vertical-endeavour.com

So the current "Up Corner & Down Leslies in 3 days" thread got me thinking about the time a friend and I were planning to do that route as a brisk day-hike. We didn't set out due to miserable weather but I would love to have another crack at it in good conditions.

A light and fast day-hike which gets you to the escarpment and back can be very satisfying. And you'd be surprised at the kind of ground that can be covered by moving efficiently... extreme fitness is certainly not a requirement. Just the desire to spend the entire day out in the mountains!

The only long-distance day hike I've done in the Berg was in preparation for our record attempt. I started at Cathedral Peak Hotel and headed down the tar road to the old "Brotherton Store" access to the Ndedema Gorge. From there it was up the gorge to Phillip's Folly, along the contour path to the base of Camel Pass and back down to the Hotel via Ribbon Falls. 41km and 9 hours on foot... dinner was particularly tasty that night

From what I've read on this forum as well as a few of my own ideas, here's a list of what are bound to be some very good days out in the berg:

- Up Cathedral Peak, along Bell Traverse & down Mlambonja
- Up Corner Pass, over Mafadi and down Leslies Pass
- Up Bollard Pass and down Wilson's Pass
- Up Mnweni Pass and down Rockeries (the Mnweni Marathon)
- Up Amakehla Pass and down Minaret Pass?

Any others to add? Or your own experiences?

did mashai pass in the garden castle area, left at 5am, reached cairn on escarpment at 10am and back down to camp in 2 hours. our knees were blown!

Interesting list this.

I met a couple from the UK who were on a climbing holiday in SA - mostly Cape Town. They'd done the Bell-Twins traverse in a day (up to the Bell, along to Twins, down Mlambonjwa). It wasn't done as a grand challenge, more that it looked like a nice hike on the map. They thought it was a long way down one-tree hill though. Which it is.

A few months later I had the chance to copy them - was even signed into the register for once - but it rained hard from 2am till about 10am and the chance slipped by.

I did manage to get from home in Durban (at the time), up the Bell and back home to Durban in 24 hours once (with 2 other mates). I was quite pleased with myself until other mates, Bruce and Bob Woods did the same - except on Devil's Tooth. I remember Bruce describing how it was to eat a burger in the spur in Pinetown afterwards and wonder what chance there was of anyone there imagining what they'd been up to that day.

Longest distance I've ever done in a day way 27km, but that wasn't in the Berg and was without a pack. Did Bannerman Hut as a return trip in a day with a day, thats 23km, but not at all impressive as far berg hikes go and also fairly easy.

Did Langalibalele Pass as a day hike with overnight packs including a tent, the plan was an overnight hike up Popple (camping around its base), but after having rocks thrown at us on the pass we turned back (we reached the top of the pass and turned around)...

I hope to add the 20km hike up Mashai Pass summitting Mlambonja (and hopefully also Random Peak) on saturday...

My most impressive day hike: From Giants Hut, up Giants Pass and down East Gully. IMPRESSIVE gully that!

Most epic day hike: From Lotheni Camp to Giants Hut and back to Lotheni Camp, with a diversion in-between. Arrival back at camp 20h30. Much to the wrath of the parents.
I have never even checked what distance that is, but it felt like forever.

Silly youth.

mnt_tiska wrote:


Well this is the same man than soloed Du Toits NW Frontal, Exposure in F Major and Klein Winterhoek Frontal, all in the same sub-24-hour push. For those who don't know these Cape country routes, that involves 40 pitches of trad climbing up to grade 19 (sandbagged, I'm sure...) and some serious bundu-bashing approaches! Now THAT's impressive!

Another interesting push I've heard of is Mike Cartwright and partner, getting from Cathedral Peak Hotel to the summit of The Column in 3 hours!