Mt Ossa

[timburke68]

Hi all, i was just wondering what is the shortest route to get to the summit of Mt Ossa. not a great bushwalker so any help would be appreciated.

[Ent]

Hi

It would be coming in from the Arm River track to Pelion then up to Pelion Gap and then to the summit. It is an all tracked route and follow your nose but with an early winter probably not a sure bet now unless you are happy on snow and ice.

Cheers

[timburke68]

any idea how long a return trip would be going this way?

[ILUVSWTAS]

any idea how long a return trip would be going this way?

It's been done in one day, but people often take 3-4. 3 days for a newb would be more likely.

[MrWalker]

any idea how long a return trip would be going this way?

You probably won't do it under 13 hours unless you walk very fast or run, so don't plan it as a day walk except in midsummer.
Most people would take a day to walk in, camp near Pelion Hut (or within a few km), spend a day going up and back, then walk out on the third day.
Chapman has a book with good notes on the whole trip, with reasonable estimates of travel times, not allowing for stops.
3.5hr Arm River to Pelion Hut.
6hr Pelion Hut to Mt Ossa and back (you should allow longer to check out the views).
3.5hr back to Arm River.
You could do it with one overnight but you shouldn't plan to camp anywhere near the halfway point of the trip.

[Ent]

Um? Beaten by an earlier post. Agree with the comments and times.

Hi

The Arm River track to Pelion is 13 kilometers one way with times dependent on fitness. A good walker could threaten the two and half hour mark but many say four hours with more than a few taking longer each way.

Ossa not sure on times. Snow and ice can make a mess of any claim. Plus you really should spend an hour or two on top admiring the view. Say six hour plus return trip from Pelion.

Most walk in one day, climb Ossa the next, then walk out the next day. This means you are home at a reasonable hour. Also the gravel road in can be very good to quite rutted up.

Cheers

[MrWalker]

Also the gravel road in can be very good to quite rutted up. s

Yes, I forgot about just getting to the start of the Arm River track. It can take just under two hours from Launceston or Devonport and there aren't many good places to stay less than an hour's drive from the start of the walk. However, the road is quite OK for 2WD (or it was in January 2012).