Trip 026 - Leith Saddle / Burns Track / Swampy Ridge / Mountain Road (Track) / Red Hut Site / Rongomai / Evansdale Glen

 

DATE: January 22, 2023 (Sunday)
DEPART: Woodhaugh, 8am
LEADER: Antony Pettinger (03 473 7924)
TRIP GRADE: M (6-7 hours)

UPDATE JAN 2023: This is a re-run of the trip from Dec 11, 2022 and replaces the earlier advertised Powder Ridge / Long Ridge trip. When we first advertised this trip we thought it would take longer than it did - based on the first trip, this has now been regraded as M-F trip. The weather could have been kinder in December, so we are taking the oppurtunity to run the trip again - it is a very enjoyable trip, and we are going in the downhill direction.

The purpose of this through trip is to highlight early tramping routes into the Silver Peaks and onward to Evansdale Glen. Due to limited transport options before the second World War, Leith Saddle was commonly used as the starting points into the Silver Peaks (sometimes after the Friday night club meetings). Trampers would either be dropped off at Leith Saddle by taxi or truck, or simply walk up from Leith Valley. From here, the Burns Creek Track (Burns Track) was used to get to Swampy Ridge. Trampers would pass Sleepy Hollow to access Green Ridge, or perhaps follow the old mountain track to get to the road we know today as Semple Road.

The Mountain Track ran along the ridge between Careys Creek and the South Branch of the Waikouaiti, before reaching the Steep Hill Rd / Kilmog area. Along the way, the private Red Hut was passed. The OTC initially used Red Hut as a Silver Peaks base but shifted to the Club Hut (Green Peak Hut) in 1933. By the late 1930’s it appears hunters had taken over the club hut, so the OTC used Red Hut again. A following refurbishment at Green Hut saw the club use reinstated. Not long after this, the club desired a hut be built further in the Silver Peaks – this became the club’s Jubilee Hut, opened in 1951.

This trip will start at Leith Saddle, and head to Swampy Ridge via the Burns Track. Once at Clump Peak / Hightop there will be a 6km or so walk along Mountain Road before we drop down the Rongomai Track to Evansdale Glen..