Robinson Opens V14 in South Africa

7/11/11 - Paul Robinson has been climbing in South Africa since late June, and he has opened his first V14 there: Mirta.

Mirta sits on a mountain overlooking Cape Town and the ocean; this 12-move problem climbs out a steep wall on crimps—he compared it to Nagual, a crimpy V13 in Hueco Tanks, Texas. He finished the problem in the evening by headlamp and lantern light. "Wow... one of the coolest pieces of rock I have ever climbed on," he said on his scorecard. "The huge 45 wall on the mountain top. Can't get much better than this. A harder and cooler Nagual! PSYCHED!"

He spent some time last summer climbing in Rocklands, the bouldering destination of South Africa, but has decided this year to spend time around Cape Town. "The past few years, Rocklands saw its high times in terms of first ascents, and it was great to be a part of it all," he said on his blog. "Now, with everything nearly developed in Rocklands, it will be amazing to hop off the beaten path and head to new areas with just as good of rock as Rocklands and nearly untouched!"

Date of ascent: July 9, 2011

Sources: p-d-robinson.tumblr.com, ukclimbing.com