Climbing

Routes
Trad
Sport
Competitions
Bouldering
Events
Gyms

-----------------
Access
Links
Shop
PinBoard
Archive
Contact Us

One of the MCSA's main activities is climbing. South Africa really lends itself to climbing having not only an abundance of rock but the weather to go with it.

Most climbers partake in the various forms of climbing which have developed but most specialise in one or other form.

Traditional or 'trad' climbing is the oldest form of climbing practised and involves placing one's own gear including cams, nuts and slings for protection. Routes tend to follow natural lines or cracks where gear can be placed.

Sport climbing has gained huge popularity over the past 10-15 years and there are probably more people now who climb bolted routes than traditional routes. For sport climbing one only needs a harness, rope, quickdraws and shoes.

Competition Climbing is a natural offshoot of artificial wall climbing which people built to train on during the week and when they couldn't get out to the crags.

Bouldering has fairly recently become more popular although has been practised from the earliest of climbing days.

When people climb new routes they tend to write down where and what grade the route it. The routes get published, either in hard copy format or in electronic format on the internet.

Sections go out on regular basis to what are called 'meets'. On these meets climbers get together to climb routes at a specific venue. Check out the section closest to you to see their meets programme.