lukas!
Thanks to everyone who was there...especially Tanya who kept some of us calm whilst getting stung on her face 3 times...jeesh!

Hi Lukas, Juli and Willem,
I'm the "oomie". Firstly, thanks very much for retrieving my pack and stuff. And especially, thankyou for your concern. I was fiddling around on the rocks and the bees were several metres above me in the crack which I didn't notice till too late. I'm up there quite often and hadn't seen them so they must have arrived fairly recently. Anyway I ran around the RHS of the Pinacle ledge and up to the saddle area between the Pinacle and the main mountain into South-Easter. The swarm kept up with nearly all the way and stung me on my face, neck, back and arms. I was still in my very tight climbing shoes. I waited about 15 minutes up there and then tried to get back for my pack but they ambushed me again so I had to backtrack with haste. The sting pheromone is very powerful and they can pick that up from a long way. In the end I walked down to Lakeside pharmacy and bought some antihistamine tablets. By then I looked like a pink version of Michelin Man. My daughter came and picked me up and I went to Mediclinic where the doctor gave me a antihistamine and a cortisone jova. The pharmacist at Lakeside, the doctor and my daughter pulled out more than 60 stings mostly on my face, neck, scalp and arms. Today I'm still very swollen and itch excruciatingly all over. In fact I'm sitting here writing this with one hand, and scratching with the other and with a cold pack around my neck.
Thanks again guys. I think I'll stick to the gym.
Ringo ( age 66)

SO glad you are okay Ringo! We were all very worried and sent some guys back up to go look for you a few times.

Wow hey...hope those bees move along quickly.

I hope I'm doing that at 66

if you are being chased by bees, the best thing to do is run through thick bush. the thickest thing you can make your way through, and preferabley about as tall as you are. it makes it hard for them to follow you. also beware of sting euphoria, as beekeepers stung too often in a single incident have commented about the overpowering sense of calm, often wanting to sit down and relax while being stng, etc.

i love bees, without them people have to pollinate pear trees with ear buds

Nah Ringo, you're too much of a mountain goat to stay in the gym...

Jaa Guys just watch out for the pinnacle. Friends of mine got stung by bees again on Tuesday as well. Terry one of my friends that was busy belaying got stung around 20 - 30 times. This was literally meters away from the hive. He upon retrieving his gear and the rope then got attatcked again.

Ja..these bees are on a heavy mission..they don't want anyone near by.

Yep...we were there yesterday and there were a few bees out.
I got stung once on the leg and today it is super swollen and pussing like mad (sick i know).

I've been stung a few times before but nothing like this has ever happened. Those must be some super hybrid bee or something!

http://www.capetownpestcontrol.co.za/index.php?service=Bee-Control&area=Lakeside-

yeah Q...sorry dude...but I'm done with Lakeside.