Silver Peaks River Track
SUNDAY THE 31ST OCTOBER
This trip was meant to be to Ben Ohau near Twizel and was an extra trip put on the programme, but with the weather forecast of cloud and some drizzle, it was a long way to go and get no views up there. I had two new club members that wanted to go on their first hike with the club, so I decided to introduce them to the river track in the Silver Peaks.
It had only been two weeks ago that the club was down there, but there are so many tracks to explore and weather was looking a bit better on the coast.
We were met by Rodney and Helen again at the main Silver Peaks car park and started up the main green hut ridge at about 9am. After about 15min we came to the junction of the Eucalypt track, which we took to drop us down to the South Branch of the Waikouaiti river.
The track was well marked and cut through the bush, with the odd clearing to get some good views and after dropping down for ½ hour we came out on to a clearing by the river/creek. It was at this point we took a detour up river for 10mins to visit the Historic Possum Hut where we had a break and look around.
We then retraced our steps and followed the river track down stream for about 2 hours. There had been a lot of work gone into cutting the track in some places and it was well marked.
Along the way we passed a few side routes coming down off Rosella ridge that had signs like Ceder spur and the Hunters track, which we have used before. It was a good hike down the river track in the bush, where we even came upon a baby possum scrambling up a tree to get away from us.
At 12.15pm we were at side stream beneath Yellow Ridge where we had lunch.
After lunch we climbed up a roughly marked track through the bush for about ½ an hour to meet up with the main Yellow ridge track. We then carried on up Yellow Ridge for a further 15 mins to visit the Phillip J Cox Memorial hut, getting there at 1.45pm. The hut is a modern 4 bunk hut, sitting in a clearing with good views of the Silver Peaks and plenty of room for tents outside for bigger parties.
After a break and a look around, we then headed back down Yellow Ridge, dropping down steeply to the South Branch of the Waikouaiti river, crossing the river and then climbing back up the track though the pine trees to come out onto Mountain Rd. From here it was a 6km 1 ½ hour walk back down the road to finally arrive back to the vehicles after an 18 ½ km hike that took us just on 8 hours.
It was another good day out in the Silver Peaks and I thank Alexs and Evelyn for coming out on their first hike with the club. It is always good to have Rodney and Helen join us too.
Neville
Hermits Cave, Silverpeaks
Sunday 17 October 2021
Eight club members left from Oamaru and headed for the car park on Steep Hill Rd at the entrance of the Silver Peaks Tracks, where our Dunedin club members Rodney & Helen meet us. The weather was looking good so we headed off at 9.30am up the track in the bush for an hour to the old green hut site where we stopped for a wee break.
After the green hut site the track climbs out of the bush to be a bit more exposed, with a bit of a grunt up past Pulpit Rock (760m) and some great 360 degree views. After Pulpit Rock the track levels out a bit with a wee bit of up & downs until we reached the faint side track that leads along Rocky Ridge underneath the Silver Peaks trig (767m). From here there was a well worn track on the ground but at some places we were pushing through scrub up to our shoulders. After about an hour of pushing through scrub we came to a rocky outcrop at point 739m that Robbie’s son had told Robbie where the track to the cave was and sure enough there was a well worn track heading down the side of the outcrop.
We dropped down about 50m off the track and came to a cave that had stacked stone at the front to provide shelter from weather. It was flat enough to sleep a few people and had candle holders in the rock shelves and a visitor’s book. By this time it was about 12.30pm and there was a strong wind coming up from the valley below, so we got some shelter around or in the cave to have some lunch.
If you want to know the history about the cave just google Hermits Cave Silver Peaks for info. There was a track at the cave that dropped further down the hill but the wind was quite strong, so at about 1pm we headed back the same way we had come in, just about getting blown over in places along the ridge. Despite the wind we had good views of all the Silver Peaks area and could see Jubilee Hut in the distance.
We did meet some other trampers that had come along the length of Rocky Ridge and said it was a bit of a battle in places on the track with the high scrub, so may need a trim some time. We were soon back on the main track again with 5 of us climbing up onto Pulpit Rock on the way past. With another break at the Green Hut Site, we got back out to the car park at 4pm with 17 km for the day. We said good bye to our two Dunedin member and headed for home.
