Oct 10 2018

Greengage Track

Published by under Trampers

3. 10/10/2018. Trampers. Greengage Circuit. Leaders: Arthur and Gordon.

Daylight arrived with a warm norwest breeze and a bright sky – but the forecast was not good.

Nine energetic trampers ceparted the car park at 8.30 a.m. for an early start. Passing through the locked gate on Rollinsons Road, we parked at the ‘elbow’ and began our tramp from there.

Going down the Rainguage Track for half an hour took us to the start of the Greengage Track, which we followed. Getting ever steeper took us to the stream …

Hiking down into Silverstream. (Gordon pic and caption.)

… at the bottom, which we crossed – this being part of the Silverstream.

Now for the best part of the day. We had a 30 metre rope

Waiting to climb out of S:stream. (Gordon pic and caption.)

to assist our climb out of the stream bed. The reward at the top was the smoko stop.

Waiting their turn on the rope. (Gordon pic and caption.)

From here it was the long climb up onto, …

Nearly there. (Gordon pic and caption.)

… and to the top of Green Ridge. It was rather tough going at first but the grade eased as we progress upward.

Heading up to Silver Peaks Track. (Gordon pic and caption.)

Around 11.30 a.m. low cloud descended, with dampness in the air. Near the top of Green Ridge, a lunch halt was called in a cosy sheltered place.

A much needed lunch break. (Gordon pic and caption.)

After the welcome food and rest, it was only a few more minutes to the main Sliver Peaks Track. After the track we had been on, it was like a highway!

Turning right, (we turned right at every junction we came to today, except the first and the last ones), we followed it to “Sleepy Hollow“. After a brief rest stop, we were now on the Swampy Ridge Track, which had about 1 km of very muddy track to contend with.

By the time we reached Rollinsons Track, the rain was falling.

A little over half an hour would have us back at the cars, bu we were exposed, and out in the open now. It got colder too, and flurries of snowflakes were observed.

All arrived back at the cars in good condition and in a happy frame of mind. Warm but damp to some degree thoughts turned to home and hot showers, etc.

We had tramped about 15 km, in mostly good conditions, and with a very worthwhile tramp to our credit. Thanks to all. – Art.

2. 20/1/2016. Trampers. Greengage Track, anti-clockwise.
Ten hardy souls set off from sunny Mosgiel for a hard tramp. Travelled up past the scout camp and up to Rollinsons road where we parked our cars.
Within the first 10 mins on the Rollinsons track, some of us had wet feet. One can see why they call this area swampy. Lovely views as we went along our way.

Lovely views. (Helen pic)

Lovely views. (Helen pic)

Alas the fog came in and we could not see much. It was nice and warm though. Walked over swampy summit tramp.

Swampy Track. (Helen pic)

Swampy Track. (Helen pic)

Across to Green Hut? (Helen pic)

Across to Green Hut? (Helen pic)

Morning tea stop was about 5 mins from the Green hut.

Morning Tea Stop (Helen pic)

Morning Tea Stop (Helen pic)

Went onto the Green Hut track then Greengage track.  This track not used a lot.

Track not used a lot. (Helen pic)

Track not used a lot. (Helen pic)

Lunch on this track. Carried along then onto Raingage track and back up to the cars. Lots of quite hard walking up and down slippery hills. A few of us did some bum sliding in patches. Abseiling down about 20 meters and crossing a creek were part of our day. A few stiff bodies as we finished the walk.  Lovely to have our search and rescue team Dermot and Fin the dog with us.

Fin, the dog. (Helen pic)

Fin, the dog. (Helen pic)

A hard tramp but was very enjoyable. – Helen

1. 27/8/2014. Greengage Track.

Greengage Tramp. GPS of route, courtesy Ken.

Greengage Tramp. GPS of route, courtesy Ken. We walked 12.5 km; moving time 3 hrs 45 mins; Ave 3.3 km/hr; Climbed 780 mtrs. [That’s getting close to 1 km straight up !!]

On what turned out to be a very nice day for tramping, 4 of us set out to do a tramp on a newly opened track, namely Greengage track. This runs from Rain Gauge Spur track, over to Green Ridge track.
Having cajoled a key from the DCC for the locked gate on Rollinsons Rd. we parked up at the elbow, & made our way over to Raingauge Spur track. Then it was quite a lengthy walk down here, for about 3/4 hr [ including a morning tea stop] from the car before we got to the turn off onto Greengage track. As nobody had done this tramp before, we were all looking forward to it, but didn’t realise just how hard it would be. The track is quite steep, & drops all the way down into the valley, where you cross a stream [ part of the Silverstream headwaters] & clamber out the other side with the help of a rope, which has been thoughtfully put there. From here it is a steep climb nearly all the way up to Green Ridge track, where we arrived about 12:30, & then we walked along the short distance to the Green Hut site, where we had lunch, & a well deserved break.

Lunch stop at Green Hut site. (Ken pic and caption)

Lunch stop at Green Hut site. (Ken pic and caption)

The return journey was supposed to retrace our steps, but I couldn’t face the prospect of climbing all the way back down into the valley, & then climbing all the way back up to the car, I put it to the others that we could take an easier way out via Green Ridge track, & then onto the Swampy Ridge track, then along Rollinsons Track back to the car, this was accepted without protest.
So after lunch we set off again, & turning onto the Swampy Ridge track, we soon discovered why it is called “Swampy” , as there were lots & lots of very wet muddy stretches, which were ankle deep in places. We eventually found the entrance to Rollinsons Track, & made our way cautiously along the first part of this, as markers were conspicuous by their absence. The last half was well marked, & the climb out to the car, up the very wet track [running water] was useful for cleaning our boots !!
This tramp is not recommended for unfit persons !! I was suitably shattered when we arrived back at the car. – Ken.

No responses yet




Trackback URI | Comments RSS

Leave a Reply