Pontok 3 – Original Route via the South Face Gully

Delighted to have summited one of the big peaks in this Spitzkoppe area.

Technically, the route is a relatively straightforward scramble, but tricky route finding up the south face, a feeling of isolation and considerable exposure on the summit slopes made for an all consuming day out!

The route is marked with intermittent small cairns near campsite 17 (just past ‘old graves’ area), directly below Pontok 4. We started walking at 08:00am and made steady but cautious progress. Although the small piles of stones kept us ‘on route’, we were never entirely sure if it was the ‘right’ route. It certainly isn’t travelled often.

After traversing under the vast slabby face of Pontok 3, we aimed up towards the gully between number 2 and 3.

Bit by bit, we followed the breadcrumb trail, which felt a bit like an extreme treasure hunt, where we had to choose the best route over, under or around boulders and various trees and bushes.

The wind was roaring through the Col between Pontok 2 and 3, when we finally arrived there around 10am. To our surprise, we saw a guide and 2 clients walking down from the summit. We couldn’t believe they’d been ahead of us, and sure enough they set off down the north face, which looked considerably easier than where we’d ascended! Still, the good news was, as they were un-roped, the terrain ahead couldn’t be too hard!

Given the ever present and nerve wracking enormous drop off down the south face slabs, we roped up regardless.

It was just over 100m of exposed but straight forward scrambling along a terrace before the final slopes led up to the summit rocks and guest book.

We climbed it in a few quick, short pitches.

We ‘signed in’ our ascent, one of six or seven from this month. The views were far reaching, with flat lands stretching out to the horizon, breached only by small pointed volcanic peaks. The gravel road we had travel here on disappeared off into the distance.

We could have stayed up there for ages, but the wind was harsh. Not cold, just a constant buffering that made it hard to relax properly. We still had to get down after all.

We kept the rope out for the descent, with Clare going first and reversing the belays we’d made on the way up.

It was a relief to get back into the gully, where we were both out of the wind and away from the danger of the slabs.

However, it was still a long and complex way down and the game of hunt the cairn soon restarted. We kept the rope out for the first section, to assist with some of the big steps, but otherwise it was no longer needed.

The descent seemed to go on forever!

The views were good though, as were the interesting plants, trees, cacti and sculpted boulders.

As we neared the car, we spotted a team of three climbers nearing the summit of Pontok 4! The first other climbers we’d seen!

As we reached the truck, (about 5 hours after we’d left), they reached the summit so I tried to zoom in and get a photo for them. A chap called Christian Rust, who’s family owned the Erongo farmlands where we’d climbed a few weeks ago, had signed in at the Pontok 3 book a few days before us. He’d climbed the first ascent of the Madonna, and also put up lots of other climbs in Namibia. We wondered if it might be him?…

On the drive back past the camp reception we took a quick shower to freshen up and also stopped briefly at another climbing area to check out a climb for another time, but by this time, we both needed to be in the shade and resting, so we returned to camp to do just that.

Before dinner we walked over to check out the Sugarloaf Slabs. They are quite incredible. You could easily take a 25m fall if you didn’t get to the next bolt! I’d love to see someone climb it! It looked like a real test of nerves more than climbing prowess. Impressive, but I think we’ll give it a miss.

We did come across a little family of Rock Dassies, in a crack high up on a neighbouring cliff. The mother was feeding about six or seven little ones. I got a photo by holding my camera up to my binoculars!

There was another stunner sunset at we walked back to camp. As it turns out, we are camped below the best rock to view sunset from. It’s a bit bizarre, but just before sunset a whole loads of vehicles and tour guides arrive. They all get marched up to the top of the rocks, sit there for 10 minutes, take some photos then leave. For about an hour as the sun dips, it’s a total circus here, with music, trucks, dust and people. Then once the sun sets, our peaceful camp returns and we’re left to eat dinner in silence!