PEAK HIGH Mountaineering

The Mountaineering and Rock Climbing in South Africa Blog

Guidebooks & Maps For Sale

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Peak High Mountaineering stocks the following guidebooks and maps of South Africa and Namibia. Including Drakensberg Select by Gavin Raubenheimer. A 350 page definitive guide to trekking, rock, snow and ice in the Drakensberg. Also includes colour pictures and high resolution topo guides, list of cave information, history and stories.

Drakensberg Select R390
Courier within South Africa R120
Airmail to Europe & UK R420
Courier to Europe & UK R750
(prices may vary for multiple copies)

A Climbers Guide to Kwa-Zulu Natal Rock by Roger Nattrass. A comprehensive guide to the rock climbs of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. R250

Courier within South Africa R120
Airmail to Europe & UK R420
Courier to Europe & UK R750
(Prices may vary for multiple copies)

Rock Climbing at Eagle Mountain by Gavin Peckham. An A6 pocket-size guide to the sport climbs of Eagle Rock/ Mount Everest Resort in the Free-State province of South Africa. R150

Postage within South Africa R50

To order, please email gavin@peakhigh.co.za with your name, book or map name and quantity.

 

 

COMMON KNOTS USED IN ROCK CLIMBING

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The Figure 8 knot

This is the most widely used knot for attaching rope. It comes in two forms. It is either made “on the bight” if clipping to a karabiner or “re-threaded” if when tying into a harness.

The Double Fisherman’s knot
This is used to join ropes together. It can be used with ropes of different diameters.


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THE BASICS OF ABSEILING

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Abseil technique for beginners

Connect the abseil device to the harness. A safety rope is also usually attached by the instructor, so that the abseiler can be belayed down the descent.

One hand must grasp the rope below the abseil device and pull the rope behind the back. This is then the hand that controls the descent by slowly releasing the rope. The legs should be set apart and be almost straight, lean back at about 80 degrees to the rock face.

ABSEIL SAFETY BACK-UPS
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