1980s Magaliesberg trips

The Magaliesberg was our mountain refuge which we visited often. Tonquani and Castle Gorge were the two favourites for picnics and climbing, but Grootkloof, Cederberg and Easter Kloof also featured, as well as some of the main faces such as Eureka.  The climbing routes were mainly well developed, but I opened a few new ones.

I helped with the climbing clubs at St Albans and St Mary's and we had many fun outings, culminating in the 1st SA Schools rockclimbing meet at Tonquani in 1986. There had been opposition in the MCSA to allowing anyone under 18 to climb, but when a number of the MCSA members saw how well (and safely) the kids climbed, attitudes changed.  Doug and Andrew Brown were the organisers for the meet. 

Climbing is unique amongst school sports. It mixes age groups ...and sexes. Younger boys can sometimes be teaching and leading older boys or girls can be leading and showing boys how to climb. Its a great equaliser with absolutely no place for egos.