#103 of 100 trips - Silver Peaks 23 October 2023

 

The final trip dawned and with blue skies and close to 70 people gathered at the Mountain Road car park ready for a good day's walk in the Silver Peaks.  We had been up the track from the start of the car park on trip#1 of 100 trips as well as a number of other times over the past year but this time was different as the long line of people made it's way up the track.  For some people it had been many  years since they had been into the Silver Peaks and it was interesting to hear their stories while walking with them. 

Some people commented that they remembered the track into the Green Hut Site as being flat and were surprised by how much up and down there is along the ridge.  Over all the track climbs 140m from the car park at the road to the Green Hut Site and there are a couple of short steep sections that can slow people down, While the pace wasn't overly fast, it didn't matter as we were there to enjoy the company.  The track has held up well over the winter with any muddy parts having dried out making for pleasant walking.  We reached the Green Hut Site in a little over an hour and it was surprising how many people could fit into the grassed area of the site.  The seats were taken over while others sat on the grass to enjoy a morning tea break.  

After a reasonable rest, most of the group continued on to Pulpit Rock with some opting for the shorter climb to Green Hill.  It's another 220m climb to Pulpit Rock and starts with a short, sharp climb out of Green Hut Site then a nice sidle around to the ridge where the gradient steepens before reaching the summit of Pulpit Rock.  As the track is above the bush line the sidle is a good opportunity to see the route ahead with the groups of people spread out on the climb up and Pulpit Rock in the distance on the left.

The weather in the Silver Peaks was amazing, it was one of those magic blue sky days with not a breath of wind.  We couldn't have asked for a better day and everyone was enjoying themselves.  Especially so as we neared the top of Pulpit Rock and the views really started to open out around us.  The 360 degree views were outstanding with Mt Cargill, Mt Charles, Mt Watkin, Rock and Pillar Range, Maungatua standing out. 100 years ago there had been 60 people on that first OTMC trip to Pulpit Rock and today we had close to 70 people standing on Pulpit Rock.

We all found our own spot nestled amongst the tussock admiring the views in all directions as we ate lunch and continued reminiscing about past trips in the Silver Peaks and picking out some of the remembered landmarks.  The greatest achievement of the day went to Frank who at 86 was the oldest person of our group to reach Pulpit Rock and made even special because it had been more than 60 years since he had last stood on the top. 

As much as we would have liked to stay longer, the time came to head back down and it was with sadness that I left the top of Pulpit Rock.  It had been a fantastic year of tramping with the first trip of the #100 trips coming to Pulpit Rock and there had been many wonderful tramping trips over the past year.  Now it was at an end and there were just three of us that had been on the first trip and were also on this final trip . 

There is only so long that you can delay the inevitable and we reluctantly followed everyone else down the hill.  It made quite a sight to see such a large group in the Silver Peaks.  It had been a wonderful walk down memory lane for many and the warm weather had made it a perfect day.  The weekend had rekindled many friendships and was a reminder of  past good times shared.  

The group was well spread out so the walk out was a little faster than it had been coming in and we got to chat with different people.  I had been surprised all weekend at the number of people I had spoken to but there was always someone I had missed seeing during the previous events and the walk out was a good opportunity to catch up with some I hadn't spoken to already.  Getting into the car at the end was tinged with sadness that the whole Centenary was over but also relief that all the work over the past few years had come together nicely and everyone agreed that it had been a fabulous weekend!