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In December I am basically planning on going up Judge Pass, Khulu Bagging Judge, Popple, Corner, Trojan Wall, Injisuthi, Mafadi, Red Wall, Lithabalong and Nteledi II (as always I am highly optimistic in advance), then return via Leslies. I have a few concerns that I'm hoping some of you can answer.

Security

If I am correct the central berg "security threat zone" is basically from Redi to Popple (not that Redi is in the central berg, but you know what I mean), so my route shouldn't really enter it. Has this area been extended since the smugglers started using Judge Pass? How safe is it to camp near the base of Judge Pass (well more around the corner to the North of it - not referring to the peak The Corner)?

Upper Injisuthi Cave and Marble Bathes Cave - do we need night patrol on these? From what I hear we don't?

Water

The map leads me to believe that the river on Judge Pass may be as prominent as the Martial Eagle Stream is on Bannerman Pass, but from what I have seen when looking at the pass it looks like the stream that formed the pass will be more wet rock than an actual stream, anyone know what the case is with this?

As far as water goes on the top, I see a tiny stream just north of the Corner as well as Mahlabachaneng running off Mafadi (if I am correct this is where the name Nteledi comes from as the water "makes me slip"). How good are these streams for providing us with water? And what about the streams between UI Cave and Leslies Pass? I imagine that there is a stream flowing down Leslie's Pass as with most Berg Passes, I doubt many passes where mainly formed by wind erosion (although sometimes I wonder)!

As always I assume that the water in this area is more than adequate for drinking, nothing like Bushman's Nek area?

Still no responses on this thread, can I get some input from anyone?

Hi Ghaznavid,

I'm perhaps not the best with recent knowledge to answer your questions on security, but here goes.

Regarding security on the summit, I'm not aware of any issues in this area and you should be fine from Popple to Leslies Pass, although it might be wise to avoid overnighting in an obvious visible position between Popple and Trojan Wall, especially near the smuggling routes, not sure of your overnighting plans.

I can't comment on water on Judge Pass as I've never done it, but on the summit you shouldn't have a problem at all in December, assuming it's a normal rainfall season this summer. I've done this route several times, and even though you'll be khulu bagging on the ridges, water is never far away. There could be a bit of a walk down to the stream for water from UI cave, but not that bad. From UI to Leslies Pass, also never far from water, and all the running water is good for drinking in this area. Don't forget the iNjisuthi Butresses, both are easy to summit khulus!

So ghaznavid, you reckon Poppple will let you onto it's summit this time?

No recent security threats that I am aware of in the Injisuthi area. Have read definite references to hikers getting stuff stolen on the Injisuthi escarpment but these date back a few years now. Other than general, sensible precautions, personally I'm fairly relaxed in that area and would not readily post a night guard unless something gives me reason to.

About your intended camping spot just North of the base of Judges Pass, make sure you are well off the trail. I don't know the exact route and variations the smugglers take currently, but I think that some head North towards the hut on the contour path once down the pass. December is not normally a busy month in this regard though.

As tonymarshall mentioned, water shouldn't be too much of an issue in December. Judge Pass does have a stream at the bottom but the trail doesn't follow the gully much, so rather fill up at the bottom. Its a fairly quick pass anyway and you'll find water at the top again. At some point on the ascent of the slopes of Trojan Wall the water will stop flowing. Once you get to the cave, you should find water at the bottom of the bowl shaped valley it overlooks.

If following the high Mafadi-Lithobolong ridge towards Leslies Pass it is likely to be water-scarce, but just be filled up when you leave the cave. The Mafadi summit does have some stagnant pools that I've drunk out of before. You'll hit water in the escarpment stream behind Leslies Pass again.

We'll be holding thumbs that you actually make it up Popple this time...

intrepid wrote:


Lol, I think the Dragon has been conspiring against me, maybe it backed the Mongols in the Mongol/Ghaznavid wars...

Thanks for the responses, that is very helpful to know. It is basically what I expected, but its always good to confirm what I thought.

I read the account of a very similar hike (up Corner instead of Judge Pass) in Encounters with the Dragon, but that was in May, not December (and we have no intention of trying to climb the side of the escarpment and drop into the pass 67% of the way up), so that has also helped.