Latest climb pic.

[proze]

Monties buffs: which route is Meagan Martin on in the latest pic?

[justin]

Looks like 'Daze of Thunder' (27/7b+)
A classic route put up by Guy Holwill in 1991 - http://www.climbing.co.za/wiki/Worlds_Apart

[mokganjetsi]

super shot!!

[dirktalma]

Lekker Gustav, I thought I saw Mel run past me when I slept over at Everest on the way back to the big smoke on the bike. Looks like you guys were busy at Everest. Thanks for the new routes!

[Gustav]

It was Mel. Cross training ... these kids!

[justin]

Very cool
Luke Eberhard (13 years old) leading the top pitch of Double Direct (19), Table Mountain. Pic Johann Lanz

[Q20]

Luke has also opened some of his own routes. At age 13!
Watch this space.

[Wes]

I love the climbing pics on the front page, but can we please ensure that it at least has a description and the name of the climber.

[vinceB]

I would say this is David Naude on Zanzibar (7B/+) in Rocklands

[brianweaver]

I sent a whatsapp to David so that he can make sure to include the name of the Climber, Boulder and Photographer going forth

[Logic]

Is that Brian spotting a guy on Kiesl?

[Thermophage]

Na definitely not Kiezl, but don't recognise it either

[Guardian]

No helmet on Drakensberg rock?

[justin]

Austria/Germany... same place really

Sadly Brian has moved to Germany. All the best over there mate!
'Brian casually walking up Monster' (29) Photo by Johannes Hachmann

[Chris F]

Did she deliberately not clip that bolt?

[Gustav]

Bolts are sometimes just there to indicate roughly where the route goes. Chalk (and those damn tick marks ) show us where the holds are...

She was flowing through some technical moves and could not be bothered to clip. Sometimes trusting your own ability should override the urge to place protection or clip a bolt just because it is there.

Yes, the risk is a bigger fall. That would just mean more climbing to get back up there ... and we like more climbing, don't we?

[Warren G]

At the end of the day you are your primary safety, and only when your skills/body/mind fail you do you then rely on external safeties like gear. I think it's cool to see people committing to the move rather than the gear, as they are backing themselves. My only exception to this in sport climbing is if one has avoided the bolt because one is so far off route that they couldn't reach, but my understanding is this is not the case above. Well done lady

[Chris F]

Sorry, I'm not critical, I'm impressed, looks like tricky climbing, I would have made the clip.

Block she's standing on looks to have a limited shelf life?

What route is it?

[justin]

Sometimes I just skip bolts, my reasons include:
- I forgot to clip the bolt
- I am climbing too fast (forgot)
- The bolt is camouflaged (and I did not see it) - fyi: this ended badly for someone at Hellfire many years ago.
- I went off route and could not clip.

- Then you have 'I intentionally did not clip because':
-- I want to learn more about lead outs.
-- - The bolts are too close together.
-- I want to scare myself OR (more often) I want to scare the next person doing the route after me (be sure to not leave a draw on the bolt or let the person bring a draw up with them).
-- Clipping the bolt requires more effort than just moving past it i.e. If I clip, there is a good chance I'll just waist energy. I opt to rather use the energy to get through the next moves to the next bolt).
-- I don't have enough draws for higher up on the route (so I am saving draws for higher up/chains).
-- Clipping the bolt will result in rope drag.
-- I require motivation to not fall off (the crux move).
-- I want to fall past a ledge/block/other (and not hit it).

... I am sure there are many more reasons to skip bolts

[Ghaznavid]

... I am sure there are many more reasons to skip bolts

Such as "there wasn't one". Trad ftw. Ok, everyone knows I don't really climb, so back to not posting...

[Gustav]

Block she's standing on looks to have a limited shelf life?

What route is it?

That block did not move when I jumped on it. So to make sure, I placed 2 bolts either side of it, and force-cranked it in further using a 5t ratchet strap. It was the most satisfying thing to see it go "clunk" and slot right in deeper to a perfect wedged position. Afterwards, 2 of us jumped for joy on top of it and it did not budge a mm. Still feels scary to mantle up on it but it is solid as can be ...

The route is Spicy Chakalaka at the Last Crag of the Century.

[Forket]

It's a lenticular cloud

[Chris F]

I don't think it is, just light catching a small cloud on the top of the peak. Lenticularis are usually associated with high winds, and as you can see from the rest of the cloud in the sky, it's not the case.

Amazing shot, and unusual light.

[justin]

It's a lenticular cloud

Well I learn't something new --> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenticular_cloud

[Forket]

I don't think it is, just light catching a small cloud on the top of the peak. Lenticularis are usually associated with high winds, and as you can see from the rest of the cloud in the sky, it's not the case.

Amazing shot, and unusual light.

I think it is. Read the link Justin posted, particularly the part on formation. Its not about wind speed but instead obstructions in air movement (mountains) resulting in eddies, creating areas of different atmospheric pressure, the air sitting in the eddie and the above air settling ontop of it, causing differential dew points thus causing clouds.

[Chris F]

I did. Still don't think it is.

[Forket]

Luckily it's gone now

[Chris F]

[justin]

Cool pic! Where is this?

[shorti]

Big H you nutter! Did you leave everything you had to keep that cam down?