Epic Day Hikes

Stijn wrote: 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!

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?

So - for those of you who don't know - despite the bad weather forecast for this weekend, a group of us are shooting for breaking Besler's speed record on Mafadi (27 hours) this weekend. We are scheduled to have moonlight from 10PM to 5AM. We aren't doing the Corner to Leslies route, but rather trying out my old Judge Pass...

Good luck and enjoy! Any other forumites joining you?

Thanks

Splatacat and AndreS are coming, our 4th isn't on the forum.

Did this attempt ever happen?

The attempt did happen, you can read about it here .

I won't spoil it for you by telling you what happened

Thanks Ghaz
I am very interested in the section between Bannerman and Corner. Like you say Giants is quicker to get to (from Durban) and you can get to Bannerman hut fairly quickly and painlessly (as apposed to the 2 hour hill side). Can you give me some info on the contour path North past Bannerman? My idea is to hike up to the base of Corner pass on day 1. Up corner, have a look around and return home on day 2.

The contour path north of Bannerman Hut is a mission. The main path goes up to the hut, the split is about 100m before it turns up the ridge toward the hut (somewhere around the last stream crossing before the hut). After the turnoff the contour path is very faint and hard to follow.

The crossing of the Martial Eagle Steam (which flows down Bannerman Pass) is fairly substantial rock hopping on loose rocks and once you are across, the contour path rises steeply to 2500m (from the below the hut at around 2200m).

The turnoff for Judge Pass is very easy to spot, it is a highway of a path, but I haven't done the part between Judge Pass and Corner Pass.

That route you are looking at is quite tough for 2 days - I haven't done Corner Pass, but I believe its slow going.

Personally if I was doing Corner Pass I would go from Giant's (unless I planned to descent a pass north of there), but just don't expect to do the bit after Bannerman Hut quickly.

There are, as many know, two approaches to Corner Pass.

- 1st and most famous is the Northern High approach (approach Corner pass from the North-East). It starts up the ridge directly above Centenary hut and drops into Corner Pass proper at about 2900m ASL.
- 2nd is the standard South-Eastern Gully approach. Corner Pass proper is in view for most of this route up.

Off course nr 1 is most feasible from Injasuthi side, and nr 2 from Bannerman side.

Beyond Judge Pass to the south the contour path is not in the best shape from my own past experiences. I further don't really like the South Eastern Gully approach, it is not technically difficult but it is a slippery route involving cris-crossing the river a number of times. You are likely ending up with wet feet.

From Injasuthi side, two hour hill is just one of those things that tests a bit of fitness. It is not that hard, but just relentless as it never really lets up after the final river crossing at the confluence. If you don't try to race up here it'll be fine. Then the northern high approach is some more of the same (steeper though), continual ascending until you reach the traverse point where one traverses and ultimately drops into the narrow pass gully.

I like the approach from Injasuthi side, up Northern High side. Having said that, this is not recommended to be done in the dark. I have further only descended the Eastern Gully approach (due to it being almost dark), I've never ascended it.

Doing all of this, either option, in just two days will be a mission. Corner pass will take a fair amount of time both ascending and descending. Also, where corner pass tops out there is not much of interest you may want to head over to the Trojan Wall, Injasuthi, Mafadi ridge, especially to the frontal area (Trojan Wall) which is spectacularly scenic. I'd budget three days for this: 1) Up to Centenary hut 2) very early start with daypacks up Corner and Trojan wall, back down the afternoon to Centenary hit and 3) back to Injasuthi. Same time table if you approach it from Giants Castle, although its probably a bit longer on day 1 and 3.

Serious tribe 1&2 have done Corner pass with heavy packs and may be able to give some additional info if you don't intend going up Corner 'light and fast'.

Highlands Fanatic wrote: 2) very early start with daypacks up Corner and Trojan wall, back down the afternoon to Centenary hut

I'm curious with your approach. Where would you leave all your overnight stuff? Is the area safe enough to just hide it and leave it behind?

I know the Giant's side of the world really well, but I am yet to even go to Injisuthi's carpark (although I have bagged Mafadi and Lithabolong on GT).

Ghaz, ja, very valid point which I should've elaborated upon.

One of the guys in our group at the time knew Gavin Raubenheimer. He phoned Gavin a week before and got into contact with some reliable porters Gavin uses on extended Berg trips. We paid one guy to do the three day adventure with us with the sole purpose of him staying at Centenary hut when we were away on day 2. (This guy turned out a real gem actually as he had some chef aspirations, when we arrived back the Thursday evening (day 2) around 22:00 dinner was ready, very well prepared).

The cost for these porters are not too bad. There are off course many of them and one could get into contact with some via Gavin, or Carlos from Span-African (I do presume they will pass on such details, not 100% sure).