Monk's Cowl - Injisuthi link-up via escarpment

Rebecca wrote:
Thanks! (sorry, my question mark tab is broken)

See below. It's just shift and forward slash. Easy peasy.


From Nkosasana cave I'd head down Gray's Pass (be very sure to exit right out of that gulley about 50 vertical metres down and not like me and my mate going down at night...), then Keith Bush Camp/heading north around and back south via Blind Man's Corner on the contour. The going is quick along that contour up to Shada Ridge.

Hi Rebecca,

Your day 3 is quite easy as tiska indicates, and I would recommend on your way to Injisuthi Summit Cave you take the opportunity to explore and climb the Injisuthi Buttresses, and visit the Red Wall Falls. I have a write up on this in the thread "Injisuthi Area Summit Escarpment Exploration" from December 2013 which has some information on this. Search for this topic in the Google custom search box.

The route from Nkosazana Cave via Shada Ridge back to Injisuthi can be followed on the hiking map and would be: Descend Grays Pass passing Keith Bush Camp and following the path to Hlatikhulu Nek (M2 junction) and Blind Mans Corner (M3 junction), continue along the Contour Path to junction M4 where you turn off left and descend Shada Ridge, following the path. Towards junction M24 the path comes and goes a bit, and can be difficult to follow, but pass junctions M24 and M25, where you will pick up the strong path from Wonder Valley Cave and continue to the top of Van Heyningens Pass. Descend the pass, pass junction M26 which is not obvious at all, and at junction M28 turn left back to Injisuthi Camp, this is signposted.

Regarding the route description from Injisuthi Summit Cave to Nkosazana Cave, are you familiar with the area otherwise it will be very difficult to describe and follow?

Rebecca wrote: I am also struggling to find route descriptions for getting from Upper Injisuthi to Nkosasana cave. Do you have any thoughts on that
It is exactly as you say - when the mist comes in, it is very difficult to know where one is, and the weather is set to be very rainy.

You will know how to get back to the head of Leslie's pass from Upper Injisuthi Cave having done the walk a couple of days earlier. From the head of Leslie's Pass, follow the main river as it flows downhill due north for about 4 km. The river meanders before turning west and then south west. Leave the river before then and make your way up the long slope towards Champagne Castle. You'll need to read the map carefully for that section up the slope and on to the summit. The cave is about 15 to 20 minutes from the head of Grays Pass.

Thank you for all your advice.

This is very useful. The morning are looking good so the plan is early starts to get a good grip of navigation before the mist rolls in, as it does.

So we will try to make our walk to Injisuthi cave a short day to maximise chances of finding the cave before the mist.
And we will descend via Gray's Pass, taking the (tricky to find) contour path which brings us back round to Blind Man's Corner and down Shada ridge. It seems the flags in terms of tricky navigation are
finding upper injasuthi cave
identifying the right steep slope as we approach nkosasana cave
and finding the contours veering to the right that links us back round to Shada ridge which we follow to Injasuthi camp

Hopefully the weather shows us mercy in the mornings! Thank you all for the advice and clarity, I appreciate it greatly!

Here's a photo that shows the location of iNkosazana Cave, taken on the way from Champagne Castle Peak towards Grays Pass:

Amazing, thank you for the picture. Very helpful if mist is casting doubt.

Do any of you have any advice on how to try and make sure we don't miss the contour path on our way back to Injasuti camp?! Down Gray's pass to relink up with Shada ridge.

Thank you for all the help, I am so appreciative.

The path you will be on down Grays Pass and past Keith Bush Camp, joins with the Contour Path as you head up the ridge out of the Mhlwazini valley towards Hlatikhulu Nek. Because the Contour Path northwards towards Didima is so seldom used you may not even see the junction, and the path of main use which you will be on will take you straight onto the Contour Path. You will know you are at Hlatikhulu Nek when the uphill stops and the path gradient becomes flat. At Blind Mans Corner there are signs and the major path junction to identify that you are there. Keep right at the Blind Mans Corner junction towards Injisuthi (left will take you to Monks Cowl Office). At the turnoff from the Contour Path for Shada Ridge, the Contour Path makes a very sharp right hand turn around the ridge, and the Shada Ridge path goes off to the left, straight along the ridge. The Shada Ridge path is not as clear as the Contour Path, but you should be able to see it. If you miss the Shada Ridge turnoff, the Contour Path starts to descend into the Cowl Fork valley, and later has some steep zigzags, if you get to this you have missed the Shada Ridge turnoff.

Was wondering if this was possible in 4 days.

Day 1: Starting at the Monks Cowl TH and traversing Shada Ridge via Contour Route to Injisuthi Camp
Day 2: Ascending Corner Pass
Day 3: Traverse to Grays Pass
Day 4: Descent back to Monks Cowl

I'm currently lodging in the Champagne Valley so drive time is minimal.

Any thoughts?

Cheers,
Ralph

Hi Ralphcopeiv -
The hard part of your proposed trip will be day 2: Injisuthi Camp to top of Corner Pass.
Probably better as 5 days unless everyone is up for an oppie-

Day 1: Starting at the Monks Cowl TH and traversing Shada Ridge via Contour Route to Injisuthi Camp
Day 2: Centenary Hut
Day 3: Ascendi Corner Pass
Day 4: Traverse to Grays Pass
Day 5: Descent back to Monks Cowl

An alternative is to start and finish at Injisuthi:
Day 1: Centenary
Day 2: Upper Injisuthi Cave via Corner Pass
Day 3: Descend Leslies
Day 4 Return Injisuthi
This misses out Grays Pass but that may not be a bad thing at the moment (see Berg alert thread). This route has a long thread on VE.

or
Day 1: Inj camp to Centenary
Day 2: Centenary to Upper Injisuthi Cave via Corner Pass
Day 3: Top Ships Prow
Day 4 Return Injisuthi

Day 4 will be the tester here. Shpis Prow has unfriendly bush at contour path level.

or

Day 1: Injisuthi Camp to Keith Bush
Day 2: Ascend Grays Pass
Day 3: to Leslies top
Day 4 Descend Leslies back to Inj Camp
This misses upper Injisuthi and Mafadi.

Looks like a great 4-day loop. The main challenge will be your day 2 from Injisuthi Camp to the top of Corner Pass. Quite doable in a day for a fit party - otherwise make sure you start early to give plenty of time, especially with the typical afternoon storms this time of year. Look up the Northern High Approach (NHA) to Corner Pass on these forums. That will make your route a little more direct..

The other days are pretty normal hiking days as far as Berg hiking goes.