The progression from tree-climbing, a utilitarian need, to rock climbing as an adventure sport has now progressed to a dedicated long weekend trip. I can see this developing into an institution! Its just so damn good
I was offered to escape on a long weekend into the depths of Zululand. The mountain club have been enjoying this beautiful spot on the White Umfolozi river for many years. Nestled in a valley is a quaint little campsite just minutes walk from four large faces with untold sport and trad routes. In passing Hallam mentioned that Crowned Eagles are occasionally seen flying over, many years ago there was a nest near the old hut – but perhaps we could trek to search for a new nest location
As it happens, before sunrise on the first morning, I saw a crowned eagle fly along the cliff face and get stooped on by a pair of lanner falcons - soon after the juvenile showed up. Obviously still quite dependant on its parents for food, and obviously quite hungry, on following days the morning coffee was always accompanied by the incessant, piercing begging calls amplified and echoing through the chasms
A bird list of over 40 species on the three-day trip includes plenty of lapidarian names:
mocking cliff-chat, rock pigeon, rock-loving cisticola, cape rock-thrush and a few rock martins among the swarms of cliff loving swifts,. The raptor list starts with rock kestrels, with a variety including lanner falcon, brown snake-eagle, white-backed vulture, gymnogene, gabar goshawk, and the crowned eagles. Pretty impressive but lacking the hopeful expectation of a verreaux eagle
Rock climbers are imaginative with the names of their sport routes and trad lines. Puns aplenty and many unsubtle references. On the first day a lot of easy routes were tackled, almost completing the Bushy Buttress face
Aardvark (8) on sight
All Aboard (9) on sight
Adios Amigo (14) on sight
Abdominal Noman (13) on sight
Yeti (13) on sight
Little Honda (12) on sight
(16) Going on 17, **** an intimidating looking set of roofs that turns into a very pleasing ascent, top rope
Happy (13) on sight
Oink (15), on top rope and then busted for the day
Although the forecast predicted a 30 degree saturday, the chill of a fast moving cold front kept the temp shivering cool in the shade of the Warrior Wall. So after a few quick ascents including
Bird Child (16) top rope
We headed back for coffee and to warm up. As the sun arced high a plan for a duel-purpose eagle / geological adventure evolved. It was straightforward to find the eagle nest in a kloof feeding a tributary to the main river. Marveling at the rocks was all the more interesting by the aid of a small leaflet from recent university geology surveys highlighting the main points:
The area is apparently formed of a variety of rocks in the Pongola Supergroup. The basement strata are old pink and white granites. On this, sandstones and shales are interrupted by basalt pillows formed in underwater eruptions of lava. And on top of these layers lie sandstones and dolomite which are particularly famous. The 3 billion year old rock includes some of the oldest fossils of life - stromatolites created by mats of algae in the shallow seas. Then after this, the Banded Iron Formation, which forms in deep water as muds slowly settle to the seafloor. Prior to 2 billion years ago the atmospheric oxygen was much lower, and fluctuating. When the iron rich sea’s encountered peak oxygen levels, the iron precipitated and formed banded layers in the sediments. Oxygen levels are too high for Banded Iron Formations to form anywhere on todays Earth. The youngest rocks of the Pongola Supergroup are 2980-2870 m.y.old and at the river these form pavements of blue/grey rock with intricately preserves ripple marks
An unconformity then separates these famously old rocks from the tall walls of sandstones that are only millions of years old; these are the rocks that fulfil all of the climbers’ desires
The left bank of the river is cast in afternoon shade, and on The Promised Land two great climbs completed the day
Chicken Wing (13) on sight
Freckles (14)
During the afternoon Hallam managed to scope out a new route, so we returned Sunday morning to set it up. After hours of drilling and bolting, the new route was opened by Hallam. I dogged my way up at the limit of my ability, using a small tree and a skinned knee to ungainly beach myself onto a ledge. The route is thus named Treason Knees (18)
I was offered to escape on a long weekend into the depths of Zululand. The mountain club have been enjoying this beautiful spot on the White Umfolozi river for many years. Nestled in a valley is a quaint little campsite just minutes walk from four large faces with untold sport and trad routes. In passing Hallam mentioned that Crowned Eagles are occasionally seen flying over, many years ago there was a nest near the old hut – but perhaps we could trek to search for a new nest location
