Trip 064 - Nicols Creek - McQuilkans - Ben Rudd’s - Pineapple Track

 

DATE: June 18, 2023
LEADER: Debbie Guthrie (022 020 3545)
TRIP GRADE: M (5-7 Hours)
MEET: Woodhaugh, 9am

Trips to the Flagstaff and Swampy area would be the club's second most numerous, behind the adjacent Silver Peaks. Flagstaff itself is important to the club - our first trip was held here, we own the Ben Rudd's property, we have installed the plane table on the summit and are currently developing Pineapple Point as a lookout for our centenary.

This trip starts in Leith Valley, and passes the largest if the Nicols Creek waterfalls during the climb to the Swampy Ridge Track. We'll then descend the McQuilkans track (named after Donald McQuilkan, friend and early Life Member (1924) of the OTC).

A climb up the Jim Freeman track, passing the Bruce Campbell Rhododendron Dell takes us to Ben Rudd's hut site. Return to Leith Valley is via the upper section of the Pineapple Track to Pineapple Point, then back into Nicols Creek via the Peppertree Track.

This is a great day out, and includes a lot of links to the early Otago Tramping Club days.