Silvermine Crags

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Behind the ridge are four different crags: the Lower Silvermine Crag has easy routes and is perfect for beginners, Blaze of Glory is a little harder, Silvermine Main Crag is a good all round crag and Fawltey Towers for some harder stuff.  
+
{{Infobox Area
 +
        | Latitude = -34.075626
 +
        | Longitude = 18.407666
 +
        | Climbing Type = Sport
 +
        | Rock Type = Sandstone
 +
        | Season = All year round
 +
        | Province = Western Cape
 +
        | Area = Cape Town
 +
 
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
Behind the ridge are four different crags: the Lower Silvermine Crag has easy routes and is perfect for beginners, Blaze of Glory is a little harder, Silvermine Main Crag is a good all round crag and Fawlty Towers for some harder stuff.  
 
*±80 single pitch sport routes
 
*±80 single pitch sport routes
 
*Grades 4 to 7b+
 
*Grades 4 to 7b+
 
*10 to 25 minute walk-in
 
*10 to 25 minute walk-in
−
These are some of the best crags in South Africa with short walk-ins, superb rock quality and brilliant routes.
 
  
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== Season ==
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These are some of the most popular crags in South Africa with short walk-ins, good rock quality and many excellent routes.
−
All year round. Sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon
+
  
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== Rock ==
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= Season =
 +
All year round. Sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon, resulting in crag congestion at the most popular crags, like Lower Silvermine Main
 +
 
 +
= Entry Times =
 +
07:00 - 18:00 Summer (October - March) Exit at 19:00<br>
 +
08:00 - 17:00 Winter (April - September) Exit at 18:00<br>
 +
Activities after hours / Late exit: R500 fine
 +
 
 +
= Contact =
 +
Tel +27 21 701 8692<br>
 +
Emergency Tel: +27 86 110 6417<br>
 +
Email: [mailto:tablemountain@sanparks.org tablemountain@sanparks.org]<br>
 +
Website: [http://www.tmnp.co.za tmnp.co.za]
 +
 
 +
= Rock =
 
Sandstone
 
Sandstone
  
−
== Gear ==
+
= Gear =
 
Sport rack, 50m or 60m rope. Be sure to tie a knot in the end of your rope as some of the routes are '''higher than 25m'''.
 
Sport rack, 50m or 60m rope. Be sure to tie a knot in the end of your rope as some of the routes are '''higher than 25m'''.
  
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== The climbing ==
+
= Sivermine Crags Map=
 +
[[image:Map_ct_silver.gif|right]]
 +
 
 +
= The climbing =
 
Mostly vertical to slightly overhanging with a good 'get your leg up overhang' on a couple of the routes at Silvermine Main Crag and Blaze of Glory. There are many less overhanging/easier climbs at the two Lower Crags.
 
Mostly vertical to slightly overhanging with a good 'get your leg up overhang' on a couple of the routes at Silvermine Main Crag and Blaze of Glory. There are many less overhanging/easier climbs at the two Lower Crags.
  
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== Getting There ==
+
= Getting There =
−
From Cape Town, take Ou Kaapse Weg towards Noordhoek. Once on top of the mountain turn right into the Silvermine Reserve. There is an entrance fee of R15 to get into the reserve (January 2009). A Wild card also gets you in.
+
From Cape Town, take Ou Kaapse Weg towards Noordhoek. Once on top of the mountain turn right into the Silvermine Reserve. There is an entrance fee of R30.00 to get into the reserve (February 2012). A Wild card also gets you in.
−
Visitors to South Africa can also take advantage of the Wild cards.[http://www.capenature.org.za/index.php?fArticleId=10]
+
Visitors to South Africa can also take advantage of the Wild cards.[http://www.capenature.org.za/wildcard.htm Wildcard]
−
[[image:Map_ct_silver.gif|right]]
+
  
−
== Areas ==
+
= Areas =
−
=== Lower Silvermine Crag ===
+
== Lower Silvermine Crag ==
−
[[Image:Silverminelower.gif]]
+
[[Image:silverminelower.gif]]
  
