A new crag has emerged on the South African climbing scene, offering adventurous climbers an alpine-esque sport experience unlike any other. Dubbed “The Colosseum,” this striking orange amphitheater near Yellowwood in Du Toits Kloof, Western Cape, has steadily been developed by Tristan van der Merwe, a route setter at CityROCK Cape Town, and Ethan Pringle, an American climber most know for his bold traditional ascent of Blackbeard’s Tears (5.14c trad) in 2016, transforming it from a hidden gem into a premier sport climbing destination.
The term alpine-esque describes the crag’s remote, high-mountain setting rather than a true alpine climbing style. As Tristan described and envisioned it, its exposure to unpredictable weather, rugged terrain, and once-lengthy approach make it feel adventurous, exposed, and far from a usual roadside crag.
Discovering The Colosseum
Tristan first noticed the wall while driving past the tunnel near Yellowwood, captivated by its sheer size and untouched potential. Listed in the Yellowwood guidebook as a possible sport climbing area, it remained undeveloped until he and a friend, Derek, decided to investigate further. A drone flight over the crag revealed its full grandeur, with solid rock and a ledge offering ideal access.
The timing for development was serendipitous—Ethan Pringle happened to be in South Africa during Tristan’s break, and another friend, Bernie, had also spotted the crag independently. With everything aligning, the team set out to unlock its climbing potential.
“It looked absolutely phenomenal. The scale of the crag was really impressive, and I knew right then that this place had massive potential.” Tristan
What Makes The Colosseum Unique?
Unlike Yellowwood, which remains a traditional climbing stronghold, The Colosseum is being developed as an alpine sport climbing venue. It offers:
- Better Access: Initial approaches took up to three hours, but the route has since been refined to a manageable 20-minute walk for Tristan and 1,5 hours for the rest of us.
- Multi-Pitch Routes: With 16 established climbs totaling around 20 pitches, the crag offers an immersive climbing experience.
- Shady & Remote Appeal: Compared to Hellfire, The Colosseum provides cooler conditions and a greater sense of adventure.
The crag offers a wide variety of climbing styles: slab, overhanging, grooves, cracks, and corners. The grades range from 18 to potentially 35+ (8c+), which could make it one of the hardest routes in the country. The crag is suited for climbers who enjoy technical, overhanging routes. Most of the lines are graded 25 and above, making it ideal for medium to advanced climbers.
Standout Routes
Among the growing list of routes, several lines have already gained attention:
- “Rust, Dust, and Guts” (37m, technical crimping line): The first route bolted at the crag, requiring a 75m rope for descent.
- “Into the Fire” (33/8c+): A visually striking and physically demanding climb.
- A range of grades from 18 to a potential 35+ (8c+), catering mostly to medium to advanced climbers.
The Bolting Process & Challenges
Developing The Colosseum has been no small feat. The process involves:
- Rappelling down from the top ledge.
- Placing temporary protection with cams and nuts.
- Solo top-roping the line to determine the route.
- Bolting and clearing loose rock while hanging for hours in a harness.
Access challenges added to the adventure—on the first trip, the team had to solo a 25m waterfall with 25kg packs. Over time, improvements have made the approach safer and more efficient.
Memorable Moments & Lessons Learned
The journey has been filled with both thrilling and nerve-wracking moments, including:
- Drill Failures: Leaving Ethan stranded mid-traverse without bolts, requiring a rescue and drill swap.
- Rope Safety Incident: A fixed rope nearly snapped due to unnoticed abrasion, highlighting the importance of short-fixing ropes to bolts.
- Ground-Up Development: Kai Fitchen and Aidan Bennett bolted an 18 route from the ground up, an impressive feat given the loose rock.
For those interested in developing their own crag, Tristan and Ethan emphasize the importance of:
- Always securing ropes to prevent sharp-edge wear.
- Using trad gear for safety while scouting bolt placements.
- Arriving in the evening to camp and start fresh in the morning.
How the Community Can Help
As with any new climbing area, community support is essential. Climbers can contribute by:
- Donating old carabiners, ropes, or tools for infrastructure improvements.
- Sticking to marked paths and removing invasive plants.
- Practicing Leave No Trace ethics to preserve the pristine environment.
“Bolting these lines isn’t easy, but we’re opening them to everyone. A little backing from the community goes a long way!” Tristan
To get in touch, chat to any of the staff at CityROCK Cape Town or DM Tristan on Instagram.
The Vision for The Colosseum
While the crag may never become a mainstream hotspot due to its remote location and demanding access, it offers something special for those seeking high-quality, challenging routes. With a concentration of grades from 27 to potentially 35+, it stands to become one of South Africa’s premier destinations for hard sport climbing.
For those willing to embrace the adventure, The Colosseum promises a climbing experience that is both rewarding and unforgettable, you can check out the Topo here.
“The crag is beautiful, offering stunning views and great climbing, but the experience is very alpine. Expect an adventurous climb with an exciting approach.” Tristan
If you haven’t visited Yellowwood or The Colosseum yet, be sure to put them on your adventure bucket list! And for an exciting look at Yellowwood to whet your appetite, don’t miss the premiere of NEWBORN: The Next Generation—screening for free at Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, on 18 March.
Look Forward to “Into the Fire” – A Short Film on the Crag’s Development
A 30-minute film, Into the Fire, on the bolting and development of The Colosseum is in production by Catie Monteiro. Filming will resume when Ethan Pringle returns to South Africa, with completion expected by June 2025. They’re seeking sponsors—check out the film pitch to learn more!
Can someone please explain the use of ‘alpine’ in the title. As I see it, an alpine climb refers to remote, high altitude, difficult to reach route, where climbers move in alpine style, i.e. fast and light, often simul climbing.
Hard sport climbing, is not fast and light, because you often hang around for hours on the same route over many sessions, working moves, spending the whole day in the same spot.
A 20minute to 3hour walk doesn’t sound very remote to me.
Good question! The term ‘alpine’ here refers more to the environment and setting rather than the specific climbing style. In the interview, Tristan described and envisioned the crag this way because it’s high up in the mountains, exposed to unpredictable weather, and originally had a much longer approach before improvements reduced it to 20 minutes. While it’s a bolted crag, it still has that adventurous, remote feel—far from a roadside crag. It’s definitely different from classic alpine-style ascents, but the setting and experience still share many alpine characteristics, which is why ‘alpine sport crag’ feels fitting.
I haven’t been there yet but everyone I know said the walk was 1.5 – 2 hours. I doubt it’s 20 minutes even now with the path made better.
I think Tristan has walked in so many times it now feels like 20mins to him 😉
Excellent to see a new hard sport crag being opened in SA.
But it sounds like Tristan has never done any alpine rock climbing.
YW is right next door (all trad except for Newborn) and no trad climber would ever call that an alpine climbing destination. I haven’t walked up to the Collosseum but my best time walking up to YW was 90 minutes, without gear. It’s over 1,000 m vertical ascent.