Prometheus – The fire giver

It is innate,

the urge and drive to discover

the best-

that which ignites and enlivens the spirit.

Not in absolutes,

but blending subjective connection and preference.

That which sparks interest and forges determination.

Ostensibly, the search is secondary,

yet both are journeys:

the finding and the feeding.

Each weighted in frustration, released with satisfaction.

I seek that which fuels

passion and progression.

That which gives me fire.

After about 2 years of wandering the slopes of Table Mountain, I eventually found it. Perched high above Orange Kloof is a ledge running across the western face of the Klaasen’s buttress. To the north, the ledge narrows to a vertigo inducing width (on account of the drop-off below), and just here, a series of rails and jugs shoot out over the void at a particularly absurd angle. Imagine an ancient, sandstone ship moored right on the very edge of an escarpment, a lush photosynthetic carpet way below. Like barnacles, lichen plasters most of the hull, but at the bow, the savagely steep prow is weathered clean from cutting through countless waves over the eons. As if designed by a celestial deity with a climbing bias, it is adorned with fantastic grips for hands and immaculate cracks for cams. As far as I know it was unclimbed, but that really doesn’t matter, to me this was indeed Prometheus: the fire giver.

Thanks to Brenna for the sending belay, Douw for his patience and photography, and the good folks at Outward Ventures for supporting my clambering antics.  It should be noted that Douw has a knack for discovering key beta and in this case also nabbed the coveted second ascent, as far as we know.

The RD is on the wiki here

All pics by Douw Steyn.