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Mnweni hikes - 4 days or longer
23 Mar 2012 08:41 #53285
by elinda
Replied by elinda on topic Mnweni hikes - 4 days or longer
Interesting! A group of us are also intending to do the same route over the Easter weekend. I have only done the Mweni Pass/Rockeries route and don't know the Ifidi area at all - however our plan on day one is to camp as far up as we can from Cycad Cave. Then day two would be up Ifidi pass and go as far as we can. It sounds like a long day so will probably end up tenting pretty near to the top of the pass. Day three along to Fangs or Mbundini - (the latter sounds a bit hairy?) and try and get down as far as Shepherds Cave or 5 Star. Is it possible to get down Fangs in half a day?
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23 Mar 2012 09:51 #53286
by tiska
Replied by tiska on topic Mnweni hikes - 4 days or longer
Stijn's 'yowzer' is probably the best adjective to describe a one-dayer on Ifidi. It is possible, but then getting the party going on day 2 would be another 'yowzer'. We took just under 6 hours from the 'flat rocks' a few km further on from cycad to the shallow shelter 'Ifidi caves'. No one was in much of a mood for much more than that.
Cycad cave was in a mess when we passed through - lived in and more than grubby. We had planned to stay but opted for the flat rocks a few km futher on at the river - a good decision.
Mbundini is easier than Fangs - just stay on the grassy slopes on the same side as the cave.
Cycad cave was in a mess when we passed through - lived in and more than grubby. We had planned to stay but opted for the flat rocks a few km futher on at the river - a good decision.
Mbundini is easier than Fangs - just stay on the grassy slopes on the same side as the cave.
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23 Mar 2012 10:21 #53289
by elinda
Replied by elinda on topic Mnweni hikes - 4 days or longer
Thanks for the advice mnt_tiska - I had been worried about the unknown quantities of Mbundini especially after reading a write up on it by someone who did it last October - they had to deal with misty conditions and it sounded a nightmare. But we will give it serious thought.
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23 Mar 2012 11:34 #53291
by Stijn
Replied by Stijn on topic Mnweni hikes - 4 days or longer
I have only come down Mbundini Pass once (back on the Super Traverse in 2002) and while we did stick to the grassy slopes (after we reached the first waterfall), we found it pretty unpleasant. Those grassy slopes are steep and your ankles will hate you for it.
I'm not saying it's not worth doing as a pass but if you've done neither, I would definitely vote for Fangs - steep grass to start with and then boulder-hopping all the way down (4km) to the junction with Mbundini Pass. As a pass it is spectacular, with towering buttresses and pinnacles all around you.
Half a day would be very reasonable for a descent of Fangs Pass (Mbundini too). Be sure to find the path which descends the rest of the valley to 5-star cave and the junction with the Mnweni Valley. It starts at the base of the grassy ridge which separates Fangs and Mbundini, at a small pool fed by a 4m waterfall.
Here:
I'm not saying it's not worth doing as a pass but if you've done neither, I would definitely vote for Fangs - steep grass to start with and then boulder-hopping all the way down (4km) to the junction with Mbundini Pass. As a pass it is spectacular, with towering buttresses and pinnacles all around you.
Half a day would be very reasonable for a descent of Fangs Pass (Mbundini too). Be sure to find the path which descends the rest of the valley to 5-star cave and the junction with the Mnweni Valley. It starts at the base of the grassy ridge which separates Fangs and Mbundini, at a small pool fed by a 4m waterfall.
Here:
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23 Mar 2012 12:27 #53292
by tiska
Replied by tiska on topic Mnweni hikes - 4 days or longer
Stijn's description of Fangs is a good one. So the choice is between being in the river or on the grassy slopes. Have to say, I find the grassy slopes quite easy and the boulder hopping tedious and slow. Also, the descents of Mbundini that I've done (3-4 times over the years) have all been from Mbdundini Cave which gives a good head start on the pass because it is about 1/5 of the pass length from the top.
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25 Mar 2012 08:40 #53295
by mykitchin
Replied by mykitchin on topic Mnweni hikes - 4 days or longer
A path at the bottom of Fangs would make the going so much easier! The once I attempted Fangs we lost the path shortly after emerging from the forest which clogs the bottom of the river valley just up from 5 star cave. After that it was much bush-wacking and traversing steep grassy slopes! I wonder if the path is still usable in April when the bush is at its thickest...after summer rains and before it dies back/ is burnt back in winter!
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25 Mar 2012 20:06 #53296
by tiska
Replied by tiska on topic Mnweni hikes - 4 days or longer
The path up to the little waterfall (see Stijn's photo) is OK. The waterfall marks the split between Mbindini and Fangs and the path ends there, except for a bit of a false trail up the spur on the left of Mbindini.
