Centenary of the First Ascent of the Sentinel |
| Drakensberg - Climbing | ||||
| Friday, 23 July 2010 08:48 | ||||
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WJ Wybergh and Lt NM McLeod first climbed the Sentinel via the standard route on 29 September 1910. Source: MCSA
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You can read the introduction here:
www.samountainsport.co.za/articles.php?p=68
I'll upload more of my own pics in time to come. Have also posted GPS tracks from the event in the download section for those that are interested.
We got to the base of the first pitch of the Standard Route at 9h45 and had a very long wait until the three of us were finally at the top of that pitch at 13h00! We hit the queue at a very bad time! Less than 20 minutes later we were at the base of McLeod's Variation though. By the time I got to the top of that pitch, most of the crowd had moved off the summit - John Hone and Terrence Jonker came to say hi briefly while the others were belayed up. Then Tony Van Tonder and Gavin Raubenheimer came to chat about borrowing our ropes. They had aborted their attempt on the South East Arete earlier that day (because the going was too slow) and had come up the Standard Route. Their 2 team mates had continued on the route, which eventually proved too much for them and they radioed for help. Our ropes were tied together to make about a 70m top-rope, which got them to the top just at sunset (this was after we had left)! After our lonely moment at the summit cairn we headed to the top of the Standard Route just in time to catch Nigel Bailes and co topping out on Angus-Leppan, and just in time to be the last to ab off the Mountain Club rope. We caught up with a small group of folks cleaning up the gear at the bottom pitch.
So, Standard Route had a little over 50 ascents (exact number to be confirmed). McLeod's Variation was only done by our group. Angus-Leppan had Nigel Bailes' party (around 3 I think?) and gollum's group (how many?). Another 2 aborted the route due to lack of time. An attempt was made on Paradigm Shift, but was aborted on pitch 2 due to loose bolts. South East Arete had 2 ascents (albeight on top rope for the last bit), and 2 aborted but summited via Standard Route.
No attempts on Here Be Dragons, Thatcher Route and Blood On The Rocks, as far as I am aware.
). Luckily we always climb big routes with head torches.intrepid, climbykel, was great meeting at last! See you in the berg sometime again!
Thanks to the organizers for putting it together
Was great meeting you all to ,can finally put a face to a name!
mike, Bigberg, gollum, John, and many others: was great meeting you guys!
Also a big thanks to various individuals of the KZN MCSA who co-ordinated the event, and many who spent the entire day belaying people at the stances of the standard route.
@ Intrepid George Thompson, ha? Well he must be a pretty handsome devil then.
I will probably climb the route later in the year. Enjoy
Ja we'll probably all meet up on the summit, seems like its gonna be a long wait until we are allowed to descend back down via standard route - there are heaps of people coming up it.
Looking at the list of people attending, I think there are several more VE members.
PS I bear a striking resemblance to George Thompson...
Two people from our group will hopefully ascend Paradigms Shift - although today one of our strong climbers dropped out, and of the two now left for that route one has a slight injury. It will be awesome if we can snap photos of them from Angus-Leppan!
See you all there - drive safely!
gollum
We will be relying on the top rope so will stick to the std route.
Looking forward to it
see you on Sat Mike you guys are sleeping over on the mountain? And which route? We managed to get a camping spot at Witsies today due to a cancellation, so gollum we probably won't see you at the car park (except maybe Saturday morning bright and early) but will see you somewhere on the peak or at Witsies.
Anyone still looking for climbing partners or trying interesting routes?
\m/ 
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