Andrew Forsyth on on Reunion ~1979. Photo courtesy Mike McKechnie collection.
Grips rock climbing, Craig Reynolds on Wasteland (20) ~1993, photo from Andy Wesson collection.
Grips rock climbing, climber on Graceland (18) ~1985, photo thanks to John Alexander
Grips rock climbing, Andy Wesson on Graceland (18) ~1993, photo from Andy Wesson collection.
Andrew Forsyth on on Reunion ~1979. Photo courtesy Mike McKechnie collection.
Grips, Baviaanskloof rock climbing, Andy Wesson on Graceland (18) ~ 1993, photo from Andy Wesson collection.
Grips rock climbing, Morne van Der Mescht tries the classic Graceland (18) bare foot! ~2003, photo thanks to Morne van der Mescht.
John Alexander, one of climbers in the opening party in 1987, repeats Graceland in 2016... 29 years later!
Climber follows Graceland, 2016.
Mike Roberts bolting Smooth Chalker and Keith James on Graceland 1989 - Photo thanks to Neil Connan.
Grips, Baviaanskloof rock climbing, Andy Wesson on Graceland (18) ~1993, photo from Andy Wesson collection.
Terence Trevaskis open a new trad line, Two Minutes To Midnight, 2016.
Alan Briers climbing at Grips ~ 1997
John Alexander on Graceland 29 years later, 2016.
Grips rock climbing, Morne van Der Mescht on the classic Graceland (18) bare foot! ~2003, photo thanks to Morne van der Mescht.
Alan Briers (L) & Derek Marshall (R) climbing at Grips ~ 1997
Tyson Baars, the guy who organized the current climbing access having fun at Grips, 2016.
Morne van Der Mescht sending the classic Graceland (18) ~2003, photo thanks to Morne van der Mescht.
Alan Briers (R) & Derek Marshall (L) climbing at Grips ~ 1997
John Alexander on Graceland ~ 1987. Photo thanks to John Alexander collection.
Bert Bongers on 3rd pitch of Reunion ~ 1978, photo thanks to Andrew Forsyth.
Craig Reynolds belays Brad Twigg on the ledge above Graceland ~1993, photo from Andy Wesson collection.
Climbing at Grips, Andrew Forsyth, photo thanks Andy Forsyth collection.
John Alexander on Graceland ~ 1987. Photo thanks to John Alexander collection.
Michael Johnson being lowered & Steven Reed climbing ~ 1997
Werner Illenberger on the opening ascent of Marginalization (15), 2016.
Richard van der Merwe abseiling at Grips, ~1993, photo from Andy Wesson collection.
Andy Wesson fooling around at Grips, photo thanks Andy Wesson collection.
Steven Reed the last true legend of the Eastern Cape ~ 1997
PE crew (L to R) Michael Johnson, Penny Frost & Steven Reed ~1997.
Craig Reynolds belaying on top of Wasteland (20) ~1993. Photo thanks Andy Wesson collection.
Penny Frost & Steven Reed climbing at Grips ~ 1997
Climbing at Grips ~ 1997
Brad Twigg & legendary Eastern Cape climber Alan Briers (Bra Briers) ~1993. Photo thanks Andy Wesson collection.
Homemade (by Mike Roberts & John Alexander) aluminium hangers that came off Smooth Chalker. Scary!
Grootrivierpoort Ben Loots & Heinrich 1964. Photo courtesy of Mike Streeter.
EP MCSA meet to Grootrivierpoor. Ben Loots, two unknown persons, Crystal & Tim Robertson, Peter Heugh, Les Armer & standing Donald Forsyth 1964. Photo courtesy of Mike Streeter.
Peter Heugh at Grootrivierpoort 1964. Photo courtesy of Mike Streeter.
Grootrivierpoort Peter Heugh, Ludwig and Donald Forsyth 1964. Photo courtesy of Mike Streeter.
Grootrivierpoort Pewter Heugh & Ludwig Abel 1964. Photo courtesy of Mike Streeter.
Grips | Baviaanskloof
Fine quartzite slab up to 120m high. Lots of potential for new routes. There are 5 sport routes, but at this stage Grips is more of a traditional venue.
First route recorded at Grips was Reunion in 1972. Since then there has been on-off spurts of climbing, with the occasional new route. In previous years the river had white sand banks. The story goes that Mike Roberts & company had a large boom box on the beach with Rock-Me-Amadeus (remember that?) blaring, during the bolting of the 2nd pitch of Wasteland. At least some of the time the boom box was powered by the generator that was hauled onto the ledge above the carrot face to bolt the second pitch
Recently Smooth Chalker the classic Mike Roberts 26 was fully rebolted. This still has not been repeated.
Grips is at the start of the Baviaanskloof Wilderness area on the Patensie side.
Access
Grips is on private farmland. The owner owns Bruintjieskraal, campsites & chalets. So basically the owner is happy to have climbers at Grips & welcomes sport climbing development, obviously at climbers own risk entirely. This access is only when using Bruintjieskraal camping or accommodation. See www.bruintjieskraal.co.za for more info. The camping is great & Bruintjieskraal is the obvious choice when visiting Grips.
GOOGLE MAPS
