Epic Day Hikes

Is it possible to traverse up on a grass bank above the river to save time? I don't know what the area looks like, but I am assuming based on the photos I have seen from higher up on the pass.

Also, I see Leslie's has 2 gullies separated by a rocky outcrop, are both passable?

No and no.

It would not be possible to hike towards Leslie's on the grass banks above the river. It is basically impassible either side due to near vertical banks and very deep gullies, especially the northwestern bank. One could move along much more swiftly on the Scaly Peak spur (South East of Two Dassie stream), but it's tough getting to the top of it, and perhaps impossible to get down from it near the foot of Leslie's pass. So not at all recommended.

Wrt your second question: The area to the right (as looking up) of the spur atop Leslie would be dangerous to do as all the major rockfalls in the pass originate there. (It is also much steeper than for instance GE suggests). Keep to the left, it is technically easy although quite sustained in fitness (lack of) pain....

I always find it interesting that most Berg passes have a split like this near the top, good examples include the 2 variations of South Mzimude Pass, the top of Bannerman Pass and I could probably list about 10 more passes like that.

The variation would be more of a route down than a route up, it doesn't look like its so close to the rock faces that rock falls would be a risk, but based on the photo on berg.co,za , it looks really steep and the rocky bit below the junction looks tricky - so I expect we would take that advice.

Stijn wrote:
Otherwise, quite doable I think:
- 2h to Marble Baths
- 2h to ridge path
- 2h to top of Leslie's Pass
- 1h for the return trip to the Molar
- 1h down Leslie's Pass
- 2h back down the river section
- 2h back to the cars

for a 12h day, with a bit of a buffer for path-finding or boulder-hopping.

OK.....

Stijn, not at all to question this calc, I am sure it can be done in this time by some exceptional individuals, even quicker by some.

I most certainly won't be able to do it in this timeframe. Getting up to top of Leslie's from Injisuthi camp will be tough already. With just daypacks perhaps a bit easier but to double up in just one day would be very very tough indeed. Leslie's is not to be underestimated, it's techically easy but quite long and steep.

Ghaz, I know you did the S-N GT so not to question your fitness at all, but doing all of this in one day will be a major feat/daunting task. As always do take backup for camping somewhere.

Highlands Fanatic wrote: I most certainly won't be able to do it in this timeframe. Getting up to top of Leslie's from Injisuthi camp will be tough already. With just daypacks perhaps a bit easier but to double up in just one day would be very very tough indeed. Leslie's is not to be underestimated, it's techically easy but quite long and steep.

Ghaz, I know you did the S-N GT so not to question your fitness at all, but doing all of this in one day will be a major feat/daunting task. As always do take backup for camping somewhere.

Thanks for the advice I realise the, well insanity, of the mission - Thumb Spur and Thaba Ngwangwe as day hikes were tough, this will be tougher. My most important rule is safety over goals, and as a result I always have a turn around time (and don't move from it by more than an hour ) and make sure that everyone has head lamps and space blankets so that we are covered in an emergency. Its also the reason I would camp there the night before and the night after, that way we have from an hour before sunrise to about an hour after sunset (also timed close to full moon adds a few hours), so its possible. I also get GPS co-ords of all nearby caves and watch out for possibles along the way up.

The biggest thing I have learned from reading numerous entries by Stijn is the very true fact that a light pack makes a hike much easier. With 10kg less on your back (total weight of my day packs with water is about 10kg total) you can average about 1km/h more on moving speed and reduce breaks by close to an hour - thats roughly 8km extra in a day without an adjustment to required fitness levels! Personally I think that a super fit person using the day packs method leaving before first light and prepared to return after dark (aiming to be at Marble Bathes by sunrise and sunset) could do Mafadi as a not too difficult day hike - its just not at my current fitness levels...

Then again, I haven't done Leslies before. The main point of this hike will be preparation for my attempt on the speed record on the highest point in each province (which requires doing Mafadi in a day and a half), so even getting half way up Leslie's would count as a minor victory from a planning perspective.

I always include Golden Gate when talking about hiking and mountains, although some may disagree. Fact is it is not nearly as rugged as the Dragon itself, but peaks on the Southern border of the park are quite high and provide a fantastic challenge. The park is also safe, no smuggling traffic which, especially on solo hikes (as I often do), is comforting.

Besides the general tourist routes there are several challenging hikes one can do in the park. One such hike is the Ribbokridge peak bagging challenge, which IMHO would count as an Epic Day Hike. As follows:

1. Climb onto the North-western end of the ridge starting just above the Generaalskop viewpoint. First peak is 'Pretender' at 2520m ASL. (It's aptly called 'Pretender' as most people arriving at the viewpoint down below believe this is Generaalskop itself. (Just as any old time war general would want..). Easy climb with about 5m scramble onto the crown.


2. Head SSE from here on the ridge itself, passing by two berg passes alla Langalibalele style. I've done one of these (starting at the white rock fall east of the ridge), it tops out at only 2420m ASL but it's quite tough.

3. Head to the 'Lieutenant General' which is the frontal peak of Generaalskop at 2710m ASL. Easy access via a grassy gully. Below as seen from the Pretender, three peaks in one shot.


4. Head South to the Generaal itself (2732m ASL). Easy enough via the Northern spur with about 10-12m scrambling required. (Other routes are actually a bit dangerous especially on the Western side due to vertical drop off below grassy traverses). Eastern side is completely inaccesible.


Views from here are superb. To the SW the whole Norhern Berg area can be seen, everything from Eastern Buttress, Sentinel (obscuring Mt. Amery), Beacon Buttress Gully, Mt Aux Sources, all the way to Namahadi. The source of the Caledon can also be seen. Lovely valley with some 5 Lesotho villages next to the Caledon down below.

Northern Berg


Namahadi


Source of Caledon


5. Head off WSW to the Ribbokpeak itself (not to be confused with Vaalribbokkop in the Central Berg). This is a daunting meneer. At 2830m ASL it's the highest free standing peak in the Free State (according to my knowledge). It requires a bit of rope work for the descend and although some have solo'ed it, I personally aborted a solo attempt three weeks ago. Too daunting. We did ascend this a couple of years ago via the Western Gully. Another route is to scramble through the rock bands starting on the Eastern Side and and zigzagging through grass passes (but this one requires a major head for exposure which I don't have, that's why I aborted).


This is already a solid day's outing so to include the last Ridge peak within park boundaries (Snowy Hill 2790m ASL) is a bit suicidal.

I'll be attempting this again this weekend weather pending. Still need to convince the party that Ribbok is on the cards though...

PS. Anyone else see the Cathedral peak resemblances in Ribbokpeak? It requires about the same effort ascending as well, perhaps a bit tougher.

ghaznavid wrote:
The biggest thing I have learned from reading numerous entries by Stijn is the very true fact that a light pack makes a hike much easier.

Agree 100%. Yes, the weight makes a difference on energy consumption, but the main benefit to me is balance. A heavy pack up and down hill screws so much with balance that significant energy goes into just balancing oneself.

@Highlands Fanatic - that looks like a fantastic hike! I've been up Generaalskop via the Rhebok Trail before and was constantly looking over to the Ribbokkop side, wishing we had enough time for a side trip. It is an impressive free-stander indeed!

And I'll definitely second you on the fact that Golden Gate is underestimated and often overlooked due to its proximity to the Berg. It's quite nice to have these "hidden" gems though

@Highlands Fanatic: Looks good, I should head that way some time Don't forget that Free State does have 22 khulus, thats more than most EKZN reserves. It also has the "Iraqi peak" - its a khulu called "Dad", the joke being that you head out to "Bag Dad"...