Grosse Spitzkoppe - Southwest Face

Rising straight out of the Namib desert, Spitzkoppe (and the nearby Pontoks) is a perfect climber's mountain: flawless granite, minimal approaches, beautiful features linked by bold slabs, a strong trad ethic leading to occasionally spicy runouts, and the most spectacular desert scenery imaginable. The mighty southwest face is where most of the serious efforts have been concentrated, with classics like INXS and Nothing in Moderation, as well as recent additions by Cole Robertson.

Route List

1: 5, 4, 3, 17, Hüfner, Modrzewski, Seuring, 2001

2: West Ridge, 19, Hüfner, Seuring, 2006

3: Normal Route, 17, de V. Graaf, E. Wongtschofsy, H. Wongtschofsy, 1946

4: Schreiber’s Route, 19, Helm, Lachenmann, Schreiber, 1960

5: Southwest Ridge Gully, 6

6: MAD For It, 22, Hüfner, Le Roux, Seuring, 2011

7: Herero Arch, 26 A0, Botte, Gargitter, Thaler, Trenkwalder, 2000

8: Active Side of Infinity, 25 A0, Hüfner, Modrzewski, Seuring, 2002

9: Heaven and Bagpipes, 27, Satava et al., 2007

10: INXS, 24 R, Cartwright, Seegers, Smith, 1991

11: The Slab Chip Experience, 25, Pantelides, C. Robertson, Tarr, 2018 

12: !Guri |Aib (The White Streak), 25/26, C. Robertson, N. Robertson, 2022

13: Southwest Wall Route, 24, Haber, Holding, Ward, 1982/Cartwright, Hislop, 1988

14: Beyond Suntan Lotion, 24, Brogan, Modrzewski, 2002

15: Nothing in Moderation, 27, Broccardo, Hüfner, Seuring, 2001/Honnold, Hüfner, 2016

16: Watersports, 20, Hüfner, Modrzewski, Pretorius, 2001

17: Unnamed 15, 15, Hüfner et al.

18: Royale Flush, 21, Edelstein, Mallory, 1983/Wallis, Wamsteker, 2000

19: Compromising Positions, 20, Le Roux, Seuring, 2006

20: Tourmaline, 20 A2, Elliot, Roff, 1988

21: Short Stories, 20, Gantze, H. Müller, V. Müller, 2003

22: Pisti Hufnagel, 16, H. Müller, V. Müller, 2003

23: Boina Negra, 19, Gantze, Godoy, H. Müller, V. Müller, 2003

24: Dichotoma, 20, Haber, Kenny, 2000

25: Moringa, 19, Gantze, Haber, 2000

26: Commiphra, 17, Haber, Walker, 2000

27: Opaal, 27, Botte, Gargitter, Thaler, Trenkwalder, 2000

28: A Cup of Tea and Two Chimneys, 18, Hüfner, 2003

29: Fig Arch, 17, Hüfner, 2003

30: Goldfinger, 21, Albert, Karrasch, Pickl, 1999