#102 of 100 trips - Ben Rudd's 22 October 2023

 

As part of the centenary weekend, 70 people gathered at the Bull Ring for the walk to the OTMC Ben Rudd property. The day was inclusive for all as the less active people were able to get a ride in a 4WD to the property while those more able took the extended walking option and walked up the Pineapple Track to Flagstaff before heading over to the Ben Rudd property.

I was part of the group to take the extended walk and headed up the 160m climb from the Bull Ring car park to the top of Flagstaff.  Initially the walk up is steep and soon had the group spread out but no one was in a rush and groups were happy to stop and take in the views of Saddle Hill bordering the flat of the Taieri Plains which surrounds the township of Mosgiel and golden tussock in the foreground.  The fitter ones carried on to the top of Flagstaff while the others kept some of the older members company as they took their time and the pace picked up as the gradient leveled out.  No one minded waiting at the top for everyone to regroup as the weather was warm and calm and there was plenty of time to admire the view of Dunedin city spread out before them.  While I had seen this view many times, particularly over the #100 trips, it was the first time in many years for most of the past tramping club members. 

The top of Flagstaff is also a significant place for the OTMC as it is where the plane table was installed in 1973 for the club's 50th anniversary highlights the surround peaks and geographical features.  It was nice to be here today for the 100th anniversary.

This was also a good spot for a team photo of those that had opted for the extra walk before heading down the hill to the Ben Rudd property.

The next stage of the trip took us down the Pineapple Track to the dip where we followed the Cross Track to the Firebreak and the corner of the Ben Rudd property.  This was also another good opportunity to walk and talk with different people to those we had walked up the hill with. 

Once at the Ben Rudd property we met up with those that had come up in the 4WD vehicles and others who had chosen the shorter route and walked up the Firebreak track.  There was quite a crowd at the site where there was a short speech about the significance and history of the property followed by a cake cutting with an ice axe.

 People took the opportunity to check out the panoramic sign which named all the surrounding hills  including the Silver Peaks.  This prompted more conversations and stories from the past which were shared during lunch.   After lunch some people opted to take the short detour to the Ben Rudd Shelter while others chose to continue conversations with people they hadn't seen for a long time.  All too soon the event was over and everyone wandered back along the Firebreak to the Bullring.  It had been a wonderful day that had involved a lot of talking and chatting.