Pump House

Short walk-in to steep sport climbing.

Climbing crag top for The Pump House, Van Staadens, Port Elizabeth

Pump House

Short walk-in to steep sport climbing.

Pump House

Short walk-in to steep sport climbing.

Single Pitch
2 Pitches
60m
Overhang
Powerful
General
Climbing
Key

Aspect and Weather

As it is tucked away at the bottom of the gorge it does stay shaded in the morning, but its north facing aspect opens it up to the sun for the rest of the day. Best to climb when its overcast but unsuitable for rainy weather. In winter the warm sun makes being at the crag totally bearable.

Climbing

The climbing here lends itself to harder moderate climbing with smatterings of trad climbing on the fringes. Routes are mostly overhanging and quite powerful. These routes do not see much traffic so be prepared to do some cleaning and potentially make friends with a wasps nest or two. Pump House will seep after heavy rains for about 3 days.

Base

The base of the crag can be awkward as you must belay standing on a wall against the base of the crag. There are however great flat spots a few metres back to stow gear and watch climbing. Pump House is the first crag you get to in the gorge. It has a shorter walk-in making it convenient for time sensitive sessions.

No items found.
Best climbing shoes, harnesses, boulder pads and quickdraws in South AfricaBest climbing shoes, harnesses, boulder pads and quickdraws in South Africa

Approach

From the parking follow the dirt road passed some houses on your left, the road turns to a 4x4 track with a garage on your right. Follow this track into the gorge as it turns to a steep concrete road. Walk down the road, passed the water pump-house and down the stairs. Pump House is the looming rock face on your right behind the small building.

Descent

7a
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
7a
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
7b
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
7b+
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
6c+
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
4c
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
6c+
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
7b+
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
7b+
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
5c
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
5a
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
5a
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
5b
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
5a
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
|
|
|
22d:ch
22d:ch
20d:ch
19d:ch
18d:ch
17d:ch
16d:ch
15d:ch
14d:ch
13d:ch
12d:ch
11d:ch
10d:ch
9d:ch
8d:ch
7d:ch
6d:ch
5d:ch
4d:ch
3d:ch
2d:ch
Trad
Single Pitch
Multi Pitch
Boullder
No Properties found.
No items found.
Best performance climbing shoes in South Africa available at Vertigo GearBest performance climbing shoes in South Africa available at Vertigo Gear
No Properties found.
RELATED POSTS

Interactive Icons

GAIA GPS
Click to see the GPX track.
Requires GAIA GPS App
Google Maps
Click to see the Parking Area . Requires
Google Maps

Icons and Symbols

AM Shade
Morning ; Afternoon ; All Day or NO Shade
10B | Ch
Equipped with x number of Bolts & Chains (lower off rings)
Alpine
Area's or routes located in mountainous regions and requiring multiple mountain skills (navigation ; extreme weather ; self sufficiency ; remote )
Ice
Area or Route requires Ice Climbing and associated Winter skills
Sport
Area or Route is fully equipped as a sport climb. Separate distinction for # of PITCHES
Sport & Trad
Area or Route is a mixture of SPORT & Trad climbing styles
Trad
Area or Route requires Traditional equipment and experties
2 Pitches
Indicates the typical # of pitches of the area or route
Special
Indicates that a specialised Rack or Traditional equipment is typically required and will be mentioned in the Route Description BETA
Standard
Indicates that typically a Standard Traditional Rack will suffice. Typically in ZA that is a 8-10 Cams + 10-15 wires/nuts.
50m
Indicates the minimum length rope needed to typically climb safely.
Double
Typically climbed using half ropes
Corner
Climbs or mostly climbs a corner system. This often requires stemming as a technique.
Crack Climb
Follows a crack-system predominantly and may require good jamming technique.
Overhang
Indicates the overall style. Face climbing is steeper than slab usually on small holds and edges, often feeling delicate / insecure.
Overhang
Overhanging, usually involving roofs.
Powerful
Powerful style is often in conjunction with another style but feeling more powerful than is common for the style.
Slab
Usually not quite vertical and requiring smearing and friction techniques.
Steep
Consistently steeper than Vertical but not overhanging / roof-y
Technical
Additional to general styles, requiring careful sequence and thoughtful climbing.
Vert
General vertical climbing with no other defining style.