 
Routes from L to R
 
Routes from L to R
−
Park at the first parking lot. Walk straight up the hill to the ridge and then take a path to the left and follow the cairns to the abseil point. The are abseil anchors which you can use to safely get you to the base of the crag. NB: You have to abseil to get to this crag.
+
Park at the first parking lot. Walk straight up the hill to the ridge and then take a path to the left and follow the cairns to the path down and abseil point. The path down to the crag goes on the right (when the crag below you). You can also abseil into this crag, The abseil anchors are safely set back about  from the edge (a doubled  rope will get you to the bottom)
  
−
*A - Bedazzled 6b/21 (5B,C) M Gowans
 
−
*B - Vortex 6a+/20 (7B,C) T Lourens
 
−
*C - Cosmik Debris 6b/21 (6B,C)
 
−
*D - Nimbus 6a/19 (6B,C)
 
−
*NEW - My Precious 6a+/20 M Gowans. Pumpy and sustained in the lower half! Some of the rock at the start is a bit suspect so handle with care.
 
−
*E - Blockhead 6a+/20 (6B,C)
 
−
*PROJECT G Hart. Features many loose blocks reinforced with glue so stay off it until he's opened it and satisfied it's safe.
 
−
*F - Chicks Dig it Lank 13 (6B,C)
 
−
*G - Serendipity 14 (6B,C)
 
−
*H - Rough Rider 15 (6B,C)
 
−
*I - Flakes 15 (6B,C)
 
−
*J - Alpha & Omega 6b+/22 (6B,C)
 
−
*K - Fool's Garden 6a+/19 (6B,C)
 
−
*L - Odideah 6a/18 (8B,C)
 
−
*M - Jedeiah 6a/18 (6B,C)
 
−
*N - The Gift /16 (7B,C)
 
−
*O - Hard as it Gets 17 (7B,C)
 
−
*P - Wings of Desire (Project) (3B,C)
 
−
*Q - Wet Dreams 6a/19 (6B,C)
 
  
 +
''Cloud Nine Wall:''
 +
{| {{table}}
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''#'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''ROUTE NAME / AREA'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''GRADE'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''# BOLTS'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''RATING'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''BOLTING/OPENED INFO'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''DESCRIPTION'''
 +
|-
 +
| A|| Bedazzled|| 6b/21|| (5B+C)|||| M Gowans||
 +
|-
 +
| B|| Vortex|| 6a+/20|| (7B+C)|||| T Lourens||
 +
|-
 +
| C|| Cosmik Debris|| 6b/21|| (6B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| D|| Nimbus|| 6a/19|| (6B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| D.25|| Lord of The Ring||16|| (10B+C)||||Brad Davies. || Closely bolted. A fantastic introductory route
 +
|-
 +
| D.50|| My Precious|| 6a+/20|||||| M Gowans|| Pumpy and sustained in the lower half! Some of the rock at the start is a bit suspect so handle with care.
 +
|-
 +
| D.75|| Ring Sting|| 6b/21|||||| S Maasch ||
 +
|}
  
