A brilliant route. One of the most climbed routes on Table Mountain. Very photogenic. "Jacob's Ladder seemed to us to be a good name for a climb, and we decided to set about finding a climb for it; one of a high standard and worthy of the name." M. Mamacos 1952 MCSA Journal

Jacob's Ladder

5b
5b

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Approach & Descent»
Description »
Gallery »

Approach

(click the GAIA icon for GPX)
Approach:

Gain the far left-hand end of the Staircase ledge by stepping up onto a higher foot ledge and traversing around the corner finally stepping down to a tree.

Descent

Crag Descent:
Fountain Ledge
Sector Descent:
Staircase Ledge

Route Description

1. 12m '14': From the tree, climb the white recessed face to a ledge under the overhang.

2. 35m '16': Pull into the overhanging crack (awkward) and climb this. At the top, step right and using face holds climb 3m up to the horizontal rail. (For photo opportunities, make a hanging stance here). Traverse right along this to just before the corner. Pull up into a vertical crack system and climb this to a small ledge.

3. 20m '15': From the left-hand end of the ledge climb up the face, pulling through a little bulge at the top, to the large ledge.

Scramble through the final rock band to the cable station.

Alternate Description

Slightly harder than the original, but with consistently better climbing with better movement.
If your rope-work and skill level permits, combine P1&P2 and P3&P4.

Rather than starting in the gully, by the tree, start at the extreme left edge of The Staircase Ledge (left edge beneath Jeopardy wall)

1. 12m '14': Climb the left arête/face for 5m, step left into the white shallow recess (gear) and then directly up to the ledge under a small roof (stepping left from the cavern).

2. 20m '16': Gain the overhanging crack above by rounding the small roof on the left (high-step off the ledge) and then stepping back right once immediately above the belay.

  • Continue up the crack, to the rail
  • Move right 3m along the rail
  • Then up the featured face to the main rail (there is a good hanging stance with an obvious sling-wrap as 1 point in front of you)

3. 15m ‘16’: The classic pitch. 

  • Rail right until near the edge, use a hidden letterbox side-pull to gain the upper vertical crack system
  • Follow this to a narrow ledge, belaying in the “bucket”

4. 15m ‘18’: From the stance go straight up face 

  • on small holds to the overlap (10m)
  • step left to gain the exit crack
  • Belay on the edge of the ledge

5. Scramble to the top.


Gallery Info:

  1. Looking down on the 1st pitch (direct start) from the "small overhang stance"
  2. Looking down on the direct variation gaining the "main rail hanging stance"
  3. Looking onto the leader gaining the crack-system after the "Main Traverse"

Tips & Tricks

Video

Drakensberg Grading
French / South African
YDS

D

E1

E2

E3

F1

F2

F3

G1

G2

G3

H1

3-

9

3

10

3+

11

4b

13

4a

12

4c
14
5a
15
5b

16

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17

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18

6a+

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31

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32

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33

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35

8c

34

5.4

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5.9

5.10a

5.10b

5.10c

5.10d

5.11a

5.11b

5.11c

5.11d

5.12a

5.12b

5.12c

5.12d

5.13a

5.13b

5.13c

5.13d

5.14a

5.14b

5.14c

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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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