ESSAYS

adventure | news | reviews | topos
Recounting that strange period - 2020 - where everything shut-down yet, in some cases, everything opened up (empty)...to those who went looking.
A Pandemic Adventure
A Pandemic Adventure

Recounting that strange period - 2020 - where everything shut-down yet, in some cases, everything opened up (empty)...to those who went looking.

R
E
C
E
N
T
A Pandemic Adventure
Trystan Firman

A Dystopian Utopia

February 10, 2026

Recounting that strange period - 2020 - where everything shut-down yet, in some cases, everything opened up (empty)...to those who went looking.

This article is about smearing, and before you go any farther, be warned: I’m not going to talk about rock climbing.
Bill Tucker

How To Smear In The Hills

July 23, 2025

A much-needed addendum to the book we all grew up reading: How to Shit in The Woods. Bill addresses the issue of regional differences in how matter decays in non-wooded (arid) regions due to the very different environmental conditions, conditions which actually prevent compostation when the traditional methods of going-potty are used in an arid climate.

22 days of projecting spread across 3 seasons, this is the story of the first 9a to be climbed by a South African
Catie Monteiro

The first South African to send 9a

November 24, 2024

In June of this year Mel Janse van Rensburg clipped the chains of Speed Intégrale in Switzerland, becoming the first South African to climb 9a. It took the 20-year-old climber 22 days over three seasons to send the route – his greatest climbing achievement since taking down South Africa’s hardest sport route, Mazawattee (8c+) in 2020.

What does it take to win a 160km adventure race? An Interview with X-Berg Challenge winner, Robyn Johnson
Kathryn Fourie

Interview with an X-Berg Challenge Winner

November 24, 2024

The X-Berg Challenge is a "truely unique" event. Runners, cyclists and paragliders all race against each other in the Drakensberg mountains. Up against some of the best athletes in their descplines trail runner, Robyn Johnson came out on top. Her friend and fellow competeitor Kath Fourie caught up with her to hear about her race.

Latest Climbing Crag TOPO Updates
Small crag with intermediate sport route options grades 20-22 on average and one 25.
Fever Ward
Bushman's Lair is the central hub of climbing in Green Valley, as the closest of the sectors to parking and the most densely populated in terms of boulders and routes alike
Bushman's Lair Sector
A vertical wall at the opening of the Gorge
Edge of Time
Latest Climbing Route TOPO Updates
Charlie Brown
Ongoye Forest Nature Reserve
Drum Direct
Ongoye Forest Nature Reserve
5a / 15
5a / 15
Drum
Ongoye Forest Nature Reserve
4b / 13
4b / 13
Black Widow
Ongoye Forest Nature Reserve
5a / 15
5a / 15
Zig Zag (Ongoye Slabs)
Ongoye Forest Nature Reserve
3 / 10
3 / 10
Plectranthus
Ongoye Forest Nature Reserve
3 / 10
3 / 10
Cuckoo
Ongoye Forest Nature Reserve
3 / 10
3 / 10
Green Goblin
Ongoye Forest Nature Reserve
3+ / 11
3+ / 11
Jugs
Ongoye Forest Nature Reserve
3 / 10
3 / 10
Farmers Daughter
Ongoye Forest Nature Reserve
3 / 10
3 / 10
M
O
R
e
This is some text inside of a div block.
Freebasing
Read More
This is some text inside of a div block.
Overcoming fear and expectation through trad climbing
Read More
F
i
l
m
o
g
r
a
p
h
y
By
Trystan Firman
Adventure

Climb & Fly

A new "hybrid" mini wing out for its first public display of usability in the desert climbing hub of Rum where the team of three climbed up walls and flew down to the valley.

December 9, 2021
-
Adventure
-
5
min
read More
By
Jeff Ayliffe
Adventure

Air Zimbabwe

Alois Marume left Zimbabwe in search of a better life, a life with opportunities and meaning. This would be a flight of fancy for Alois.

December 9, 2021
-
Adventure
-
min
read More