As it happens, before sunrise on the first morning, I saw a crowned eagle fly along the cliff face and get stooped on by a pair of lanner falcons - soon after the juvenile showed up. Obviously still quite dependant on its parents for food, and obviously quite hungry, on following days the morning coffee was always accompanied by the incessant, piercing begging calls amplified and echoing through the chasms
A bird list of over 40 species on the three-day trip includes plenty of lapidarian names:
mocking cliff-chat, rock pigeon, rock-loving cisticola, cape rock-thrush and a few rock martins among the swarms of cliff loving swifts,. The raptor list starts with rock kestrels, with a variety including lanner falcon, brown snake-eagle, white-backed vulture, gymnogene, gabar goshawk, and the crowned eagles. Pretty impressive but lacking the hopeful expectation of a verreaux eagle
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| ngeni |
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| the power wall |
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| klip kloof nestled in the valley |
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| idyllic camping style |
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| rock kestrels |
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| insistent juvenile eagle |
Rock climbers are imaginative with the names of their sport routes and trad lines. Puns aplenty and many unsubtle references. On the first day a lot of easy routes were tackled, almost completing the Bushy Buttress face
Aardvark (8) on sight
All Aboard (9) on sight
Adios Amigo (14) on sight
Abdominal Noman (13) on sight
Yeti (13) on sight
Little Honda (12) on sight
(16) Going on 17, **** an intimidating looking set of roofs that turns into a very pleasing ascent, top rope
Happy (13) on sight
Oink (15), on top rope and then busted for the day
Although the forecast predicted a 30 degree saturday, the chill of a fast moving cold front kept the temp shivering cool in the shade of the Warrior Wall. So after a few quick ascents including
Bird Child (16) top rope
We headed back for coffee and to warm up. As the sun arced high a plan for a duel-purpose eagle / geological adventure evolved. It was straightforward to find the eagle nest in a kloof feeding a tributary to the main river. Marveling at the rocks was all the more interesting by the aid of a small leaflet from recent university geology surveys highlighting the main points:
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| considering renaming Bird Child to Three-way |
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| going on 17 (16) |
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| the first four bolts looks... complex |
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| eriosion patterns |
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| banded iron formation |
The area is apparently formed of a variety of rocks in the Pongola Supergroup. The basement strata are old pink and white granites. On this, sandstones and shales are interrupted by basalt pillows formed in underwater eruptions of lava. And on top of these layers lie sandstones and dolomite which are particularly famous. The 3 billion year old rock includes some of the oldest fossils of life - stromatolites created by mats of algae in the shallow seas. Then after this, the Banded Iron Formation, which forms in deep water as muds slowly settle to the seafloor. Prior to 2 billion years ago the atmospheric oxygen was much lower, and fluctuating. When the iron rich sea’s encountered peak oxygen levels, the iron precipitated and formed banded layers in the sediments. Oxygen levels are too high for Banded Iron Formations to form anywhere on todays Earth. The youngest rocks of the Pongola Supergroup are 2980-2870 m.y.old and at the river these form pavements of blue/grey rock with intricately preserves ripple marks
An unconformity then separates these famously old rocks from the tall walls of sandstones that are only millions of years old; these are the rocks that fulfil all of the climbers’ desires
The left bank of the river is cast in afternoon shade, and on The Promised Land two great climbs completed the day
Chicken Wing (13) on sight
Freckles (14)
During the afternoon Hallam managed to scope out a new route, so we returned Sunday morning to set it up. After hours of drilling and bolting, the new route was opened by Hallam. I dogged my way up at the limit of my ability, using a small tree and a skinned knee to ungainly beach myself onto a ledge. The route is thus named Treason Knees (18)
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| starry nights and meteorites... a grand way to end a story about rocks |
