Cowl Cave

Thanks Tiska

This trip will be first week of December, so rain is unavoidable I think. The first Cowl Cave should be big enough to pitch a two man K-Way tent in, shouldn't it?

The path from Injasuthi to Wonder Valley cave is easy to follow, and the first part from Wonder Valley cave up to Shada Ridge is also easy to follyp up to Shada Ridge. Where it then turns towards BMC (i.e. when you get up onto the top of Shada Ridge and start travelling to the right/North) it all but dissapears. However, all you have to do is keep walking on top of the ridge towards BMC, don't turn left or right anywhere (for a while). You might still see one or two upright steel poles and some fencing lying around (what is left of the old game/eland fence). Just before the turnoff to Cowl Fork to the left you will find a tarn on your left. This time of year it might be dry. About 100m - 150m after the tarn you will find the turnoff and from here there is a very well defined path down towards BMC.

The turnoff to Cown Fork is also clearly defined but as you drop lower it all but dissapears again at one point where you then walk straight into one of the ridges coming dwon from Moncs Cowl. You just have to go around or over this ridge, the path is somewhere on top and a bit to the left of you and then it s fine again down to the bottom of the ridge. Can't help you from here to Cowl cave though as I've only taken the route to Ships Prow here.

Enjoy

Cowl caves have particularly low roofs particularly so the second one but you should be able to pitch the tent at the entrance to the cave if it doesn't fit inside.

I would describe Cowl caves as extraordinarily well placed with respect to the standard route on Cowl rather than caves that offer good comfort for a normal overnight spot. In other words worth putting up with because of the fast access to the route rather than ones to compare with normal high berg shelter.

Thanks guys

I appreciate the info and RD. This particular route has been on my list for a while as I can imagine the views must be something special. I am more interested in the solitude, since there is no route to the escarp from there and don't mind a little wet for the one night.

Thanks again

Hope its a good one!

Does anyone have any pics or description of the exposure on the Monks Cowl traverse between the two saddles?

Papa Dragon wrote: Guys that know the route, with a Friday after work night start. what would you suggest?

MC to BMC friday evening, and then up Cowl Fork to the saddle for overnight, or MC to near Mhlwazini Friday night, up to Cowl Cave Saturday night, and out via Cowl Fork Sunday?

Both do-able and I've done one of them:
Friday night (with moon!) to KBC. Saturday morning up the gully to the cave (+climb Monks Cowl). Walk out the other way (down towards Injisuthi on on to the car) on Sunday. There were a few first timers that came with us and everyone managed OK. Its steep going down from the cave to the Injisuthi side - easier to reverse the route via KBC.

GriffBaker wrote: Does anyone have any pics or description of the exposure on the Monks Cowl traverse between the two saddles?

photo credit: Viking

@Macc

Thanks! That looks maybe doable for a heights loathing ninny like myself.

According to the Monk's Cowl office, Cowl Cave is "not working." I queried the meaning of this but received no clarity. I suspect they're trying to discourage possibly uninformed hikers from taking a lesser known route.

Has anyone been up there recently who knows whether the caves have collapsed or something equally as improbable? I know Stijn did a trail-run over Cowl Pass a while ago, but perhaps not via the caves.

Also, does anyone have any tips for navigating the bush between KBC and the pass up to Monk's Cowl? Apparently there is a path through there.