Thanks to, Jenny, Julian, Lynette, Jonathan, Phyllis, Maurice, Robbie, Helen and Rodney for the company and making it an enjoyable day. Neville
PS; When Rodney got home he did a bit of research on Hermits Cave and reckons the actual cave was further down the steep track that went below the cave that we were at. He reckons we were at the top bivvy cave, so we might have to go back some time for a bit more exploring, but until that time we will say we visited Hermits Cave!
Club Night 11 October 2021
14 masked and spaced out members attended the Clubs October meeting under covid level 2.
Robbie reported that the large pine tree lying lengthwise along the Hoods Creek track in the Herbert Forest has had a temporary track cut around it.
Since the last meeting one trip was cancelled because of adverse weather, but a trip up Maryburn stream was enjoyed by a small group who then climbed Simons Hill.
The Wednesday Walkers had walks on the Roseneath Station loop, the lower part of Station Peak, the Herbert Forest circuit and the escarpment from Waianakarua to Herbert.
Coming trips are to the Silverpeaks looking for the Hermits Cave, the Rock and Pillar Range, and the Signal Hill track from Logan Park.
There was discussion on the draft Waitaki District Councils Spatial Plan looking at urban housing expansion over the next 30 years. Concern was expressed about the possible inclusion of reserve areas being used for housing, in this plan.
Jonathan then took us down memory lane, looking through the Clubs archives at old trips, annual reports and bushcraft / survival courses.
Jane Naish expanded on one of these which was her first bushcraft course in the Hopkins Valley. Basically it was about why you don’t go up the Hopkins for a bushcraft course in a Nor’wester.
It rained heavily and the rivers rose rapidly. A family in their hut had to be evacuated across the Hopkins pending the birth of their next child, members river crossings and hypothermia were coped with and another family group with an imbalance of food and wine was helped out, making it a bushcraft course to remember and learn from.
Club Night September 2021
The club managed to hold its monthly meeting under Covid 19 Level 2 rules.
Pre lockdown 5 members enjoyed a day on skis and snow shoes at Ohau ski field.
The weather turned out OK and a meal at the lodge on the way home capped of a good day.
Also pre lockdown the Wednesday Walkers had a new day walk on Elginview Station with excellent views over the Waitaki Valley from the North side.
A 15k walk around Oamaru was managed under Level 2.
Coming trips are to Maryburn and Simons Hill, and a 2 day trip to the East Ahuriri from Quailburn, camping at some tarns.
The main event of the evening was a quiz with 80 questions on topics of tramping, geography, flora and fauna and general knowledge. All competitors were given “brain food” sweets at the start which were furtively slipped under our masks during the event, though they didn’t help much for some. Margie was a clear winner with a score of 56.
Snow Farm Trip, Pisa Range, 7th – 8th August 2021
This was a wonderfully snowy, wintery trip, even returning on the Sunday afternoon over the Lindis
Pass in a blizzard! But Neville drove the van steadily onward, undaunted by horizontal falling snow.
The nine of us had left early Saturday at 6.30am and reached the Snow Farm carpark by 10.15am,
giving the four cross-country skiers just enough time to hire skis and join their lesson by 10.30.
The remaining five strapped on snowshoes over our tramping boots and headed off along the trail to
Meadow Hut for lunch. Snowshoeing is easy: there is no technique involved and it is light and easy
on your feet. Just watch out for snow drifts! We cross-crossed the hills on the return to base,
marvelling at the wide sparkling snowy landscape.
The team stayed the night at Zula Lodge – a comfortable backpackers with a roomy kitchen and
living area at Albert town, after dining out in style at Relishes in Wanaka.
Next morning we headed around Lake Wanaka to Diamond Lake and a 3 hour return trip up to the
Wanaka lookout, then climbing Rocky Mountain where we got impressive vistas up Lake Wanaka
and into the Matukituki Valley.
With an eye on the snow clouds rolling in, there was no stopping for lunch in Wanaka where snow
was flurrying past, and we made straight for Lindis Pass.
A great trip, and now we are keen to book a Snow Farm hut for an overnight stay next Winter!
On the way to Meadow Hut
Track to Meadow Hut
XC skiing
Meadow Hut