Leslie’s Pass

Read more...

We will be doing Leslies, going up, soon and I have a few questions.
1. How big is the camp at the base of the pass, the one at the base of the ridge about 3 clicks up from Marble baths? I will have 10 to 15 in the party. I have only ever stopped there for tea and can’t remember the details too well.

2. There is a point in the path (coming down) where you leave the gully to the left and walk on to the ridge! This was in bad condition a year or so back, has this changed at all? In other words can we still use the ridge (Going up this time) and walk safely into the gully?

3.Any other “Head ups” on Leslies at this time??

Regards
G

Hi Geordie

I used the camp site you are talking about in December, so to answer the second question - you can still use the gully and up on the ridge.

Regarding the camp site, 15 people might be pushing it, I recon that you are good at 10, more would be tight. but if you have that many people, there is a second campsite about 50m before the one you are talking about which can take the same number in my opinion.

hope this helps

Heath

Just another question...

Haven't done the pass myself, but will be doing a traverse from chain ladders to Langalibalele, but in case of (not too serious) emergency & need to decsend via Leslies.

How difficult is the pass?

JacquesBuys wrote: Just another question...


How difficult is the pass?

Leslies is not difficult - path OK, routing of path sensible. Descent to campsite in 2-3 hours.

Fully agree with Jacques, Leslies is not very technical. 2-3 hours will get you to the bottom of the pass, but there is still about 6 km to Injasuti camp site. The camp site is far from any pass in that area, but you should still be able to get back in a day without too many problems.

mnt_tiska wrote:

JacquesBuys wrote: Just another question...


How difficult is the pass?

Leslies is not difficult - path OK, routing of path sensible. Descent to campsite in 2-3 hours.

Just to be clear, by campsite I meant the clearing at the bottom of the pass, the one we had been discussing earlier in the thread. I had not meant Injisuthi camp which is still a way off. For me the hardest part of the Upper Inj Cave back to Inj campsite is now the section between the bottom of the pass and Marble baths. It is a long tedious section of boulder hopping although some are still able to find the path on the river terrace - where it should be!

Just to clarify, the camp sites I am referring to are at the base of the pass, about 3km after marble baths.

Heath

OK, we did the pass this weekend. Because of a major truck accident at Warden, we were delayed and only made Marble Baths.
The route from there on up is good if you take the time to follow the path and cairns. We were a group of 8 and it was everyone’s duty to keep an eye on the path and cairns and we made it to the bottom camp in less than 2 hours. The path up the ridge is overgrown but not too difficult to find and the rest was just hard work, but the path was good. Once in the gulley, we chose to cross the gulley and head straight up the ridge (on the left going up). It’s steep and tough going but, in my opinion the best way up.
Once again, the VE track was spot on and can be used with confidence.

Our only real complaint is the disgusting condition of the path from the river to Marble Baths. This is a regular route for day trippers and it is badly overgrown and badly marked. The "Money making" route to Battle Cave is, however in pristine condition at the moment. Just what are we getting for our bucks????