Oh Hey Senders! Welcome back to The Send Space season 2 episode 3 (00:07:47)! In this episode guest host Timothy Larsen, speaks with the legendary Andy Wood about some of the classic trad routes in the Western Cape through the decades, the climbers who climbed them, and the gear that they used. The pair chart the history of trad climbing on Table Mountain, from the first ascent of Arrow Final, in 1985, to Mary Poppins, a breathtaking 31/32 on trad and many inspiring first accents in between, from Kindergarten to Matric. They start their conversation with some tales and stories of the South African climbers who established the routes on Table Mountain from decades ago. They climbed with minimal gear, ropes around their waists, and the old mentality of leaders never falls. Andy shows us that; along with the guts and brawn of the early crushers, the evolution of gear has opened countless opportunities to climb, and routes to establish. So as Andy would say, remember to calm it down, rest, and keep it going!

You can find some of Andy’s MCSA journal entries here:

Wood, Andrew. Artichoke: a new rte on Muizenberg Pk. 79: 157, 1976. Tec.

Wood, Andrew. Picnic on Mt. Kenya. 86: 46-48, 1983. Illustrations. Many female climbers forming their own parties: Mt. Kenya Women’s expedition 2000. 103: 10, 2000. Mt. Kenya. 100: 20, 1997. 103: 80-81, 2000.

WOOD, Andrew (Andy) A hitch-hiker’s guide to the Alps. 86: 63-65, 1983.

Wood, Andrew. New rtes. in the Pakhuis Pass area. Cederberg. Shady Lane; G-string Dancer. 87: 142-143, 1984. R.D.