Old Woman Pass

This weekend was my first trip to the Injisuti area and I cant wait to go back.

We camped just below the Old woman on her southern leg (ridge) and I found a path (I marked it with a cairn) contouring into the valley between the Ape and the Old Woman. It is not shown on the Ezemvelo map or my old Bosbou map. I thought it would be a great idea to try going up that pass. Who has gone up that pass? It looks quite do-able...

I also thought a great weekend trip would be to start at Monk cowl campsite, sleep in Cowl cave and then down the other side the next day. I'm sure this trip would get your blood pumping? Who has tried this route?

Moderator edit: previous thread was split up and some parts added here

Dillon wrote: And then just when I thought I would be done after those 2 trips, another pass with very little info suddenly pops onto the radar: Apes Pass. Does anyone have any inside info or GPS tracks for this pass? Technical rock scrambling or is it just bundu bashing involved? Looking at the map, if it's not too technical, this pass could make a nice, tough, day trip from Marble Baths Cave returning back down via Leslie's Pass.

I think there are 2 unmarked passes at Injisuthi, I see you have Apes already, but I there may also be an "Old Woman Pass" (vaguely remember this from an old thread).

I still need to get off the mark with passes at Injisuthi. I rate the region has a southern border of Corner Peak (no marked border on the map - but it is visually logical). It is ironic seeing as I have done 13 out of 14 at Giant's Castle, just missing Around The Corner Pass (although probably more like 13 out of 16 if you count the 2 passes on either side of Giant's Pass - at least one of which has had a documented descent).

Thanks for the replies!

@Ghaz hmmm, ok that's the first I've heard of "Old Woman Pass". From the one or two pics I've seen of Apes Pass, it seems to start right in the valley just to the south of Old Woman Grinding Corn. Perhaps this is just another name for it? Can anyone confirm?
I see where you're coming from about Corner Peak being the border between Giant's and Injisuthi, personally I've always considered Corner Pass to be part of Injisuthi, but that's probably just because both times I've done it have been to and from Injisuthi camp.

@mnt_tiska wow! This is exactly the type of 'out the box' idea I was hoping to get! I would never have dreamed of heading back over the ridge to LIC from Leslie's, but it all makes sense and actually just might work! Now I just have to find a couple of team mates fit/crazy enough to join me! And for the record, I was planning on taking a light trad rack and 30m rope with, so we will have the option the ab back down again, but I'd much rather do a round trip epic!

@Highlands Fanatic - I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled for your N95... oh and the rooikat too!

If you speak to the guys at Injisuthi Camp they will refer to 'Old Woman's Pass, and then proceed to describe the route up Ape's Pass. So in my opinion it is the same thing.

(Ps. Heck, a lot of people even confuse the two peaks, however the reason for the naming of the Ape becomes very apparent as you walk into the Buttres Fork stream valley (enroute to Marble Baths). Its silhouette resembles King Kong....

Dillon wrote: @Ghaz hmmm, ok that's the first I've heard of "Old Woman Pass". From the one or two pics I've seen of Apes Pass, it seems to start right in the valley just to the south of Old Woman Grinding Corn. Perhaps this is just another name for it? Can anyone confirm?

I can't remember whether it was on this forum or not, but I recall having a discussion on Apes Pass and being told that Apes Pass is a name off the survey maps, but the route that has been referred to as Apes Pass on this site is actually not the Apes Pass on the map. I haven't found the old thread, but hopefully someone will have some more info on this one. Failing which - it can be fun to look for a pass that may or may not exist

Dillon wrote: I see where you're coming from about Corner Peak being the border between Giant's and Injisuthi, personally I've always considered Corner Pass to be part of Injisuthi, but that's probably just because both times I've done it have been to and from Injisuthi camp.

I have done Judge and Corner Pass from Giant's Castle, but I have also hiked to the base Judge Pass from Injisuthi. Judge Pass is definitely easier from Giants, and I would say that the gully approach to Corner is also easier to reach from Giants. The High Approach would presumably be easier from Injisuthi, but I haven't done it, so I can't really comment.

Thanks intrepid!

Do you reckon it's possible as a (very long) day trip from MB Cave and back down Leslies?

intrepid wrote: It does have an obstacle which is not passable when wet (if ever?).

You mean it's not passable at all? Or the obstacle is in a spot where it is unlikely to get wet?

I went up Gibisila Ridge on Monday morning after overnighting in one of the Grindstone Caves. The view from up there was amazing, extending from Cathkin to Giants Castle. I can see the Ape's Pass route that Intrepid is talking about, but was wondering whether the approximate location of the obstacle referred to that requires the exposed traverse is visible from the picture below?




Apes Pass