I had always considered Injasuti Pass as a bit out of my league as the crux of the Pass involved a climb up a thirty metre chimney which was almost vertical, and the photos I had seen of it were quite hair raising. Nonetheless I was always interested to read the accounts of those that had done it and I still harboured a secret wish to climb it, somehow, someday. Hilton Pass which is in the same area and Injasuti Pass's southerly neighbour, did not even register on my radar as it looked like a real monster. I was not even mildly tempted. I had chatted to Tony Marshall, a long time hiking friend and Drakensberg expert, who was also keen on Injasuti Pass, and told him that the only way I would consider it was if an experienced rock climber could accompany us. A few months later, Tony contacted me and told me that Neil Margetts, a rock climbing instructor was happy to assist us up the Pass. Tony was also keen to descend via the notorious Hiltons Pass and after using some mild persuasion, talked me into it as the route he suggested was via grassy slopes and not in the gully with the horror waterfalls. So, after much thought I decided to seize the opportunity and the die was cast!
Seven of us, Tony, Neil, Lorinda, Thora, Stephan, Christine and myself left Injasuti campsite and arrived at the base of Leslies Pass where we overnighted. We were up early the following morning and set our sights on the rather daunting valley that led up to the Pass. It was very rough and we spent hours bundu bashing, boulder hopping and climbing out on to steep vegetated banks to avoid the slippery waterfalls. Just as it seemed we would never get anywhere, we arrived at the final grassy incline leading up to the dreaded chimney. The mist had come down and this added to the apprehension we all felt when we saw the final obstacle. I was one of the first to go up which I was thankful for, as to stand and wait at the bottom in that biting cold and mist did nothing for the nerves. Even with the reassurance of a climbing harness the climb required a lot of effort and I made a lot of noise! ( I think this helps me to concentrate somehow). Once at the top of the chimney, I had to traverse across a very narrow ledge with very little in the way of hand and foot holds to get to safety so I think I can speak for all concerned when I say it was a major relief to get this part behind us. Our packs were hauled up one by one, and we then continued to the top, feeling extremely elated.
We tented that night in the valley below the Greater Injasuti Buttress and were off again to an early start the next morning. Hilton Pass is nearby and we looked down it in some trepidation, the Pass being an unknown quantity to us all. We would be the first to descend it as other attempts have been to ascend it. We kept to the steep grassy slopes for the most part although this involved a lot of exposed traversing around rock bands and at several points Neil set up a rope to assist us. Again a few anxious moments! We managed to avoid the treacherous gully and waterfalls completely and eventually gained the relative safety of the boulder strewn river bed with much relief. From here we had several hours of heavy slog ahead of us, as this river valley is very wild and thickly vegetated and we had a long way to get back to Injasuti camp site. We got in after 6.00pm - a hike that will go down as a great adventure.
