In 1992 the legendary South African climber Andy De Klerk (ADK) completed the first free ascent of the magnificent thousand foot high overhanging amputheatre that is the West Face of Klein Winterhoek Mountain near Cape Town in South Africa. One of the biggest and steepest walls in Africa the route has only received one free repeat in almost 20 years awarding it legendary status.

In March 2010 I finally got the opportunity to do the mythical climb with Joe Mahole (ZA) and Chris Rabone (UK). There is very little info around about the climb. I’d failed to locate a topo and rumors of aggressive Afrikaans Farmers, boulder rolling baboons, and a desperate ‘blunder bashing’ approach have repelled most would be ascensionists.

With local knowledge and a brutal hike we made it to the wall and climbed the astoundingly steep, 12 pitch route over two days. Sleeping in hammocks, hauling all our food, water and equipment we were on a tight schedule I was pushed right to my limit. Happily I succeeded in making the 3rd free and by far the fastest free ascent of this awesome route.

Without doubt the steepest route I’ve ever done it winds it’s way through massive overhangs and over huge roofs resulting in some incredibly exposed, airy climbing. By the light of the moon we climbed the last pitches, treated to the wonders of Western Cape sandstone under a magical African sky.

Subsequently we were trapped for a week in Cape Town by the Icelandic volcano that grounded flights across europe. With an abundance of world class trad climbing, bouldering and clubbing I can't think of a better place to be stranded than the mother city.