We spent last weekend hiking in the Cathedral Peak area. The flowers were all out and it was a lovely hike. Here are some reflections for those heading to the area.
Day 1: Car park to Xeni Cave
This is a short and easy day. The paths are in good condition, and there is enough water in the streams for a swim. Xeni cave is looking good - nice and clean and the "annex" is free of loo paper for a change (probably thanks to the lockdown period). There was enough water coming over the "waterfall" in front of the cave for a shower and for drinking.
Day 2: Xeni Cave to Twins Annex Cave
A harder day! The paths all the way to the bottom of Mlambonja Pass are in good nick. The huge Natal Bottlebrush at the bottom of the pass was resplendent. The path going up Mlambonja Pass is mostly in good condition, and we didn't have any trouble finding our way up. There was good water in the stream until 2400m altitude on the pass. We got to Twins Cave to find the entire floor covered in what looked like goat dung, which was rather unappealing for the night! Since we were a small group, we moved to Twins Annex, which was clean and dry and has the most amazing view.
Day 3: Twins Cave to Car Park via One Tree Hill
This felt like the hardest day, not helped by the fact that it was 34 degrees in the valley. We decended the pass, and then took the contour path towards One Tree Hill. The path out of the Mlambonja Pass onto the contour path is almost non-existent (and has shifted downwards from what is marked on the map) and it required some serious bush-whacking to get onto the contour path. Lovely views were had all the way to the top of the One Tree Hill descent. The path down off the spur is in terrible condition - there are a number of new paths going directly downhill creating erosion. I had also forgotten what a slog it is to descend so much at the end of a long hike!
It was a fantastic hike. Lovely to be out in the mountains, and to see so many others out and about, too.
