Community News

Climbing experts on Saba

Story and photo by Suzanne Nielsen and reprinted with permission of the Daily Herald.

December 16, 2003

Two American climbing experts just spent several days exploring the possibilities of developing climbing as a sports attraction on Saba.

The initiative came from dive shop Sea Saba several years ago when one of their employees, an accomplished climber, put forward the idea and did some initial research. The proposal remained on the back burner, however, until new dive instructor/climber Leda Brewer arrived. Brewer, from Colorado, also has extensive climbing experience.

The Sea Saba project gained momentum with support from the island government and the Saba Conservation Foundation. Inquires responding to a climbing article on the dive shop web site also brought interest from Skip Harper, who wrote a book on climbing Cayman Brac in 2002, and Jeb Steward, who is also a cave specialist.

The two athletes were invited to join Brewer in a reconnaissance overview to check out the feasibility of promoting climbing as an added sports attraction for adventure tourists.

The trio explored several potential sites on the island, paying especial attention to any environmental impact that the activity might have. The cliffs on the north side of the island, near Green Island, proved good for climbing, but there might be an environmental conflict since the location is also a prime site for nesting Tropicbirds.

Another site excited the group: a large cave above The Bottom, which could be used as a climbing destination since it is a vertical fissure. The experts judged the cave to be unique since it is not limestone, and appears to be well ventilated, pointing to a possible opening at the other end.

This preliminary initial scouting expedition was positive and will be followed by a second visit in a few months, when routes will be mapped out in detail and eventually fixed anchors installed.

Photo:: From left, Jeb Steward, Leda Brewer, and Skip Harper.

Click here for a larger version of the photo.


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Story and photograph © Suzanne Nielsen, 2005.