Hlatimba Pass North

Over the 2019 August long weekend elinda, Richard Hunt, Thora, Christine, Stephan and tonymarshall did a 3 day trip at Lotheni, ascending Hlatimba Pass North and descending Redi Pass.

The first day was spent hiking up to the base of Hlatimba Pass North via the ka Zwelele Ridge from Lotheni, a seldom used and longer route than the usual walk in along the ridge coming down from Redi. The photo below shows the view from the Contour Path across the Hlatimba valley to the Hlatimba Passes.



We crossed the Hlathimba River and tented on a small flattish area at the base of Hlathimba Pass North, relieved to have found unburnt grass to tent on.



We had decided to follow the ridge (immediately behind the tents in the photo above) at the bottom of the pass, and higher up were certain the ridge and valley routes would join. For a short way near the bottom the ridge was extremely steep. (Photo courtesy of Stephan)



A view back down the lower section of the ridge we were using.



A view up the upper section of the ridge to the junction with the valley route in the shadow at the right of the photo below. We would pass to the right in front of the rock outcrop at the top of the ridge.



Traversing on a steep sideslope below the rock outcrop towards the valley section of the pass. Around here we got onto a trail that we would use to the top of the pass.



A view up Hlatimba Pass North as we joined the valley section which we would follow to the top of the pass.

Ascending into the valley with the trail clearly visible.



A view back down the middle section of the pass.



A view up the grass slope towards the top of the pass.



A similar view down the pass.



Ascending the final grass slope to the top of the pass.



A view down from the top of Hlatimba Pass North



The group sheltering out of the wind at the top of Hlatimba Pass North, fltr Thora, Stephan, Christine, Elinda, Richard and Tony.



We tented at a flat spot next to a stream near the top of Buttress Pass, which we intended to descend the next day. It was fairly sheltered out of the wind below the escarpment, but when I went up to the top to do some of the peaks, it was very windy higher up. The next morning the wind was so strong near the top of Buttress Pass, that we couldn’t approach the top of the pass, and decided to descend Redi Pass instead.