Easter Mbundini &Mnweni pass report

Mbundini- Not for the faint of heart.

The VE GPS track for Mbundini Pass is good, take my work for it. We spent a morning in well ensconced in the Dragons breath, high on the steep slopes, climbing through rock bands and hoping that it was not all in vain. On que, the rocky bed of the pass came up and we stopped for lunch before boulder hopping to the top. I need to have a quiet word with the member who classified this pass as “Marginally” more difficult than Fangs!! I don’t think so, BUT, as usual I digress.

The Easter hike was planned for Mbundini and Mnweni passes over the 4 days driving in from JHB on the Friday morning. Well, it all went according to plan but only because we had the blood and guts between the four of us to put in the extra effort to make it happen. The Mnweni fought back with swollen rivers, lots of rain and the infamous Dragons Breath. I had also underestimated the walk from Mbundini top around to Mnweni pass top, especially doing it 100% on the GPS because of the afore mentioned conditions.
So, a bakkie ride to the river past the new bridge, which put us on the correct side of the Mnweni (right going up) and we spent the rest of the day getting to the Fangs/Mbundini confluence to set up camp. We had spent most of the afternoon in strops with endless crossings of the stream (stream???? ) and most of washing and supper prep was done courtesy of Mr Petzl.
The Dagga field which was destroyed by our dear old boys in blue a few years back still lies fallow, and there is very little evidence of local activity in the area at the moment.
I’ve already spoken about the pass, and regrettably, just like Icidi Pass, I love and respect you both, but I see no reason to return. Just carry on being beautiful, many others will fall for your respective charms, I’m sure.

Luckily, I had patched in a track from my last GT, to get us from Mbundini to Mnweni because we could not see a thing. We set up camp about half way between the two after a chat and pleasantry exchange with a few shepherds. It was John’s turn to hand over sweeties, so he gets called Baas, and I get called Oupa. Nice one chaps, thanks a bunch. (PM me to hear what they called Jax)

Mnweni pass was a doddle, again with little sign of local activity, or the rain had washed it away. We then tried to sneak down the right side (going down) of the very swollen river and got as far as the cliffs opposite from Shepherds cave, and we could go no further. There was no way I would have tried to cross the river at this point, (I would not even have sent a JHB Metro cop across, it was so high and furious), so we desperately looked for a camp site as it was getting late. Jax to the rescue, again, she spotted a ledge about 200m up from the point where the river meets the cliffs and we called it home. All I am going to say is that it was an overhang used by locals sometimes, and its big enough for a two man North Face and a Nallo3 and that’s about it. So we got very cosy, and putting up the tents was good insurance, because it did not rain again.

By morning (Easter Monday) the river had dropped a whopping 600mm and looked a lot less angry, so I put my strops on and tried it out. All good, so we crossed and kept our strops on until the final crossing a kay or two down. It was then boots on and a determined walk back to the welcome of Agrippa and the CC, in an effort to get in early on the JHB bound traffic. There was a chap washing his bakkie next to the new bridge, so we cut down the embankment and made a deal and got a much needed lift to the CC.

Again , after chatting and meeting fellow hikers, and showers and signing out, and a good meal in Harry Smith, we got the brunt of the traffic, witnessed 3 prangs and got in safe and sound at about 21h00.


Speaking to other hikers, all of them had had to cut their plans, compromised , and / or had a really crappy time , so I am really grateful that we “planned the walk and walked the plan” almost on schedule to boot, and have to thank:

A really good team, Jax, John Goddard, and Annabel Touati who made it happen and to put up with my stront.
A good and accurate GPS pass download from VE (Mbundini pass)
My trusty GPSmap 62S
Great Spirit and the mountain keepers who smiled upon us once again, but, boy, we had to show our appreciation and determination this time. Nothing for nothing in the berg.
G

Again, Jax please supply some pics.

Nice one!! I see I missed a great hike once again Glad you guys got out safe and sound!!

Well done, pitty the weather was not great, we must have just missed you on friday morning, we had already left for ntonjalane.
Our plans did not work out well as one of our team slipped and broke his wrist and tore legaments in his shoulder on the first day,there was lots of water around and it was very slippery. I supose things happen for a reason.

Darn
I usually check the log book to see who's doing what, but we were in a hurry to get going this time, and the lift was waiting. I guess you came back and left early, what were your plans anyway? Do we know the injured party??

Sorry to have missed you.
G

Pics from our Mbundini to Mnweni Easter hike:

Seems like this guy gets most of the transport business!


First river crossing


Side river quite strong


Another large group on the other side of the Mnweni on Friday


View from our campsite at the bas of Fangs/Mbundini


The waterfall at the split of the 2 passes


Mist rolling in as we head up the ridge


After the grassy slopes into the scree area

Saturday the mist closed in and opened a little


Cave holes visible on the other side


Camp a few km along the top towards Mnweni


The next morning our little stream was quite a river. We set off on GPS.


After 10km or more we started down Mnweni pass to have the mist and rain lift a little about halfway down.


The weather improved as we cruised down Mnweni pass




The river meets the cliff. 19km and late afternoon we were all tired and not keen to cross. Where could we camp?

A narrow ledge under a overhang was just enough space for the 2 tents.


The next morning we cross the swollen river. It went well.


A wobbly moment


meeting up with Patrick Shorty with his donkeys on their way to collect some 'medicine'


The last crossing, we were getting good at it now.


Imagine having this view from your house....


Sweetieeee!

Great photos Jax! Thanks for sharing

G8 report and really nice images. The moon shot and Mbundini is really good.

Nice pictures.

I see you guys got all the water, those river crossings are really high.