Path Use from Mhlwazini Valley to Vaalribbok Cave via Hospital spruite

Not sure if this belongs in Monks Cowl or Didima section, this is a beautiful and remote area between the two.

This past long weekend we hiked from Didima and were camping on the true right of the Mhlwazini river close to the Mhlwazini / Nkosozane River junctions when that massive  thunderstorm hit. The river tuned into a raging torrent and we judged it way to dangerous to even attempt crossing. With the river showing no signs of dropping and more rain looking likely, we decided to head over the little berg to Monks Cowl to avoid the multiple river crossings required to go back to Didima.

Looking at the Map C36 to  C46 and then up to M17 and on too Vaalribbok Cave are marked as "Major Paths", but from what i can see it is doubtful any one has used this route in the last few years. As you approach C46, the path completely vanishes in places, and in that last bit of forrest,  a major rock fall as completely blocked the path. the only way past is to double back and go around the forrest and bundu bash up to C46. Once you are in the forest heading up to M17 there are many sections were the path is blocked by fallen trees or overgrown with young saplings and brambles.
 
We had no choice, so just pushed though, but unless there is some maintenance done here soon, this area of the berg wlll be lost to hikers, which would be sad, as its a beautiful  and interesting area.

I guess its not likely KZN wildlife will do anything here, but I am hopeful they will see this and decide to "adopt" this path from a maintenance  perspective.

In the mean time hopefully hikers will start trying incorporate this route into their plans to keep it open and usable.

Glad to hear someone has used it. I it is a bit of a forgotten route, i guess the last two seasons have been exceptionally wet, so maybe contribute to its current state.

I did the section from Vaalribbok Cave to M17, C46 and then on to C36 in September 2020 and it was a clear path. Its a pity to hear that the path is so damaged now. I had planned to do that section in July this year but am in two minds now

Its a beautiful valley, probably much better in July when everything is dry / died off. Please do it, but maybe take a panga

Thanks, good idea. And the boulders that blocked the path? Are they negotiable?

for the boulders i have no advice, dynamite maybe

M17 to C46 is a beautiful stretch but, yes, getting overgrown. I think it highly unlikely that EKZNW will do any maintenance there. As with the pines, that might be a project for the hiking community. Regular use probably does some maintenance, and these routes are a bit out of the way, though a circular route up Makhulumane Gorge via Eagle Cave and Vaalribokkop/Stable Cave and back via Jacob's Ladder would make a nice Little Berg hike. Perhaps the area just doesn't have the popularity that, say, the Zulu-Cave/Intunja hike does.

Dave, I'm pretty sure that Makhulumane is not passable now, damaged in the floods a while back.
@FlatDoggy could confirm

I have done the route between Stable Cave and Zulu Cave via Eagle Gorge and we couldn't find C46 at all due to being totally over grown - planning to do this section over easter and hope to get some feet to help clear the bush out. I sometimes think that the powers that be are not willing to clean these paths as they don't want to patrol this section of the Berg.