Monk's Cowl - Injisuthi link-up via escarpment

14 Sep 2010 05:34 #1725 by hartmrol

Replied by hartmrol on topic Monk's Cowl - Injisuthi link-up via escarpment

Thanks to the all for the helpful feedback to date. We depart next week for our hike - based on the advice from this site we have altered our route to now park at Injisuthi Hutted Camp ascend via Grays Pass, descend via Corner Pass and return along the contour path to Injisuthi over 4 nights and 5 days.

A few further questions:
- Has anyone got any recent experience on this route?
- Does one need to pre-arrange to park cars at Injisuthi Hutted Camp. Is there a register there to sign in for overnight hiking?
- Does anyone have GPS routes for:
- Injisuthi Hutted Camp to Keith Bush Camp
- Corner Pass back to Injisuthi. Any estimates as to how long this section of the hike could take?

Thanks again the advice.

Rolf

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hartmrol
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14 Sep 2010 10:55 #1728 by tiska

Replied by tiska on topic Monk's Cowl - Injisuthi link-up via escarpment

A few further questions:
- Has anyone got any recent experience on this route?

two years ago - it was straight forward.

- Does one need to pre-arrange to park cars at Injisuthi Hutted Camp. Is there a register there to sign in for overnight hiking?

there is a small car park a few hundred meters along the road from the camp office opposite the last of the huts. There is a mountain register.

- Does anyone have GPS routes for:
- Injisuthi Hutted Camp to Keith Bush Camp

No GPS - but its reasonably straight forward. Head up van H pass on to the top of the little berg from Inj camp (1 hour or so) and take the path at the top leading towards the main escarpment. The path more or less follows the top of the little berg ridge. Turn right onto the contour path and follow that round to Keith Bush. Its good path all the way. Took us about 6 hours and we went steadily but not fast. We were not fit. If we'd been fit, we probably would have gone up Greys pass because we arrived with enough time to do so. One difficulty that presented itself and stopped us from going on was that we found a 6 pack of beers right in the middle of Keith Bush campsite. Seems that someone didn't feel like carrying them down!

- Corner Pass back to Injisuthi. Any estimates as to how long this section of the hike could take?

From the bottom of corner pass I'd say about 4 hours. The pass itself takes about 3 hrs. If there is a lot of ice/snow it will be tricky.

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15 Sep 2010 14:53 #1743 by intrepid

Replied by intrepid on topic Monk's Cowl - Injisuthi link-up via escarpment

hartmrol wrote:

- Does anyone have GPS routes for:
- Injisuthi Hutted Camp to Keith Bush Camp
- Corner Pass back to Injisuthi.

Check out the Drakensberg Hiking category in the downloads section. Between the C8 to Corner Pass and Marble Baths GPS data download you'll get the route back down. Don't have data for Van Heyningens Pass, only from Ships Prow direction. There is a download for the route to Keith Bush Camp from Blind Man's Corner.

Have fun and let us know how it went.

Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.

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15 Sep 2010 14:56 #1744 by hartmrol

Replied by hartmrol on topic Monk's Cowl - Injisuthi link-up via escarpment

Thanks Intrepid(I found those downloads last night) and Mt_Tsika for the feedback

I will post a hike report upon my return.

Any ideas on the water and fire situations up there at this time?

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15 Sep 2010 15:45 #1745 by tiska

Replied by tiska on topic Monk's Cowl - Injisuthi link-up via escarpment

hartmrol wrote:

Any ideas on the water and fire situations up there at this time?

It will most likely be dry from the bottom of van H's pass until at least the 'campsite' at Blindman's corner. We did the route in summer and the last water before BMC was near the top of van H. I reckon that would be dry now. That part of the walk follows the ridge top - so no streams.

Grey's is dry too, but you'll pick up water near Keith Bush. Once in Lesotho you'll have a good view of where the water is.

From the bottom of Corner Pass (i.e. the contour path) until the bottom of the long spur off centenary hut will also probably be dry. After that you're along the river most of the way back.