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=== Blaze of Glory ===
+
 
 +
 
 +
''Main/ Original Sector:''
 +
{| {{table}}
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''#'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''ROUTE NAME / AREA'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''GRADE'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''# BOLTS'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''RATING'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''BOLTING/OPENED INFO'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''DESCRIPTION'''
 +
|-
 +
| E|| Blockhead|| 6a+/20|| (6B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| E.50|| Skywalker|| 23|||||| BB G Hart/FA J Temple-Forbes|| Features many loose blocks reinforced with glue.
 +
|-
 +
| E.75|| Mantra|| 13/14|| [11B; C]|||| Gavin Peckham and Brian Lambourne (30/03/08)||
 +
|-
 +
| F|| Chicks Dig it Lank|| 13|| (6B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| G|| Serendipity|| 14|| (6B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| H|| Rough Rider|| 15|| (6B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| I|| Flakes|| 15|| (6B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| J|| Alpha & Omega|| 6b+/22|| (6B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| K|| Fool's Garden|| 6a+/19|| (6B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| L|| Obideah|| 6a/18|| (8B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| ||Between the Lines|| 6a+/20||||||||
 +
|-
 +
| M|| Jedeiah 6a/18|| (6B+C)||||||||
 +
|-
 +
| N|| The Gift|| /16|| (7B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| O|| Hard as it Gets|| 17|| (7B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| ||Vlad the Impaler|| 6a/19||||||||
 +
|-
 +
| P|| Wings of Desire/ (Malcolm's Route in Book)||||(3B+C)||||(2009)||
 +
|-
 +
| Q|| Wet Dreams|| 6a/19 ||||||||
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
''8 Mile Ledge: (Half way up Wet Dreams, traverse to the ledge on left)''
 +
{| {{table}}
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''#'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''ROUTE NAME / AREA'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''GRADE'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''# BOLTS'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''RATING'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''BOLTING/OPENED INFO'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''DESCRIPTION'''
 +
|-
 +
| 1||Chris Kirkpatrick|| 6b/21|| (6B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| 2||Two Trailer Park Girls|| 6b+/22|| (5B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| 3||Oh, There Goes Gravity|| 6c/23|| (7B+C)||||||
 +
|-
 +
| 4||Oh,  There Goes Gravity-direct|| 25|| (7B+C) ||||||
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
''The Pumphouse:''
 +
{| {{table}}
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''#'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''ROUTE NAME / AREA'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''GRADE'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''# BOLTS'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''RATING'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''BOLTING/OPENED INFO'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''DESCRIPTION'''
 +
|-
 +
| 1||Rest the Brakes|| 18||||||||
 +
|-
 +
| 2||Spitfire|| 23||||||||
 +
|-
 +
| 3||In Your Face|| 21||||||||
 +
|-
 +
| 4||London Burning|| 7a (grade consensus needed)|||||| J. Samson pre July 2010||
 +
|-
 +
| 5||Cursed|| 19||||||||
 +
|-
 +
| 6||Piglet Garden|| 17||||||||
 +
|-
 +
| 7||Snitch|| 18 ||||||||
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
== Blaze of Glory ==
 
Routes from L to R
 
Routes from L to R
 +
{| {{table}}
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''#'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''ROUTE NAME / AREA'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''GRADE'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''# BOLTS'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''RATING'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''BOLTING/OPENED INFO'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''DESCRIPTION'''
 +
|-
 +
| 1||Promise of Light|| 6b+/22|| 15m|||||| 15m
 +
|-
 +
| 2||Terminal Velocity|| 6b+/22|| 15m|||||| 15m
 +
|-
 +
| 3||Drop Zone|| 6a/19|| 15m|||||| 15m
 +
|-
 +
| 4||Wake-Up Call|| 6b/21|| 16m|||||| 16m
 +
|-
 +
| 5||Bad Medicine|| 6b/21|| 16m|||||| 16m
 +
|-
 +
| 6||Blaze of Glory||6b+/22|| 15m|||||| 15m
 +
|-
 +
| 7||Dead Wing Starling ||4+/15|| 14m|||||| 14m
 +
|-
 +
| 8||Hairless Mexican|| 4+/15|| 14m |||||| 14m
 +
|}
  
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*Promise of Light 6b+/22 15m
 
−
*Terminal Velocity 6b+/22 15m
 
−
*Drop Zone 6a/19 15m
 
−
*Wake-Up Call 6b/21 16m
 
−
*Bad Medicine 6b/21 16m
 
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*Blaze of Glory 6b+/22 15m
 
−
*Dead Wing Starling 4+/15 14m
 
−
*Hairless Mexican 4+/15 14m
 
  
  
−
=== Silvermine Main Crag ===
+
== Silvermine Main Crag ==
 
'''Routes'''
 
'''Routes'''
 
From left to right:
 
