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

Cool,

thanks dude.

Hi folks... again.

The problem with planning trips to the 'berg is akin to problems with kids and candystores.

I would like to do a cave-only trip that would allow me to leave my tent at home. Is it possible to do Lower Injisuthi Cave (LIC) to Upper Injisuthi Cave (UIC) via Corner Pass and across the Trojan Wall in a day?

My thoughts are this:

Day 1: Injisuthi Camp to LIC
Day 2: LIC to UIC via Corner Pass and the Trojan Wall. (I really want to see that particular landmark...)
Day 3: UIC to Mafadi and down Leslies Pass to Marble Baths cave - time for a swim!
Day 4: Back to Injisuthi Camp

As always thanks for the help.

Hi DD,
The route is possible but:
Day 2: LIC to UIC via Corner Pass
is the hard one. You will need to back-track for 40 minutes from LIC to hook into the right valley and ridge up to Centenary hut and from there on to Corner Pass. Most people would probably choose to get to Centenary hut on Day 1 and head up Corner Pass from there. It gives you a fresh start on Corner Pass at the beginning of Day 2. From LIC to Centenary is a few hours.

Others who have been to the hut more recently than me can comment on whether the shelter is good enough without a tent. I normally take a bivvy bag if I'm not taking a tent, especially in summer.

One of the easier areas for caves and no tent is Mnweni.

The route via Centenary Hut mentioned above by mnt-tiska is definitely your best bet. I guess you’ve probably looked at the map and seen the path running up the ridge behind LIC to the contour path? I wouldn’t count on that path being there; we hiked some way up that ridge a few years back and it was pretty overgrown/non-existent. I assume that’s why mnt-tiska said you’d have to backtrack from LIC back to G8 before heading up to Centenary.

Also, don’t underestimate your day 3 to Marble Baths Cave. There’s a clear path all the way down Leslie’s Pass, but it can get a little tricky as you enter the river bed. There is a vague path that criss-crosses the river a couple times, so be sure to look out for the cairns. You’re in for a long boulder hop session on tired legs down to Marble Baths if you miss the path. And be sure to check out Marble Baths Cave Annex, it's about 100m around the corner on the downstream side of the main Marble Baths Cave. It's smaller, but in my opinion, much better than the main cave.

Otherwise, enjoy it – it’s a fantastic route in an awesome area! Injisuthi is top of my list for hiking destinations. (I’m still looking for someone crazy enough to join me on an attempt at Hilton Pass!)

Dillon wrote: The route via Centenary Hut mentioned above by mnt-tiska is definitely your best bet. I guess you’ve probably looked at the map and seen the path running up the ridge behind LIC to the contour path? I wouldn’t count on that path being there; we hiked some way up that ridge a few years back and it was pretty overgrown/non-existent. I assume that’s why mnt-tiska said you’d have to backtrack from LIC back to G8 before heading up to Centenary.

Hi Dillon - to clarify, yes, we walked the short cut through to Centenary Hut from the river terrace above Lower Injisuthi starting a few hundred meters downstream of the foot of the Western triplet. It was probably shorter in distance but not in time compared with the back-track valley and ridge route from LIC to Centenary. It is always hard going through deep valleys off paths and there are some hidden bits in the 'short cut' that make things even harder. The upside is that you tend to see a lot more animals off the paths but I wouldn't want to go up Corner Pass immediately after doing that. Interestingly we were backing out of Hilton Pass and that is what caused us to go cross-country to Corner Pass instead.

DarkwingDave wrote: The problem with planning trips to the 'berg is akin to problems with kids and candystores

At least it is healthy candy. Just remember to avoid only snacking on one type of candy - otherwise you end up missing out on some really special other types. The candy they make in the south is an extra special kind

Thanks guys, you really help a lot with these things I don't know if there is a mountain community anywhere in the world that can match VE in that regard.

Does anybody have any recent photos of Centenary Hut? I'd like to plan a bivvy setup...

Also, any GPS tracks?

@ Ghaz, nothing like new, unexplored candy, is there?

I always smile when talking about the contour path in the Injisuthi area: - What contour? (Look it ain't flat anywhere in the Berg for long distances, but over here its not on a contour at all)

Yes, the path between Centenary Hut and Lower Injisuthi Cave is part of the official contour path, but since almost no one uses it, the contour path really has become the bit between Centenary Hut and G8, before connecting up with the Ape Valley (3/4's enroute Marble Baths).

I must say, we have always used the old contour path section below the Trojan Wall from the Centenary Hut side towards Lower Injisuthi Cave, never the other way around. The last bit dropping down the Lower Injisuthi Cave was extremely vague the last time I used that in 2011, however knowing where the cave is we basically bundu-bashed down the nearest gully.

I would also recommend backtracking via G8 to the hut, but the best way is actually to sleep night 1 at the Centenary Hut. It ain't great, but it still had a roof the last I heard so effective enough to replace a tent.

I think one day from LIC, via Corner to UIC, is a hard day. You're not gonna have fun and enjoy the beauty of it. Rather overnight at the hut.

Check out the pics in this thread www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/14-drakensberg-general/55388-centenary-hut.html