Corner Pass

Hi all

Those that have done Corner Pass do you use the Basotho path that leads up from Centenary Hut and then contours much higher up and enters Corner Pass quite high into the Pass or do you go along the lower contour path and enter the pass further down and make your way up?

Regards
Selous

Hi Selous, when we did Corner pass we stuck to the proper contour path, and turned up into corner pass from the bottom. Worked out just fine.

Ditto. Cant get lost on it and takes you directly to base of pass. Unless you have a grp of hikers all with a good head for heights and exposure, good route finding and weather, i would say it is safer on the other normal route.

Thanks Serious Tribe.

Going to head back and give it bash. Will take photo's and provide feedback of the more difficult areas. Those Basoths are incredible how they do that route at night.

Regards
Selous

The so-called Northern High Approach that you are referring to is quite an exhilirating climb.

But, as others have said, you need to know where to go. The best way to really know this is to have been up the other side as well. In your case you're gonna choose the one or the other....

On this photo, the final part of the northern high approach is shown as the red line.


From the northern side you have to look for the notch in the rockline (can be clearly seen on the photo) and you have to then traverse to the left of this notch into Corner PAss Gully. This is where the exposure and scrambling occurs that ST is talking about. We did it with daypacks many years ago and it was fine, with a multi-day pack it would be a different story. This is actually the route than gives Corner Pass it's reputation. The gully itself is tough too but limited exposure, although solid scrambling skills are required.

Thanks RRankin
We found the distinct path for the high approach while on the way up Corner Pass from the contour path on a day walk from Injasuti. It was very misty. On the way back we decided to follow the path. Your picture depict where the path is. Although the path was distinct I used my GPS that had not been calibrated and in the mist I followed the compass bearing away from the path. I regret not staying on the path and following it back to Centenary Hut, but as ST and Plouw have said it was probably better.

Out of interest if you are going up Corner Pass there is another upper contour path that leads of to the left I.e. Towards Judges Pass. Does any body know where this leads. I was under the impression that it might have linked into Judges Pass but when I came down there this weekend I looked out for it but realized that it would be very difficult to contour around the Judges Ridge I also did not see it
Any thoughts...?
Regards
Selous

I believe there was a discussion about this on the forum a while back. I do not know anything for certain, but it seems as though there is another route up between Corner and Judge pass. Not the classical type of pass, but rather a diagonal ridge running up from south to north on the rock face. May be easy but will have DFU-zone type exposure.

Hearsay though...

Thanks RRankin
Very interesting and thanks for the input.
Regards
Selous

Selous wrote: Thanks RRankin
We found the distinct path for the high approach while on the way up Corner Pass from the contour path on a day walk from Injasuti. It was very misty. On the way back we decided to follow the path. Your picture depict where the path is. Although the path was distinct I used my GPS that had not been calibrated and in the mist I followed the compass bearing away from the path. I regret not staying on the path and following it back to Centenary Hut, but as ST and Plouw have said it was probably better.

Out of interest if you are going up Corner Pass there is another upper contour path that leads of to the left I.e. Towards Judges Pass. Does any body know where this leads. I was under the impression that it might have linked into Judges Pass but when I came down there this weekend I looked out for it but realized that it would be very difficult to contour around the Judges Ridge I also did not see itAny thoughts...?
Regards
Selous

This one can be clearly seen on GE. I also want to know where it heads! Anyone?

Our group of seven did the route described by Highlands Fanatic and Selous, and I have done a write up on this as the topic “Corner Pass Northern High Approach”. There is now a strong path on this route.

Regarding the path going out of Corner Pass (to the left when ascending Corner Pass) towards Judge Pass, we saw this path clearly when we were entering Corner Pass from the Northern High Approach, although it unfortunately isn’t that clear in my photos.



The path zig zags up through the rock bands to the left of Corner Pass. Another similar photo to the one above.



In the photo below, the path is visible from above in Corner Pass. As we had planned to do Corner Pass, and were heading northwards along the summit, we were unable to explore this path.



One of our group, Tish (a very experienced berg hiker who I first hiked with almost 20 years ago, but not a VE member), had done this smugglers route in April this year, and described three or four scrambles, similar to the scramble on the Northern High Approach, just shorter and not too difficult. The smugglers route is also a much easier and quicker route to the summit than Corner Pass, and this would explain why it has been established. I have marked up the photo below with the approximate position where this path reaches the summit as described to me by Tish.