Trip 058 - Hermit's Cave (Silver Peaks)

 

DATE: May 21, 2023 (Sunday)
LEADER: Lindsay Aitcheson (027 471 0019)
TRIP GRADE: Moderate-Fit (7-8 Hours)
MEET: Woodhaugh, 8am

The Hermit’s Cave was one of the locations used by the ‘Hermit of the Silver Peaks’ in the late 1950’s. The hermit’s name was Ross Adamson, an OTC member, and although his identify was unknown by authorities for some time, some club members knew it was Ross, and had been supporting him.

In time he was persuaded by the Police to hand himself in when he was discovered at Ben Rudd’s Hut. Subsequently all charges against him were dropped.

Ross rejoined the club, and later took part with the 1965 Milford Freedom Walk and with the early Bushcraft Courses among other club events.

The first club trip listed as visiting the Hermit’s Cave was in 1967. Since then, just under 20 trips are recorded, but there have been many other Silver Peaks trips that have passed by the cave, including many Bushcraft Courses, especially when it was easy to drop down into Cave Stream from Rocky Ridge.