From left to right:
−
* '''Mind the Gap 21''' (12 bolts) Scott Miller, March 2005 <br>to the left of Argent
+
{| {{table}}
−
* '''Argent''' 16 Richard Behne
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| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''#'''
−
* '''Argentum''' 19 Richard Behne
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| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''ROUTE NAME / AREA'''
−
* '''Jono Gordon's Route''' 22 Jono Gordon<br>This route has been rebolted with chemical anchors by the Anchor Replacement Fund
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| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''GRADE'''
−
* '''Mercury''' 26 Richard Behne<br>This route has been rebolted with chemical anchors by the Anchor Replacement Fund
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| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''# BOLTS'''
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* '''Pistolero''' 20 Patrick McCann
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| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''RATING'''
−
* '''Josie Get Your Gun''' 21 Patrick McCann<br>Hard if you're short
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| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''BOLTING/OPENED INFO'''
−
* '''Cool Hand Luke''' 18 Patrick McCann
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| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''DESCRIPTION'''
−
* '''Male Country''' 24 Jayson Orton
+
|-
−
* '''No Man's Land''' 24 John Alexander
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| 1||Mind the Gap||21||12 bolts||||Scott Miller, March 2005||to the left of Argent
−
* '''Sterling Silver''' 21 John Alexander<br>A classic! This route has been rebolted with chemical anchors by the Anchor Replacement Fund
+
|-
−
* '''Revealyomango''' 20 Tony Lourens
+
| 2||Argent|| 16|||||| Richard Behne||
−
* '''Train Spotting''' 28 Guy Holwill
+
|-
−
* '''Silver Streak''' 26 Paul Schlodfeldt
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| 3||Argentum|| 19|||||| Richard Behne||
−
* '''Dragonfly''' 26 Mike Roberts
+
|-
−
* '''Trance Dance''' 23 Malcolm Gowans
+
| 4||Jono Gordon's Route|| 22|||||| Jono Gordon|| This route has been rebolted with chemical anchors by the Anchor Replacement Fund
−
* '''Kirika ''' 23 Greg Hart, 2006<br>The grey streaks, crack and roof right of Trance Dance. The first two bolts are not in the best of rock.
+
|-
 +
| 5||Mercury|| 26|||||| Richard Behne|| This route has been rebolted with chemical anchors by the Anchor Replacement Fund
 +
|-
 +
| 6||Pistolero|| 20|||||| Patrick McCann||
 +
|-
 +
| 7||Josie Get Your Gun|| 21|||||| Patrick McCann|| Hard if you're short
 +
|-
 +
| 8||Cool Hand Luke|| 18|||||| Patrick McCann||
 +
|-
 +
| 9||Male Country|| 24|||||| Jayson Orton||
 +
|-
 +
| 10||No Man's Land|| 24|||||| John Alexander||
 +
|-
 +
| 11||Sterling Silver|| 21|||||| John Alexander|| A classic! This route has been rebolted with chemical anchors by the Anchor Replacement Fund
 +
|-
 +
| 12||Revealyomango|| 20|||||| Tony Lourens||
 +
|-
 +
| 13||Train Spotting|| 28|||||| Guy Holwill||
 +
|-
 +
| 14||Silver Streak|| 26|||||| Paul Schlodfeldt||
 +
|-
 +
| 15||Dragonfly|| 26|||||| Mike Roberts||
 +
|-
 +
| 16||Trance Dance|| 23|||||| Malcolm Gowans||
 +
|-
 +
| 17||Kirika|| 23|||||| Greg Hart 2006|| The grey streaks
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
'''Photos'''
 +
 
 +
<gallery>
 +
<!-- Place any pictures from this crag below.  Add a picture by typing File:imagename.extension  -->
 +
File:SterlingSilver.JPG|Clipping the chains on Sterling Silver. photo: Philip Starke
 +
File:KeithOnSterling.jpg|Sterling Silver. photo: Andy Davies
 +
<!-- Do not remove the end gallery code.-->
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
== Silverminor Crag ==
 +
Access to Silverminor is from the Main Crag:
 +
*From the open terrace between 'Cool Hand Luke' and 'No Man's Land', step down and follow the vague path down and left along a ledge, to access the routes. 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
'''Routes'''
 +
From left to right:
 +
{| {{table}}
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''#'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''ROUTE NAME / AREA'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''GRADE'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''# BOLTS'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''RATING'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''BOLTING/OPENED INFO'''
 +
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''DESCRIPTION'''
 +
|-
 +
| 1||Trite quicky|| 19|||||| Malcolm Gowans March 2012.||
 +
|-
 +
| 2||Souldery bart|| 18|||||| Jason Temple-Forbes March 2012||
 +
|-
 +
| 3||Tad ho|| 23|||||| Jason Temple-Forbes March 2012||
 +
|-
 +
| 4||Mong love|| 17|||||| Malcolm Gowans March 2012||
 +
|-
 +
| 5||Gunnet|| 23|||||| Malcolm Gowans August 2013||
 +
|-
 +
| 6||Giden hem|| 23|||||| Jason Temple-Forbes March 2012 ||
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
[[Image:Silverminor craglet topo.jpg|Silverminor topo. By Malcolm Gowans]]
 +
 