Dope fields have probably kept the path from 5* to the little waterfall alive. The trick is to stop and backtrack the moment you think you've lost the path. There are usually only about 3 possible routes for a path to take from any one vague patch and so you find it quickly as long as you are prepared to backtrack. Psychologically it is hard to do, but in the long run it saves a lot of time. Also, you need to be sceptical of having found the path when in backtrack mode. Normally there is more than one for a distance of 20m or so on the other side of a vague patch, with one of them being the mistake that some persist with. Trick is to think like a path finder not a path follower when you're in a vague stretch.
Dope fields have probably kept the path from 5* to the little waterfall alive. The trick is to stop and backtrack the moment you think you've lost the path. There are usually only about 3 possible routes for a path to take from any one vague patch and so you find it quickly as long as you are prepared to backtrack. Psychologically it is hard to do, but in the long run it saves a lot of time. Also, you need to be sceptical of having found the path when in backtrack mode. Normally there is more than one for a distance of 20m or so on the other side of a vague patch, with one of them being the mistake that some persist with. Trick is to think like a path finder not a path follower when you're in a vague stretch.
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26 Mar 2012 06:38 #53297
by elinda
Replied by elinda on topic Mnweni hikes - 4 days or longer
Thanks for all the suggestions and advice guys - we will have a team get together and make a final decision as regards Mbundini or Fangs. Either way, we are in for a good hike next weekend ( Easter) Are you doing your hike over this period as well Mykitchin?
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26 Mar 2012 14:24 #53299
by mykitchin
Replied by mykitchin on topic Mnweni hikes - 4 days or longer
Yup, we're also heading out over Easter weekend. Our trip itinerary is so far this:
Thurs:
Drive down from Joburg leaving super early to be at the cultural centre by 11h00. Start hiking by 12h00 and hopefully make the cycad cave (or rather a nice cmapsite beyond it) before nighfall.
Friday:
Up Icidi pass and possibly a bit further South along the escarpment towards Fangs.
Saturday:
South along the escarpment to Fangs then down Fangs to 5 star cave.
Sunday:
Back to the cultural centre from five star.
The day I'm worried about is the first one...hoping 6 hours of light is enough to get us to cycad cave or just beyond it? I'm guessing this is a fairly well worn path just like the one heading up the Mnweni valley to five star?
Thurs:
Drive down from Joburg leaving super early to be at the cultural centre by 11h00. Start hiking by 12h00 and hopefully make the cycad cave (or rather a nice cmapsite beyond it) before nighfall.
Friday:
Up Icidi pass and possibly a bit further South along the escarpment towards Fangs.
Saturday:
South along the escarpment to Fangs then down Fangs to 5 star cave.
Sunday:
Back to the cultural centre from five star.
The day I'm worried about is the first one...hoping 6 hours of light is enough to get us to cycad cave or just beyond it? I'm guessing this is a fairly well worn path just like the one heading up the Mnweni valley to five star?
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26 Mar 2012 17:27 - 26 Mar 2012 18:20 #53301
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Mnweni hikes - 4 days or longer
@mykitchen: latest itinerary sounds fine. Day 3 on the long side but will work.
I've driven early from Joburg and walked to Cycad Cave same day before in mid-winter with even less daylight hours, so its all manageable.
Yes you could head a little further south from Ifidi on Day 2, makes more sense for day 3 and will in fact make that day a lot more enjoyable. You'd be missing out on Ifidi Cave though. You can use Icidi Cave but its not a super cave.
As for Fangs vs Mbundini, I echo Stijn's sentiment, I think Mbundini is steeper and harder work. The 5km of boulders on Fangs can also be hard work and I guess there is a bit of preference involved. But Fangs is what I would call a classic, and a Mnweni-masterpiece. Mbundini is a Mnweni-monster
Echo mnt_tiska's comments on the path from Fangs to 5 Star. It is there but does tend to get very overgrown. Yes, the grass is going to be long in that area now - well above your head!
I've driven early from Joburg and walked to Cycad Cave same day before in mid-winter with even less daylight hours, so its all manageable.
Yes you could head a little further south from Ifidi on Day 2, makes more sense for day 3 and will in fact make that day a lot more enjoyable. You'd be missing out on Ifidi Cave though. You can use Icidi Cave but its not a super cave.
As for Fangs vs Mbundini, I echo Stijn's sentiment, I think Mbundini is steeper and harder work. The 5km of boulders on Fangs can also be hard work and I guess there is a bit of preference involved. But Fangs is what I would call a classic, and a Mnweni-masterpiece. Mbundini is a Mnweni-monster
Echo mnt_tiska's comments on the path from Fangs to 5 Star. It is there but does tend to get very overgrown. Yes, the grass is going to be long in that area now - well above your head!
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Last edit: 26 Mar 2012 18:20 by intrepid.
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