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Me and some friends are planning a 3 day trip to Mafadi in early August. Our current plan is as follows:

Day 1: Injasuthi camp to bottom of Corner pass.
Day 2: Ascend Corner pass, visit Mafadi, then camp somewhere on top (maybe Injasuthi Summit cave, but preferably closer to Leslie's pass).
Day 3: Descend Leslie's pass and back to camp.

Does this seem feasible? I haven't hiked in August before. I've climbed the neck between Monk's Cowl and Sterkhorn in June, where we found frozen snow a foot thick and had to descend through that. My other June trip was during perfect weather.

But I haven't experienced a blizzard before, and I believe we have a pretty good chance of snow. Has someone done this route or area during foul weather?

Thanks in advance
Lukas

Hey Lukas,
the norm for this route is over 4 days, though it is possible for a strong, fast and well prepared group to do it as you have proposed. Fair weather and the snow/ice conditions will naturally play also a big role in determining whether you can pull it off or not.

For some additional info on Corner Pass, including a pic of last winter's conditions, see this link:
http://vertical-endeavour.com/forums/drakensberg-passes/86-corner-pass.html. Soft snow in the gully is one thing, but if you encounter hard ice on the main crux and the short chimney right at the top, it could get really challenging and maybe even impossible without equipment. Given that it will be late winter then, the chances of encountering frozen snow-melt are good. The bottom of the pass is not that great for pitching a tent, though you'll find a spot eventually.

Bear in mind that you will not have a lot of time to enjoy the area over 3 days. The top is spectacular, especially the spine-tingling view right on the edge, looking over the Triplets. The summit cave is one of the finest escarpment caves and is well worth the visit. You will wish you had more time up there. If you have the luxury of taking 4 days, rather do that, and take on the challenge of doing it over 3 days some other time.

At the very least, keep a fourth day as a spare in case you encounter difficulties. The route has some fairly strenuous parts that may easily be underestimated (besides Corner Pass and the slog up the Trojan Wall from there). The climb up from Fergy's Cave to Centenary Hut will get you breathing hard, Leslie's Pass is not technical but pretty steep (make sure you don't loose the trail at some key points), and you'll be doing lots of boulder hopping and river crossings from the bottom of the pass to Marble Baths Cave.

It's very hard to predict what the conditions will be like, though expect savage winds at some point, if not the entire time . The area is very high-lying, so good chance of snow on the ground on top. How much is hard to say. Check the weather report shortly before the time for any major fronts and snow warnings, and re-assess as needed.

Above all, have fun, and please let us know how it went!

I have done Corner / Leslies in Summer but for what its worth here’s my take : becos of its narrow gulley and flanked by huge cliffs, not much sun gets into Corner Pass, so I expect after snow the gulley could get quite iced up. Still, there’s only 2 tricky bits and with a push-up and a rope to drag up packs it’s quite doable.
An alternative to Corner would be Judges Pass just a little South.

It’s indeed a slog up to Centenary Hut. You can find 1 or 2 rough camping spots amongst the protea bushes at the bottom of the Pass.

It looks like you planning this over the long w'end in Aug. 3 days is possible but your 2nd day will be very long esp if the Pass is iced up. And I suggest you camp near Leslies Pass else you'll make the last day long as well. Also, at the bottom of the last ridge when you reach the fork in the river, about a hundred metres on, look out for the path on the LHS else you gonna have a long slog in the riverbed.

ps. I agree with Intrepid, 3 days would be too much of a blur for one of the finest routes in the Berg.

Thanks Intrepid/Magan

I thought as much. I use the surveyor general's 1:50 000 maps for the Drakensberg, and noticed the climb on day one will already do some damage - it's higher than the usual lower berg climb. And each day's hiking distance seems well in excess of 10km.

So I'm now discussing with the guys to take one extra day, or else plan 'n proper three-day trip. While I'm at it, can you suggest an enjoyable three-day two-pass escarpment route?

But I hope we can agree on four days. Are there any proper camping spots close to water between Centenary hut and Corner pass? How "rough" are the spots at the bottom of the pass?

-EDIT- Just for indication, more or less the same group descended from the top of Giant's Castle pass via Giant's Ridge to Giant's Castle hutted camp in four hours, including some breaks, during good weather on the last day of our last trip. Is this average or fast?

gollum wrote:

Plenty! What area you interested in? That'll narrow it down a bit.


Unless your tent pitches well on steep slopes, no.


Bush, boulders, not much level ground. You will find a spot eventually when you look around, especially if it's just for one tent. It's generally not an area that lends itself well to camping (which of course depends on what you are happy with and what your expectations are). If you are doing it in 4 days rather use Centenary Hut or camp nearby - no shortage of good camp ground there.



Theoretically anything could be done faster, but that pace is fine. I mostly avoid fast descents because that's where people mess themselves up. I'd rate an ascent of Giant's Pass with pack at 2/3 - 3/4 of a day, and a descent at half a day. I'm reluctant to rate the time more specifically than that - too many factors involved.

Cathedral or Monk's Cowl, since they are the closest to Bloemfontein.

We're not quite sure on whether we'll take three or four days. But if we can't have four, we will abandon this route for now and settle for a shorter one.



lol!!!



Thanks. I'd just like to add we're not trying to set up records, I just wanted to get some sort of rating on fair pace from an experienced climber. We don't regard the berg as a playground.

Speaking of wrong attitude: Last year we climbed Organ Pipes pass, and thought about spending the night in Roland's cave. By coincidence, another small group was in the vicinity, but closer to the cave (we were below the cave ledge). Upon seeing us, they raced to the cave, and we could hear a "f@ck them, we got here first". Not the kind of attitude I liked, especially up there, where you should look out for fellow climbers. We would have respected the first come first serve rule in any case, or if they had booked the cave and we got there first, we'd have moved out.

Anyways, thanks for the advice so far, it's been a great help!!