Anyone know if the bolts and anchors at the Gully sector on Skoorsteenkop are safe to use? They look very old.

We were there a while back and they held fine. Use your own judgement though, if the bolts look too dodge its probably best to find another route...

Do the ARF have any plans to get a hold of Skoorsteenskop?

Just trying to find out what the access is to Skoorsteenkop? i was there a couple of weeks ago and the gate was locked? is there an alternative way? who has the key? can we jump the fence?

cheers

RE: Access

I just spoke with the owner of the land used to access Skoorsteenkop and I'm happy to report that he is climber friendly.
Best don't jump the fence just yet... let me speak to him about access to the key / arrangements.

If anyone else knows what the arrangement is please post it up here.
tx

I know that the MCSA rockclimbing sub-committee have been busy formalising the Skoorsteenskop access arrangement, but am not sure if the process is complete. The person on the committee I know is currently not in the country, but I can find out from her when she returns. Otherwise contact the MCSA as an arrangement may have been established already.

I spoke to MCSA this morning. they did not know what the arrangement with access is. the Key used to be held by mountain mail order, but is no longer. i was thinking maybe a combination lock that climbers can be given the code to?? or possible leave a key at the Hout Bay information office??

re talking to the land owner, i was unaware that it was private?

hoping to climb early next week. hopefully a solution can be reached by then.

cheers

I'm not particularly familiar with the Skoorsteenskop arrangement, but as far as i am aware, the crag itself is situated on SanParks property, but the land that one must cross to reach it, is privately owned.

Yup, I can confirm that the MCSA is trying to find the most convenient way to access this crag. There are also some legal issues involved, as the property developers (I hate that word: develop, especially wrt mountains...) effectively cut off the servitude to a mountain path, which isn't really allowed. But anyway.

We'll let you guys know what happens, but Justin talking to the landowner is also cool. Note the crag is on SANParks land, but one has to cross private land to get there. In the past, the MCSA, along with Dave Davies, arranged to have a key left with Dave for people to collect. Unfortunately that system had to be dropped, although it worked ok.

As to the bolts. Treat *all* bolts with respect (and a little suspicion). These ones are quite old. I hope ARF does get to them, as this is a great little crag. Look out for when ARF is planning a meet, and go and give them a hand. If you can't donate your time, pass a few bucks their way, they're doing an awesome job.
~B

I am pretty nervous about these bolts. Ben Bohm and I went up and stuck some ARF bolts into that classic 17. If anyone wants to organise an ARF meet, please feel free to do so. Give me a shout through the ClimbZA administrator. Everybody can help with ARF - even helping to haul the drill, glue and bolts up that hill would be great and your contribution could save someones life.

Andy, do you think it's wise to start replacing the bolts at Skoorsteens before all the access issues have been dealt with?

There is a big crime problem in this area and the gate has been put up on the pipe track which belongs to Water Works, no legal permission was given to errect it. We have a right to the mountain and especially my 5 year old daughter, we live in such a beautifull place.

Good point Stu and this is why we have been hesitant to do a lot at Skoorsteenskop. Maybe the crag needs a caretaker to sort the access out and then initiate an ARF meet...........

I live in the area and have no access to the mountain. We (People in the neighbourhood) have a few ideas for access to the mountain and having meetings with different people. I spoke to TMNP and they can not help, had a meeting on Wednesday and having another meeting on Saturday. I am a member of MCSA, so I have MCSA in mind for access. We will get a route that will have to be controlled due to the crime in the area from the mountain.

Apologies for taking so long on this, I spoke to the owner of the property last week but have been busy with [insert many excuses here]

In the mean time samountainsport.co.za reports:
Climbers/hikers can now access Skoorsteenkop between sunrise and sunset via a gate off Whittlers Way. The gate is just past Peterhof Road, opposite number 37.

Please MAKE SURE the gate is CLOSED and LOCKED once you have gone through it and be aware that alarms are activated at night and you will not be able to pass through the gate after sunset or before sunrise without setting them off. The gate has a lock which requires a code. You can obtain the code by calling Watchcon 021 7909333. The code will be changed every now and then.

To unlock the gate please follow the instructions below:

1. Put the code into the lock (from the top going down)
2. Press the button at the bottom of the lock.
3. The lock opens.
4. Open the gate, close the gate again.
5. Put the lock back, close the shackle and turn the code wheels.

Please note: The codes for the top and the bottom locks are the same.

I think the bolts are fine. If you don’t skip one or two on the climb even falling while clipping would be ok.

Andy

Andy [Court?]....

1] How do you know the bolts are fine? The bolt below from The Mine looked great until Willem hung on it.

2] If a bolt breaks off the ledge at Skoorsteenskop you will fly a loooooooooong way and probably bounce. Even if you only break an ankle it will be a real pity.

Please be very careful about making risk assessments that could lead to someone getting hurt. I would be very nervous about climbing at Skoorsteenskop.

is there an update on the skoorsteenkop bolt situation or is it still:
1. bolts dodgy and need replacement
2. access still okay?

tks
mok

ARF has only bolted the 17 and I believe access is sorted. I am a little snowed under at the moment, so if anyone wants to arrange a bolting meet, feel free to do so.

SKORSTEENSKOP'S NEW ENTRANCE FINALLY COMPLETED. PROCESS TOOK EIGHT YEARS.
Lisa Koekemoer. Hout Bay Sentinel,Friday August 27, 2010.
There is a new access point to Skoorsteenkop following an almost eight-year battle involving the Hout Bay ratepayers' association, property owners, the City, nature lovers and hikers.
"For many years Skoorsteenkop was a popular climbing location and hikers followed a well-worn path leading up the mountain from the pipe track. Cars that were parked at the departure point on the pipe track were broken into and when private properties in the area were developed the owners also experienced security issues, requiring them to take serious precautions," said Hout Bay Museum guide Gerfried Nebe.
Mr Nebe said gates and fences were put up which prevented the public from getting access to the kop. The route to Skoorsteenkop was across private land, although I am sure most people didn't realise it at the time and after much debate and negotiations between all parties involved,including the property owners in the area, a solution was found - the best one with the ongoing security issues. This route does not cross any private property and it leads to the path which starts behind the top green roofed house and then up to Skoorsteenkop." The new route starts between number 30 and 32 Whittlers Way.
To get there, turn off Hout Bay Main Road onto Hughenden Road, then left into Whittlers Way. Follow Whittlers way for about 700 metres until just beyond Peterhof Close, where a locked gale can be found on the right, between number 30 and 32 Whittlers Way.This gate gives access to a stritp of land which is a servitude belonging the waterworks department, which leads to another locked gate, and then the pipe track, which is also a waterworks servitude. Once crossed, you are on the mountain.
You will need an access code for for the locked gates.
If you wish to continue further there are some cairns that lead to the top of Skoorsteenberg, but there is no path beyond Skoorsteenkop.
He said the museum offers this route as' part of its walking programme.
"Access is only allowed during daylight hours, as there are security beams in the area and people crossing could d cause problems for the adjacent land owners who are trying to keep their properties safe. "He also urges the public to leave all gates locked once they have passed through them, and to be safety conscious while in the area.
The access code for the gate can be obtained from the Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA), Watchcon or Gerfried Nebe. Call MCSA on 021 465 3412 between 10 am and 2 pm from Monday to Friday, Watchcon on 021 790 9333 or Gerfried Nebe on 021 790 3877.
[Suffix: dont call the MCSA. just call watchcon. - Robert].