Enjoy!

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16 Sep 2010 15:11 #1750 by intrepid

Replied by intrepid on topic Monk's Cowl - Injisuthi link-up via escarpment

We did a circular route over Cowk Fork Neck in August this year. Of the many water courses and gullies coming off the Cathkin-Sterkhorn Range some did have water. You may have a problem at Keith Bush Camp. In August there was a pool of water in the riverbed about 15m upstream from where the trail from the campsite meets the riverbed. The rest was pretty dry and be even more so now. I've been there in November before and there was no water at all. Be prepared for the possibility of water being 1-2km downstream from the camp. Agree with mnt_tiska, Grays Pass will be very dry.

Inkosazana Stream at the top should have water, even if in shallow pools (otherwise things will get a little interesting for you

). Crossing the high ridge at Ships Prow - dry. Once you descend properly on the other side, you'll be close to, or right by, the Moremoholo. This is a pretty big water course and wide catchment area, so you should be smiling there all the way to about a little beyond Leslies Pass. The high ridge complex at Mafadi will be dry again. Not sure about Upper Injasuthi Cave - even the small bowl valleys near it might be dry. Once you've come off the high ridge again, you should have a chance to fill up again near Corner Pass.

It's been a pretty dry winter season, so all the best with that. I'm sure you'll survive!

Not sure about fires - ask someone in the know at the KZN Wildlife office before you set off. From the sat images that area doesn't look charred black yet like the Northern Berg does (hard to tell) - so be careful.

Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.

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28 Sep 2010 12:13 #1800 by hartmrol

Replied by hartmrol on topic Monk's Cowl - Injisuthi link-up via escarpment

I just wanted to provide some feedback as we have just returnd from a fantastic hike in this region (and I got a lot of helpful advice from this site that contribute dto teh success of the hike).

We did a circular route from Injasuthi camp ascended via Grays and came down Leslie's spending 2 nights on top. Key points:
- we didn't find water at Keith Bush's Camp and on Night 1 camped about 1km short of KBC after crossing a stream
- There was plenty of water at top of Greys Pass and all along to Leslie Pass
- The steam at the bottom of sharp descent path down Leslies Pass (before you cross over onto the contour path that descends the ridges) was flowing strongly
- No sign of fires on top - although the area around Injusuthi camp (not the camp itself)w as burnt out last week
- Didn't enounter any smugglers but plenty of shepherds along the way (all friendly)
- Weather seemed warmer that this time in previuos years (still cold at night on top)

Thansk again for advice.

Rolf

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28 Sep 2010 17:23 #1802 by tiska

Replied by tiska on topic Monk's Cowl - Injisuthi link-up via escarpment

Thanks for the feedback. Nice to hear the shepherds were relaxed. And Intrepid was right about Keith Bush....

hartmrol wrote:

- we didn't find water at Keith Bush's Camp
Rolf

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29 Sep 2010 09:14 #1805 by intrepid

Replied by intrepid on topic Monk's Cowl - Injisuthi link-up via escarpment

Great to hear that it went well hartmrol, thanks for reporting back. I've been meaning to get back and spend more time on that stretch of the escarpment, particularly around Old Woman Grinding Corn and The Molar...

Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.

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29 Sep 2010 09:27 #1806 by SeriousTribe2

Replied by SeriousTribe2 on topic Monk's Cowl - Injisuthi link-up via escarpment

Hi hartmol

Glad to hear you had a good trip. A spectacular area Gray's. A pass that you do not seem too be hemmed into, as it right on the face.
Could you let us know about the state of the path(ways) up the pass? Increased local traffic seems to have lead to massive erosion, and the demise of some of the zig-zags, as some areas now cut straight up/down.
What did you notice i.t.o litter as well, on the walk in, and at the river crossing at the head of the pass ?

Would be good to hear.

ST2

The following user(s) said Thank You: Vynbos

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