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

We completed the Mafadi loop last week (Centenery Hut - Judges - UIC - Mafadi - Leslies - Marble baths and back to Injitsuthi), thanks for all the info posted on this Forum - it really helped make the hike a success. This was not intended as a trip report - just a few pieces of info others may find useful. I already posted about the snow / ice in the Upper Injisuthi Cave under that topic, but will repeat here as well.

[1] We found Centenary Hut to be in a pretty good condition (at least compared to our expectations fueled by descriptions I found online which were probably a couple years old). It was clean inside, no missing roof tiles, no broken windows apart from one missing but was covered in plastic. There is even a "rubber mat" covering on 2 of the bunk beds which makes them more comfortable than the bare springs of others. Clearly a lot of effort has been put into the hut and we were very grateful. The wind was very strong and gusty while we were there (probably magnified in this location due to wind directions and being on one of the "shoulders" of the mountain), I doubt our tents would have survived.

[2] We were planning to do NHA and corner pass, but the high WSW winds persuaded us to go to bottom on corner pass via the contour path instead of up the ridge. We we were knocked over by the gusting wind a couple times (probably not aided by the over- heavy packs). When we got to Corner pass it was clear this was not a good idea for us, it was a snow filled chute and even at the relatively low altitude of the contour path the stream coming down from corner pass was surrounded by ice, so we abandoned that plan. It turned out just as well we had not used NHA as then our options would have been limited to Corner pass or "around the corner pass" (without significant altitude loss that is). We did consider doing "around the corner pass" and it may well have been fine but looking from the bottom it is not clear to us where the route goes and there was quite a bit of snow and ice higher up (and us being relative Drakensberg Novices). Instead we ascended Judges which was fine, just a few patches of snow to navigate aided by the path following the "sunnier" Southern side of the ravine where much of the snow had already melted. The wind greatly diminished as we exited the top of the pass, it seems the WSW wind we experienced really funnels down the passes. 

[3] As posted under that topic the floor of Upper Injisuthi Cave was about 80% covered in a thick layer of snow when we were there. Luckily for us we were only a group of 3 and could squease into the back and left hand corners (3 just fit) so we didnt have to sleep on the snow, larger groups may not be as fortunate (although the snow is covered in a solid crust of ice, so this would be possible, but is not a level surface). We did try to move the snow away from where we were sleeping (with a v small trowel) but had no success due to the icy crust. Needless to say it will be progressively melting but I expect this snow was driven into the cave during the significant cold front (cut off low) of ~11/12 June so had stuck around 2 weeks before our visit (no snow falling between that and out visit). There was no obvious melting at the edges of the snow we cooked and slept next to (did not wet our sleeping bags etc.). We did have tents but the cave was still preferable due to the wind. 

 

[4] The decent down Leslies was fine, just a short snow slope or 2 to navigate near the top of the pass, but similarly to Judges the route follows the sunnier Southern side of the ravine so most snow had already melted. Of course the steep, slippery, loose section down into the stream bed is what it is in any conditions. We managed to follow the "terraces" route from the top campsite below leslies to marble baths through the bushes fairly successfully (along the left side of the valley heading down), aided no doubt by it being easier to follow a faint path downhill, the winter grass being a bit more "down-trodden" and referencing a wikiloc GPX trail when the stone cairns closer to the stream invited us to depart from this route.

[5] We got visited by a spotted gennet while sitting around in marble bath cave, I was very surprised how closely it approached us (withing 3 meters) and then stared at us from the bushes until well after dark (think 2 big glowing eyes). That night it chewed a small hole in a backpack pocket that contained an opened bag of biltong, and had to be chased away, the backpack lying between 2 of us. The behaviour made no sense to me until it was suggested that it had been fed by previous visitors to the cave. Needless to say this situation is not good for the animal or hikers. Just be aware to seal up any meat / biltong before going to sleep in marble baths cave.

[6] Just to add something about hiking boots used (not to start a debate I promise), my son and I are fans of low top non-waterproof hiking shoes (I did the hike in Merrel Moabs), while my son's friend who did the hike with us followed the more conventional and recommended route of getting high top goretex waterproof hiking boots for the hike. I brought along plastic bags for use in evening to put over our "sleeping socks" to prevent the inevitably wet inside of the non waterproof hiking shoes from wetting our sleeping socks, but despite hiking through a fair amount of snow (but admittedly not slushy snow as temperatures remained low) we did not need them as the shoes remained dry. The goretex boot user on the other hand used the bags every night as the inside of his boots was always wet at of each day with build up perspiration. I can only imagine that in summer rainy / muddy conditions the experience would have been different, not recommending our approach, but just throwing it in there. To me traction is a more important issue, deeper tread obviously better in snow. Having trekking poles along was invaluble on steep snowy slopes and stream crossings. My son didnt have any (his dislike of trekking poles born out of our typical hikes being through thick fynbos in the western cape) but grabbed one of mine on day 2 and didn't give it back until we reached Injisuthi!

All in all a great experience. Winter is a great time to do it if you are prepared (and avoid any significant cold fronts!).