Verkyker Pass

HI All

On Monday the 21st of April (Easter Monday) myself and 4 others had a real early start from Pietermaritzburg in an attempt to try and get up Verkyker Pass. We managed to start walking at just before 6a.m. and we made fairly good progress past Mzimkhulu Cave, Fun Cave and Verkyker Cave.



We decided to ridge it up a ridge that extends itself up past Fun Cave. We decided to go up this route instead of sticking to the river bed which was situated to the left of the ridge. I knew that the ridge route might end in a stale mate with it closing out as we got closer to the top.



Heading up the ridge looking North west towards all three of the Mzimkhulu Passes

Looking Down the Ridge towards Fun Cave.

The higher grassy slopes before we contoured into Verkyker Pass.

Our first proper view of Verkyker Pass - This photo was taken where on the Google Earth image the track log deviates down slightly.

Contouring around into Verkyker Pass. We had to work our way through rock bands and were always expecting our route choice to be blocked off.


Entering into the boulder section of Verkyker Pass.

Upper grassy slopes of Verkyker Pass - looking down


Cheeky Selfie

Close up of Verkyker Pass and Mzimkhulu Pass track log.


Looking Back after a leaker day in the mountains.



Summary of Verkyker Pass.
There is no path after you ridge it from close to Fun Cave and once you get off the main Northern Mzimkhulu Pass highway. I found the going quite difficult due to the lack of a path, however it is not a difficult pass to do. There is a little path towards the top of Verkyker Pass on the grassy upper section. If I was doing this pass in mid-winter I would go up through the river bed as I feel that there will be a couple of sections that will be very icy with 20 to 50m drops.
Distance Covered - 30Km

Regards
Selous

Thanks for the write up Selous, and pics of the map. I also enjoy a new and unused ridge to get up and down.

intrepid wrote: I tend to opt for ridges and traverses.

+1.

Only the lack of water is sometimes an issue on ridge routes, but by far what I prefer too.

Selous wrote:

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That's some steep side hilling there....