  
 
'''Photos'''
 
'''Photos'''
  
−
[[Image:SterlingSilver.JPG|frame|center|Clipping the chains on Sterling Silver. photo: Philip Starke]]
+
<gallery>
 +
<!-- Place any pictures from this crag below.  Add a picture by typing File:imagename.extension  -->
 +
File:Beth-Higgins-toping-out-600.jpg|frame|center|Beth Higgins toping out on Souldery bart (18) at Silverminor. Photo by Malcolm Gowans
  
−
[[Image:KeithOnSterling.jpg|frame|center|Sterling Silver. photo: Andy Davies]]
+
<!-- Do not remove the end gallery code.-->
 +
</gallery>
  
 +
== Fawlty Towers ==
 +
To get to Fawlty Towers, walk along the dirt road to the far side of the ridge. Once on the ridge, head back (that is, walk in the direction of Muizenberg). Look for a rock cairn indicating the path to walk down to the crag. You will arrive at the right hand side of the crag.
  
−
=== Fawltey Towers ===
 
−
To get to Fawltey Towers, walk along the dirt road to the far side of the ridge. Once on the ridge, head back (that is, walk in the direction of Muizenberg). Look for a rock cairn indicating the path to walk down to the crag. You will arrive at the right hand side of the crag.
 
  
 
From left to right:
 
From left to right:
−
* '''Moose's Head''' 23 Guy Holwill
+
{| {{table}}
−
* '''The Psychiatrist''' 22 Jason Temple-Forbes
+
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''#'''
−
* '''Corked''' 19 Jayson Orton
+
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''ROUTE NAME / AREA'''
−
* '''Duck Surprise''' 20 Tony Lourens
+
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''GRADE'''
−
* '''Communication Breakdown''' 23 Jayson Orton
+
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''# BOLTS'''
−
* '''Lemonade''' 16 (9 bolts) Tyrone Chan, March 2005  
+
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''RATING'''
−
* '''Playin' Hookie''' 16 (9 bolts) Scott Miller, March 2005  
+
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''BOLTING/OPENED INFO'''
−
* '''Sthpoonz''' 20 Jayson Orton
+
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''DESCRIPTION'''
−
* '''Waldorf Salad''' 18 Robyn Holwill (harder start a metre or so to the right is graded 22)
+
|-
−
* '''Brahm's Third Racket''' 26 Guy Holwill
+
| 1||Moose's Head|| 23|||||| Guy Holwill||
−
* '''Basil the Rat''' 23 Jayson Orton
+
|-
−
* '''Toreador of Torquay''' 21 Patrick McCann
+
| 2||The Psychiatrist|| 22|||||| Jason Temple-Forbes||
−
* '''False Alarm''' 26 Jayson Orton
+
|-
−
* '''Don't Mention the War''' 26 Guy Holwill
+
| 3||Corked|| 19|||||| Jayson Orton||
−
* '''Fire Alarm 23''' (7 bolts) Scott Miller, February 2005  
+
|-
−
* '''The Germans''' 27 Guy Holwill
+
| 4||Duck Surprise|| 20|||||| Tony Lourens||
−
* '''Bravest Orangutan in Britain''' 22 Gordon Forbes
+
|-
−
* '''Not Yet Major''' 25 Guy Holwill
+
| 5||Communication Breakdown|| 23|||||| Jayson Orton||
−
* '''Lord Melbury''' 25 Robyn Holwill
+
|-
−
* '''Boff''' 23 Jason Temple-Forbes
+
| 6||Lemonade|| 16|| (9 bolts)|||| Tyrone Chan, March 2005||
−
* '''Poff''' 21 Jayson Orton (this is the first route you will see when you arrive at the crag)
+
|-
 +
| 7||Playin' Hookie|| 16|| (9 bolts) ||||Scott Miller, March 2005||
 +
|-
 +
| 8||Sthpoonz|| 20|||||| Jayson Orton||
 +
|-
 +
| 9||Waldorf Salad|| 18|||||| Robyn Holwill ||(harder start a metre or so to the right is graded 22)
 +
|-
 +
| 10||Brahm's Third Racket|| 26|||||| Guy Holwill||
 +
|-
 +
| 11||Basil the Rat|| 23|||||| Jayson Orton||
 +
|-
 +
| 12||Toreador of Torquay|| 21|||||| Patrick McCann||
 +
|-
 +
| 13||name?|| 21/22||||||||It starts off with a couple of metres of face climbing, then moves up and right to a roof with some nice jugs, which moves over the roof to a left handed pinch, finally finishing at the chains under the ceiling.
 +
|-
 +
| 14||False Alarm|| 26|||||| Jayson Orton||
 +
|-
 +
| 15||Don't Mention the War|| 26|||||| Guy Holwill||
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|-
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| 16||Fire Alarm|| 23|| (7 bolts)|||| Scott Miller February 2005||
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|-
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| 17||The Germans|| 27|||||| Guy Holwill||
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|-
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| 18||Bravest Orangutan in Britain|| 22|||||| Gordon Forbes||
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|-
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| 19||Not Yet Major|| 25|||||| Guy Holwill||
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|-
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| 20||Lord Melbury|| 25|||||| Robyn Holwill||
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|-
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| 21||Boff|| 23|||||| Jason Temple-Forbes||
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|-
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| 22||Poff|| 21|||||| Jayson Orton|| (this is the first route you will see when you arrive at the crag)  
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|}
  
