Ifidi Pass

Thanks for the pics. As said, pictures tell a thousand words. Very informative.

Hi , awesome pics! How long did the pass take you to do?

Hi jvheerden1982,

Welcome to VE.

We left Cycad Cave at 07h00, and were on top of Ifidi Pass at 14h30, so 7 and a half hours. For a more detailed account, see Elinda's write up in the topic ' Fangs to Ifidi...or vice versa'.

Here is a photo of our group getting up one of the three difficult obstacles on the top section of Ifidi Pass (Photo courtesy of Gert-Jan)



Stephan climbed up first, and we passed up some packs to him, before getting helped up without packs. In the picture Christine is being 'pulled' up while Tony supports her right boot against the boulder.

Great action shot!

I remember that point well as it was the scramble blocking our upward progress during the flash flood. Eventually we had to climb it with a waterfall cascading onto our backs from the pass side-walls... hairy to say the least!

Fortunately, we were able to use our tent guy ropes to haul packs up.

Awesome image shows what an interesting day out can lead to.

reading through this thread I notice all the Ifidi reports seem to be ascents. Whats the view of descending Ifidi? Are the "climbing" sections doable / advisable without a rope? Would it be a problem for people who are fairly fit but new to 'berg hiking?

We came down Ifidi (with light AR packs) in May last year and the scrambles are certainly doable on the way down as well. Taking a rope along will always help, even if just to lower packs, but especially if the scrambles are wet/icy. It's also useful to have at least one confident scrambler in the group who can descend first and then point-out footholds or help the others down from below.

So from Cycad Cave to the top is about an 8 hour day? I'm guessing that you are pretty tired after that 8 hour slog? No energy left to do a bit of escarpment traversing.

What is a good pass to loop with Ifidi? I am trying to find something that can be done all the way from the top back to the MCC in a not-excessively-difficult day. Perhaps Mbundini? Although I will have to cart Inrepid's pack along if I do Mbundini