Corner Pass / Judge Pass, Mafadi, Leslie's Pass Loop

Hi fellow hikers,

I see most people do this hike in 4 days (Corner Pass, Mafadi, Leslie's Pass Loop).
Does anyone have any experience or advice on doing it in 3 days?

I few of us are planning a hike beginning of June... we only have 3 days available.

Thanks!

How fit and experienced is the group? It has been done in a day before, and others have struggled to do it in 4 - really depends on the team.

Okay great, thanks!
We've done around 8 up and down escarpment hikes as a group. So we have some experience.
But we will have to have a team meeting and discuss.

3 days is usually a case of compressing day 3 and 4 into one - Upper Injisuthi to car park, roughly 20km. The walk to Leslies is very scenic, the pass is also spectacular (although slow), and the walk out to the contour path is boulder hopping. From the contour path to the camp is pretty easy and quick, although longer than you are probably expecting.

Thanks for the info. We've hiked down from the top Mbundini Pass to the Cultural Centre in one day. That was long... was wondering if that's similar?

Leslies is certainly easier than Mbundini. Similar distances, if you can do Mbundini to MCC in a day, you should be fine with Upper Injisuthi to the car in a day - just leave early and be aware that it is a long day.

Depending on how early a start you can get on your first day, I'd go with one of the following two options:

Early start on day 1 (hard day) and early finish on day 3 for the drive back:
Day 1: Injisuthi Camp to the top of Corner Pass (camp near the top)
Day 2: Over Mafadi and down Leslie's Pass to the camp at the base of the pass
Day 3: Bundu downriver past Marble Baths and then back to Injisuthi Camp

Easyish day 1 (later start) but longer day 3:
Day 1: Injisuthi Camp to Centenary Hut
Day 2: Up Corner Pass and over Mafadi to camp near top of Leslie's Pass
Day 3: Down Leslie's Pass and back to Injisuthi Camp

Hey Wok

Have done it both ways now. Both times it was done in 3days/2nights.

The first time we camped at centenary first night, up corner. upper injasuthi cave 2nd night, then back to camp last day(about 20km)

The second time, camped at the bottom of Leslies(there are some nice flat, pre-flattened campsites in the grass at the base of Leslies) then upper injasuthi cave and down corner on the last day and out.

The upper high traverse into corner is, in my opinion, quicker than the contour path(though I have only been down). Corner pass is probably easier to go up than down. It is also less of a slog from the top of corner to UIC than the other way around.

Not sure how clogged up Corner will be with snow in June. Maybe a consideration.

The bushy section between Marble baths and the base of Leslies is no longer a problem. When I was there over the long weekend end of April there was a clear path and cairns all the way...along with considerable long weekend traffic.

HI Team,

We just came back form this hike this weekend.

Was amazing.

Day one up to knoll above Centenary Hut. Day 2 up Corner Pass, amazing and MUCH faster than Judges, little icy but doable. Over to Mafadi and to Leslies for 2nd night;s sleep. Day 3 was down Leslie's to Marble Baths for relax and moral booster. Trot home.

GREAT views and insane altitude, can def be felt on the lungs.

Thanks all for this thread, it was REALLY helpful.

Brian

Looking forward to your hike report!