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[[Image:FawlteyTowers.jpg|center|frame|Climbing at Fawltey Towers]]
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<gallery>
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[[Image:LordMelburyUndercling.jpg|center|frame|Battling the undercling on ''Lord Melbury'']]
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<!-- Place any pictures from this crag below.  Add a picture by typing File:imagename.extension  -->
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File:FawlteyTowers.jpg|Climbing at Fawlty Towers
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File:LordMelburyUndercling.jpg|Battling the undercling on ''Lord Melbury''
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</gallery>

Latest revision as of 12:26, 29 May 2014

Silvermine Crags
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Latitude-34.075626
Longitude18.407666
Climbing TypeSport
Rock TypeSandstone
SeasonAll year round
ProvinceWestern Cape
AreaCape Town






Behind the ridge are four different crags: the Lower Silvermine Crag has easy routes and is perfect for beginners, Blaze of Glory is a little harder, Silvermine Main Crag is a good all round crag and Fawlty Towers for some harder stuff.

  • ±80 single pitch sport routes
  • Grades 4 to 7b+
  • 10 to 25 minute walk-in

These are some of the most popular crags in South Africa with short walk-ins, good rock quality and many excellent routes.

Contents

Season

All year round. Sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon, resulting in crag congestion at the most popular crags, like Lower Silvermine Main

Entry Times

07:00 - 18:00 Summer (October - March) Exit at 19:00
08:00 - 17:00 Winter (April - September) Exit at 18:00
Activities after hours / Late exit: R500 fine

Contact

Tel +27 21 701 8692
Emergency Tel: +27 86 110 6417
Email: tablemountain@sanparks.org
Website: tmnp.co.za

Rock

Sandstone

Gear

Sport rack, 50m or 60m rope. Be sure to tie a knot in the end of your rope as some of the routes are higher than 25m.

Sivermine Crags Map

Map ct silver.gif

The climbing

Mostly vertical to slightly overhanging with a good 'get your leg up overhang' on a couple of the routes at Silvermine Main Crag and Blaze of Glory. There are many less overhanging/easier climbs at the two Lower Crags.

