Rocklands

Rocklands is a type of climbers paradise here in RSA.It has undoubtedly world class bouldering and some fun trad and sport climbing.

I decided to spend my winter holiday at Rocklands in the hope to spend some time bouldering, trading and running long distance. I tried all of it but my running injury became a bit of a problem for my running excursions. While trad was purely overshadowed by the amounts of bouldering one can do in a place like Rocklands.

I went over with the idea to get my psyche back for climbing (after about 2 years of basically stopping) and after spending 4 weeks in Rocklands I must say I am rather motivated to get training again. (After my leg injury is healed up!)

The bouldering in Rocklands is truly amazing spot worth a visit. It is a place full of really strong motivated internationals pushing the limits of bouldering as we know it. This year there was a large number of South Africans from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Potch, Durban and Cape Town witch gave the camp a rather local feel. But its definitively where the strongest most motivated climbers spend there July/ June holiday's.

It went rather well with my climbing doing my first 4 and 7a in the same climbing trip. This was also my first time bouldering and my first time committing in getting back into to the climbing scene after about two years. I was not to strong but like always very motivated to try anything and everything.

In this quest I also went out and done some trad climbing. Climbing unsuspected line's up fun to super scary walls! But only after a week of climbing I got hooked to the whole lay back mentality of bouldering and climbing in general. (I am not new to this way of thinking but after doing solo expeditions one does become more prone to intense motivation and action.

My fingers quickly disintegrated to some sort of soft puffy flesh. That place really knows how to crush a persons buddy! But time flies when your having fun so after 4 weeks I needed to return to Pretoria to start University and planning for my next Solo expedition later this year.

All in all it was 4 weeks in a small paradise close at home. I could advice any climber or future climber to go to Rocklands for as long as possible. Because its not just about the climbing its about the lifestyle. Its a place where your away from society, Its a non nonsense place. A group of like minded people with the goal to crush stupid looking rocks-all rather small in size-. Its a weird concept not many people understand but I admire.

Maybe I will go back. We will see.