Myrtle is Moaning

[Drifting]

I just got back from Freycinet, and there was plenty of fire remnants there as well, not to mention a lot of backpackers flagrantly ignoring the camping rules. Of all the places you don't want a campfire getting out of hand...

[ollster]

I just got back from Freycinet, and there was plenty of fire remnants there as well, not to mention a lot of backpackers flagrantly ignoring the camping rules. Of all the places you don't want a campfire getting out of hand...

Well, at least there's no peat! It would be a terrible shame to see the lot go up in flames, that's for sure.

[north-north-west]

When I was last up on Townsend, a group of ********s had actually gone to considerable trouble to haul a pile of firewood up there. No matter what route you take, you would pass at least one quite clear 'NO WOOD FIRES' sign.
Their mindset was:
a) We always have a fire when we go camping.
b) What signs?

I told them quite bluntly that I'd be watching and if there was any hint of a fire I'd put the *&%$#! thing out - maybe five minutes after dumping their gear in it.

[doogs]

I was on the Pelion East track yesterday and about 50m from Pelion Gap there is an spot where ladies obviously like to pee, there was a lot of toilet paper around. Not very attractive when you are in such a remote and beautiful location. I think it may have been mentioned before but would a toilet at Pelion Gap be stretching the P&W budget too far? It is after all a popular pitstop with 2 side trips departing from that location. I wouldn't have minded a hotdog stall there yesterday with all the folk passing!

[wayno]

i usually mention to people flouting park rules how much of a fine they are likely to cop if they get caught, usually has the desired effect.
hard for them to argue with you once you put their fire out...
i saw people refusing to take their dog out of a natonal park, in nz it's a 20k fine if the dog is caught taking a native bird..., when that little fact was brought up they quickly left the park.
people just have to keep hammering the message about the rules to try and reduce flouting of the rules..
had a similar debate on another forum about dope smokers in huts, people were divided, some thought live and let live, but what if you have kids with you, do you let people get away with breaking the law and set an example to kids it's ok to let people smoke dope in front of strangers? is it ok to let kids think don't worry about trying to reinforce the rules? personally i thought it was arrogant of someone to smoke dope in a hut with strangers around, and not care about what they thought about the smoke or the dope. they'd also used the stove to heat up hash oil...

[nickthetasmaniac]

I was on the Pelion East track yesterday and about 50m from Pelion Gap there is an spot where ladies obviously like to pee, there was a lot of toilet paper around. Not very attractive when you are in such a remote and beautiful location. I think it may have been mentioned before but would a toilet at Pelion Gap be stretching the P&W budget too far? It is after all a popular pitstop with 2 side trips departing from that location. I wouldn't have minded a hotdog stall there yesterday with all the folk passing!

2012_0218may2010-june20100101.JPG

On my last few trips there's been groups (2-4 tents) camping at Pelion Gap, both in amongst the Pines immediately to the east of the timber platform and about a 100m up the hill on the P. East track. I defintely wouldn't be drinking from the creek that runs beside the track as you leave the Pass to the south

[Nuts]

There is a creek coming in from further around P East (different catchment) but..
That is terrible doogs, its everywhere throughout the pines and has been going on too long. The paper trail isn't too bad but it has always been a minefield of 'hot dogs' as well on inspection...

It's disheartening seeing what people do when nobody is watching and how little integrity is commonplace, its not so hard to plan ahead a little. We all like to think these are just foreign backpackers and nobody we'd know but the average OLT'er is just as likely to be aussie.. anyones 'non-walking' mate , mother, brother etc. Its a shame that signs and infrastructure are the only answer but education clearly isn't enough... so on..

The parks (field) staff have an even better idea of these sort of things but there are issues everywhere. Sending pics like that further up the food chain may help, it's hit and miss...

[nickthetasmaniac]

It's disheartening seeing what people do when nobody is watching and how little integrity is commonplace, its not so hard to plan ahead a little. We all like to think these are just foreign backpackers and nobody we'd know but the average OLT'er is just as likely to be aussie.. anyones 'non-walking' mate , mother, brother etc. Its a shame that signs and infrastructure are the only answer but education clearly isn't enough... so on..

To be fair, any spot without a dunny that gets as much use as Pelion Gap in summer is going to get a build-up eventually, no matter how well educated people are... There's what, 60 people going through the track every day during the permit season? And a lot of them are doing the side-trips up P. East and Ossa, so they'll be needing to do their business somewhere in the vicinity...

[Nuts]

Well.. i'd agree that is the likely result but can rule out anyone iv'e led and would like to think other tour groups surely...
Generally, the numbers are down , passive education as good as ever yet that area worse