Getting There

From Cape Town, take Ou Kaapse Weg towards Noordhoek. Once on top of the mountain turn right into the Silvermine Reserve. There is an entrance fee of R30.00 to get into the reserve (February 2012). A Wild card also gets you in. Visitors to South Africa can also take advantage of the Wild cards.Wildcard

Areas

Lower Silvermine Crag

Silverminelower.gif

Routes from L to R Park at the first parking lot. Walk straight up the hill to the ridge and then take a path to the left and follow the cairns to the path down and abseil point. The path down to the crag goes on the right (when the crag below you). You can also abseil into this crag, The abseil anchors are safely set back about from the edge (a doubled rope will get you to the bottom)


Cloud Nine Wall:

# ROUTE NAME / AREA GRADE # BOLTS RATING BOLTING/OPENED INFO DESCRIPTION
A Bedazzled 6b/21 (5B+C) M Gowans
B Vortex 6a+/20 (7B+C) T Lourens
C Cosmik Debris 6b/21 (6B+C)
D Nimbus 6a/19 (6B+C)
D.25 Lord of The Ring 16 (10B+C) Brad Davies. Closely bolted. A fantastic introductory route
D.50 My Precious 6a+/20 M Gowans Pumpy and sustained in the lower half! Some of the rock at the start is a bit suspect so handle with care.
D.75 Ring Sting 6b/21 S Maasch


Main/ Original Sector:

# ROUTE NAME / AREA GRADE # BOLTS RATING BOLTING/OPENED INFO DESCRIPTION
E Blockhead 6a+/20 (6B+C)
E.50 Skywalker 23 BB G Hart/FA J Temple-Forbes Features many loose blocks reinforced with glue.
E.75 Mantra 13/14 [11B; C] Gavin Peckham and Brian Lambourne (30/03/08)
F Chicks Dig it Lank 13 (6B+C)
G Serendipity 14 (6B+C)
H Rough Rider 15 (6B+C)
I Flakes 15 (6B+C)
J Alpha & Omega 6b+/22 (6B+C)
K Fool's Garden 6a+/19 (6B+C)
L Obideah 6a/18 (8B+C)
Between the Lines 6a+/20
M Jedeiah 6a/18 (6B+C)
N The Gift /16 (7B+C)
O Hard as it Gets 17 (7B+C)
Vlad the Impaler 6a/19
P Wings of Desire/ (Malcolm's Route in Book) (3B+C) (2009)
Q Wet Dreams 6a/19



8 Mile Ledge: (Half way up Wet Dreams, traverse to the ledge on left)

# ROUTE NAME / AREA GRADE # BOLTS RATING BOLTING/OPENED INFO DESCRIPTION
1 Chris Kirkpatrick 6b/21 (6B+C)
2 Two Trailer Park Girls 6b+/22 (5B+C)
3 Oh, There Goes Gravity 6c/23 (7B+C)
4 Oh, There Goes Gravity-direct 25 (7B+C)


The Pumphouse:

# ROUTE NAME / AREA GRADE # BOLTS RATING BOLTING/OPENED INFO DESCRIPTION
1 Rest the Brakes 18
2 Spitfire 23
3 In Your Face 21
4 London Burning 7a (grade consensus needed) J. Samson pre July 2010
5 Cursed 19
6 Piglet Garden 17
7 Snitch 18

Blaze of Glory

Routes from L to R

# ROUTE NAME / AREA GRADE # BOLTS RATING BOLTING/OPENED INFO DESCRIPTION
1 Promise of Light 6b+/22 15m 15m
2 Terminal Velocity 6b+/22 15m 15m
3 Drop Zone 6a/19 15m 15m
4 Wake-Up Call 6b/21 16m 16m
5 Bad Medicine 6b/21 16m 16m
6 Blaze of Glory 6b+/22 15m 15m
7 Dead Wing Starling 4+/15 14m 14m
8 Hairless Mexican 4+/15 14m 14m


Silvermine Main Crag

Routes From left to right:

