Lake Myrtle and Lees Paddock

[davids]

Thanks all for a great resource.
Heading over to Tas Sunday. Are there any particular current issues with navigation of the L.Myrtle Track heading to L.Meston? Have JCs guidebook.
Is it reasonable to leave a car on the Mersey Forest Road for 5 days?
Coming back out the Lees Paddock Track. Sounds like the start at the western end might be a little tricky. Any thoughts?
David

[sthughes]

Heading over to Tas Sunday. Are there any particular current issues with navigation of the L.Myrtle Track heading to L.Meston?

Which one? I assume you mean the main Lake Bill Track (goes Over Blizzard Plain and past Lake Bill). If so then it is easy to navigate, as long as there isn't heavy snow (which there wont be in the next week). Tis steep at first then an easy walk on a well worn track. Only possible issue is crossing the creek running out of Lake Myrtle (in 2 places) can be a bit difficult if the creek is really cranking (once again it should be a doddle at this time of year). Once you get to the big grassy area at Lake Myrtle follow a bit of a pad and you should find a bit of cairn near the tree line marking the track to Meston. This is fairly easy to follow with a little care. Further along this track (10 minutes??), be careful you don't follow the wrong cairns off to the right up the mountain, unless you want a great view from Rogoona that is.
If you mean the Jackson's Creek track then things are a bit more difficult in places, but not too bad, just pay pretty close attention and keep your eyes peeled for cairns.

Is it reasonable to leave a car on the Mersey Forest Road for 5 days?

Yeah. Could get stolen or burgled or vandalised just like anywhere. I don't tend to worry, just keep it insured, locked and with nothing obviously valuable inside.

Coming back out the Lees Paddock Track. Sounds like the start at the western end might be a little tricky. Any thoughts?
David

Yeah the Never Never isn't too well defined but once again if you keep your eyes peeled it isn't too bad. Can give you co-ordinates of the Mersey log crossing if you like (or a whole GPS track). Beyond that are you going onto the OLT then back down to Wadleys Hut or what? This can be quite hard to route find down Hartnett's Track, but if you stay west of the Mersey, heading downstream and not too far up the hill it's not like you can get majorly lost. Lokk out for tree blazes then later pink ribbon. From Wadleys out it's a doddle.

[tastrekker]

Coming back out the Lees Paddock Track. Sounds like the start at the western end might be a little tricky. Any thoughts?

I suspect David is talking about the western end of the Lees Paddocks Track between Reedy Lake and Lake Ayr. If so, here's my tips:

As you head east from Pelion Hut on the Arm River Track, you will eventually draw level with the eastern end of Lake Ayr. At this point, the Arm River Track swings North-East to cross an open plain and you should see a well worn pad head straight ahead to the east. The track starts from the ruins of a hut on a slight rise among trees on the eastern edge of this plain. Don't expect to find much of a ruin. There are just a few planks on the ground. From that point, there are reflective red and yellow triangle markers all the way down to Lees. The track is little more than a pad for much of its length so keep an eye out for the markers to avoid following animal pads and to avoid losing the track around fallen trees.

When you walk the road back to the Lake Myrtle carpark, be sure to look over the cliffs on the western side of the road 600m north of the Lees Paddocks carpark. It's a great view down to the Mersey River 60+ vertical metres below.

[sthughes]

I suspect David is talking about the western end of the Lees Paddocks Track between Reedy Lake and Lake Ayr.

Ah yes you're probably right Much easier way out to

[corvus]

When you get to the registration booth look to your right and you will see a star dropper indicating the start of the track, easy from there on and after McCoys it is a nice walk down into Lees and out.
corvus

[davids]

Thanks for all that, and the weather looks good for next week!