An exciting line that challenges the overhanging rock to the right of the gendarme. Fun climbing.

Cosmonaut

6b
6b

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Approach & Descent»
Description »
Gallery »

Approach

(click the GAIA icon for GPX)

Just before the tea cave the face steps out to form and overhang. The juncture with the flat face to its left is an open book. The climb shares a starts with Aquanaut.

Descent

Crag Descent:
Lionshead Sandstone
Sector Descent:
The Clifton Sector

Route Description

P1 - 30m, 6b: Climb the thin crack in the open book for 4m before railing right to a corner. Reach across and swing right on an overhanging flake. Pull up strenuously and climb an easier band of rock to the next overhanging section. Climb a crack (crux) and move left to a stance. Continue diagonally up and left to the vegetated band. Cross the vegetated band to the right hand side of the gendarme.

P2 - 35m, 6a: Keep to the right of the triangular open book used for Excalibur and climb the overhanging face split by horizontal rails until forced right. Continue around the edge and up. When the upper overhang is reached turn it on the left and move up to a stance on the front of the gendarme. Climb straight up to a treed ledge on top of the gendarme.

Most parties abseil from the anchors on top of the gendarme. If you insist on continuing:

P3 - P4 - 60m, 4c: Climb up the short, vertical faces interrupted by ledges to the top.

Alternate Description

Tips & Tricks

Video

Drakensberg Grading
French / South African
YDS

D

E1

E2

E3

F1

F2

F3

G1

G2

G3

H1

3-

9

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3+

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4b

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4c
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5.10a

5.10b

5.10c

5.10d

5.11a

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5.11c

5.11d

5.12a

5.12b

5.12c

5.12d

5.13a

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5.13c

5.13d

5.14a

5.14b

5.14c

No items found.

Interactive Icons

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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.

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