# ROUTE NAME / AREA GRADE # BOLTS RATING BOLTING/OPENED INFO DESCRIPTION
1 Mind the Gap 21 12 bolts Scott Miller, March 2005 to the left of Argent
2 Argent 16 Richard Behne
3 Argentum 19 Richard Behne
4 Jono Gordon's Route 22 Jono Gordon This route has been rebolted with chemical anchors by the Anchor Replacement Fund
5 Mercury 26 Richard Behne This route has been rebolted with chemical anchors by the Anchor Replacement Fund
6 Pistolero 20 Patrick McCann
7 Josie Get Your Gun 21 Patrick McCann Hard if you're short
8 Cool Hand Luke 18 Patrick McCann
9 Male Country 24 Jayson Orton
10 No Man's Land 24 John Alexander
11 Sterling Silver 21 John Alexander A classic! This route has been rebolted with chemical anchors by the Anchor Replacement Fund
12 Revealyomango 20 Tony Lourens
13 Train Spotting 28 Guy Holwill
14 Silver Streak 26 Paul Schlodfeldt
15 Dragonfly 26 Mike Roberts
16 Trance Dance 23 Malcolm Gowans
17 Kirika 23 Greg Hart 2006 The grey streaks

Photos

  • Clipping the chains on Sterling Silver. photo: Philip Starke

  • Sterling Silver. photo: Andy Davies



Silverminor Crag

Access to Silverminor is from the Main Crag:

  • From the open terrace between 'Cool Hand Luke' and 'No Man's Land', step down and follow the vague path down and left along a ledge, to access the routes.


Routes From left to right:

# ROUTE NAME / AREA GRADE # BOLTS RATING BOLTING/OPENED INFO DESCRIPTION
1 Trite quicky 19 Malcolm Gowans March 2012.
2 Souldery bart 18 Jason Temple-Forbes March 2012
3 Tad ho 23 Jason Temple-Forbes March 2012
4 Mong love 17 Malcolm Gowans March 2012
5 Gunnet 23 Malcolm Gowans August 2013
6 Giden hem 23 Jason Temple-Forbes March 2012

Silverminor topo. By Malcolm Gowans


Photos

  • frame|center|Beth Higgins toping out on Souldery bart (18) at Silverminor. Photo by Malcolm Gowans

Fawlty Towers

To get to Fawlty Towers, walk along the dirt road to the far side of the ridge. Once on the ridge, head back (that is, walk in the direction of Muizenberg). Look for a rock cairn indicating the path to walk down to the crag. You will arrive at the right hand side of the crag.


From left to right:

# ROUTE NAME / AREA GRADE # BOLTS RATING BOLTING/OPENED INFO DESCRIPTION
1 Moose's Head 23 Guy Holwill
2 The Psychiatrist 22 Jason Temple-Forbes
3 Corked 19 Jayson Orton
4 Duck Surprise 20 Tony Lourens
5 Communication Breakdown 23 Jayson Orton
6 Lemonade 16 (9 bolts) Tyrone Chan, March 2005
7 Playin' Hookie 16 (9 bolts) Scott Miller, March 2005
8 Sthpoonz 20 Jayson Orton
9 Waldorf Salad 18 Robyn Holwill (harder start a metre or so to the right is graded 22)
10 Brahm's Third Racket 26 Guy Holwill
11 Basil the Rat 23 Jayson Orton
12 Toreador of Torquay 21 Patrick McCann
13 name? 21/22 It starts off with a couple of metres of face climbing, then moves up and right to a roof with some nice jugs, which moves over the roof to a left handed pinch, finally finishing at the chains under the ceiling.
14 False Alarm 26 Jayson Orton
15 Don't Mention the War 26 Guy Holwill
16 Fire Alarm 23 (7 bolts) Scott Miller February 2005
17 The Germans 27 Guy Holwill
18 Bravest Orangutan in Britain 22 Gordon Forbes
19 Not Yet Major 25 Guy Holwill
20 Lord Melbury 25 Robyn Holwill
21 Boff 23 Jason Temple-Forbes
22 Poff 21 Jayson Orton (this is the first route you will see when you arrive at the crag)

  • Climbing at Fawlty Towers

  • Battling the undercling on Lord Melbury

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