Dark Safari, E6 600m, Pat Littlejohn, Steve Susted, John Barry, Jan Rowe (varied leads) 6-9 February 2000. "Possibly the toughest adventure rock climb in Africa". Generally good rock. The first section follows a huge corner on the left side of the North Face of Poi. This is capped by huge overhangs arching rightwards and forcing a very commiting and hard traverse to be made till a way through them leads to some hard and unprotected slab climbing and the top. The bolaz pitch involved an 8m huge chock "bolaz" being thrown at a tree above a blank section - it caught behind a root and Pat, heart in mouth, then jumared up this to reach the tree. An alternative crack to the left could possibly be a way of avoiding this pitch. The capping overhangs are broken through by the very serious and hard "eyebrow" pitch, above this protection is sparse and thin steep slabs keep the pressure up to the very top. Pat fell several times while attempting the upper pitches. Although this route may not encounter situations as outrageous and dramatic as those encountered on the bolted routes of the "Gas Hole Face" it nevertheless must be considered one of the greatest climbing achievements in East Africa on account of the style of the ascent and the sustained difficulties encountered. |
