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Mount Ossa via, Lee's Paddock? Best way to do it?

PostPosted: Tue 22 Jan, 2019 3:32 pm
by M J Rutherford
G'day just enquiring about doing Mount Ossa via Lee's Paddock. What's the best way to do it? Should I go to Ossa via Pelion plains or via the Kia Ora hut; or perhaps do it as a loop?also is the road to Lee's Paddocks ok for a lowish 2wd? Thanks!

Re: Mount Ossa via, Lee's Paddock? Best way to do it?

PostPosted: Tue 22 Jan, 2019 4:50 pm
by Mark F
I believe parks require you to join the olt at Pelion and then exit at Kia Ora. They do allow in and out via Pelion as long as you don't go beyond Pelion Gap, but don't allow travel from Kia Ora to Pelion Gap or though to Pelion.

Re: Mount Ossa via, Lee's Paddock? Best way to do it?

PostPosted: Wed 23 Jan, 2019 2:40 pm
by M J Rutherford
Mark F wrote:I believe parks require you to join the olt at Pelion and then exit at Kia Ora. They do allow in and out via Pelion as long as you don't go beyond Pelion Gap, but don't allow travel from Kia Ora to Pelion Gap or though to Pelion.

Thanks!

Re: Mount Ossa via, Lee's Paddock? Best way to do it?

PostPosted: Thu 24 Jan, 2019 8:27 am
by Crawfinator
Some friends and i last January, started at lees paddocks car park -> lees paddocks - up wurragarra track to lake Ayr - to Ossa - to Pelion East - then to the track just past kia ora and back through lee's paddocks. We did it In a day - but could easily break it up into two nights (camp at pelion or on top of ossa night one) then (camp at Lee's paddocks night two). The walking isn't hard, other than some steepness up from lee's paddocks, depending on your fitness.

The anti clockwise loop is the way you would want to do it (no matter what parks think), as it is far easier coming down the hill from Kia Ora than it would be going up it!

Was a great trip - thoroughly recommend

The road into lee's paddocks (and all the way to the dead end) is fine in a two wheel drive, just a bit bumpy

Re: Mount Ossa via, Lee's Paddock? Best way to do it?

PostPosted: Sat 26 Jan, 2019 6:00 pm
by north-north-west
Crawfinator wrote:The road into lee's paddocks (and all the way to the dead end) is fine in a two wheel drive, just a bit bumpy

The road to the start of the track is fine, but you definitely need something more like a trail bike or horse to get all the way to the Paddocks.

Re: Mount Ossa via, Lee's Paddock? Best way to do it?

PostPosted: Thu 06 Feb, 2020 9:51 am
by Twilson
I went in here last year and went up via lees paddock to pelion and onto ossa summit.
I ran into the track ranger on the flanks of mt doris and asked if it would be ok to crack on to kia ora and down to reg wadley hut. She said it was fine and i had a great afternoon descending down through the rainforest to the Mersey.

One thing the ranger mentioned was that if i wanted to do it in the future its best to speak with the head ranger @ cradle via email or phone before setting out to gain permission.

Well we're about to do it again this weekend and the ranger has denied us permission to continue the 4km south to kia ora! I understand that strictly speaking its outside of the "OLT usage guidelines" but since we're not planning on using kia ora hut it seems like there's no good reason to not let us complete the circuit...

Has anyone else experienced this? Maybe they're cracking down a bit?

Re: Mount Ossa via, Lee's Paddock? Best way to do it?

PostPosted: Thu 06 Feb, 2020 5:51 pm
by Paul
Just do it.

Paul.

Re: Mount Ossa via, Lee's Paddock? Best way to do it?

PostPosted: Thu 06 Feb, 2020 8:28 pm
by Nuts
(Just don't camp on Mt Ossa)

Re: Mount Ossa via, Lee's Paddock? Best way to do it?

PostPosted: Tue 11 Feb, 2020 10:35 am
by ILUVSWTAS
Easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

Frustrating that a ranger in the field was happy for you to do that but then trying to do the right thing you get access denied by a desk ranger.

And they wonder why each season PWS is getting near impossible to respect.

Re: Mount Ossa via, Lee's Paddock? Best way to do it?

PostPosted: Thu 13 Feb, 2020 12:59 pm
by Twilson
Yep totally agree. Much better to talk to the people on the ground. They tend to have a bit more empathy.

We went last weekend. Perfect weather if a little hot.
We talked to the ranger at pelion hut and she had no problems with our plans to make a circuit. Ranger at kia ora was of the same mind when i spoke to him before we disappeared off into the rainforest.


Side note to anyone leaving a pack at pelion gap: Broad toothed mice are active in the area. My wilderness equipment pack (pretty heavy duty) got chewed through leaving massive holes in the side.

Re: Mount Ossa via, Lee's Paddock? Best way to do it?

PostPosted: Sat 15 Feb, 2020 6:32 pm
by Nuts
I don't disagree.

But another way to look at it is that the 'desk ranger' (perhaps as experienced as anyone out there) has a tough job to administer a set of conditions that are very difficult to enforce on the ground. Especially when discretion is an option.

It seems clear the intent was to access Pelion Hut/campsites for day walks from there (eg. to Mt. Ossa) in support of maintaining the paid booking system Overland Track/ pass.

What would we want? rules or preferences that don't apply if you choose to ignore them according to personal inconvenience (it's not the end of the world to go in/out the same way or a circuit back to Arm R.) or rules enforced by many signs & fines?

Overland Track Usage Guidelines 2013-04-11.pdf
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