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Community Blogs
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Icidi Pass |
| Drakensberg - Passes | ||||
| Thursday, 21 January 2010 16:45 | ||||
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This is most probably the most difficult non-rock pass in the Drakensberg range. A very long river section, which involves boulder-hopping and bush-whacking, is followed by some incredibly steep and sustained grassy slopes in the upper reaches of the pass. It is not frequently used and the spectacular views are not much of a compensation for the frustrating river section.
Rating: * * 10/10 Difficulty of the pass is rated from 1-10 (10 being very difficult, only to be attempted by the fit and experienced). A subjective quality rating is indicated by the number of stars (1 being low, 5 being the highest). Factors such as scenic beauty and overall experience come into play here, which may differ from person to person. Access: Icidi Pass can be accessed by a full day’s walk-in (18 km) from the Mnweni Cultural Centre. The Icidi river valley branches off right from the Mnweni river valley about 2 km before Shepherd’s Cave. Details: The distance from Grasscutter’s Cave to the top of Icidi Pass is 4 km with an altitude gain of 1200m. Route: There is a faint path with many deviations which follows the left-hand (southern) bank of the river from the start of the Icidi river valley all the way up to Grasscutter's Cave. If you manage to lose the path (it’s very easy to do so), follow the boulder bed of the river, bush-whacking up the slopes to avoid the occasional waterfall. At the point where the path cuts in towards the river and disappears completely, you have to find your own way up the rest of the boulder bed until the upper grassy slopes. Just make sure you stick to the boulder bed until the boulders turn into scree and the steep grassy slopes up to the top of the pass can be reached. From here on, it’s just a never-ending, incredibly steep slog up to the top of the pass at 3100m. Finding the pass from the top: Just north of the Icidi Buttress, a large gully and then, a little higher up the slope, a smaller gully can be found. The smaller, northern-most gully is Icidi Pass. There is a small cairn marking the top. Overnight Spots: Grasscutter’s cave, which sleeps 12 people, is ideally located for use as an overnight spot when ascending the pass. It is occasionally used by locals and is therefore quite dirty but is nevertheless, a good shelter. Icidi cave, a small hollow which can only just fit 2 people, is situated about 50m in altitude below the top on the left-hand (southern) side of the pass. There are many good camping spots on the escarpment itself. Water: The Icidi River has running water until just past the end of the path. From there on, the next water can be found in a river on the escarpment, about 200m from the top of Icidi Pass.
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