Frog Flats

[tibboh]

Can any recent OT walkers let me know how many tent sites are available at Frog Flats? I am thinking of using this as a start point for a Pelion West day walk.
Cheers.

[pazzar]

There are a few in there, and they should be pretty dry at the moment. Hopefully there aren't too many leeches down there!

[Son of a Beach]

Frog Flats has quite a few tent sites in and around that area - mostly mud/dirt or tussocky grass. However, it is generally plagued with both mosquitoes and leeches. It's a nice spot to stop for a short break on the way through, but I would not consider camping there except in winter (at which time is was great - only saw one leech in the snow).

[norts]

I camped there in January this year, there are camp sites just as you arrive at Frog Flats (heading south), which are mainly just dirt pads. There are also places to camp after(approx 50m) you cross the Forth River, in the grass to the right, this is where I camped. There are plenty of leeches there and not sure how dry they would be in rain. Mossies weren't too bad.
These spots are visible as you walk along the OLT.

Roger

[tibboh]

leeches, mozzies and rough campsites or an extra 90 minutes or so each way walking if we continue on to Pelion Hut as a start point? Hmmmmm. Think I'll toss a coin or wait and see what weather the gods lay out for us!
Thanks anyway.

[1iron]

When I camp at Frog Flats it is slightly away from the OT

Heading south you hit the bridge over the Forth River, without crossing the river you head left at about 45 degrees to the river. After going through a few tree branches and roots and about 50 to 70 metres you come to an open paddock which is where I camp.

There is a small creek nearby or water from the Forth. Campsite cannot be seen from OT and yes there are leeches but didn't seem to bother us.

Will be there again March long weekend, hoping for good weather for the ascent of Pelion West.

cheers

Ian

[Nuts]

Most people just climb P.West on the way to Pelion.
We once took groups up there regularly. Pleanty of sites around Frog Flats but i'd camp somewhere higher (unless its a warm/dry weather... in which case the mossies can be bad.. and don't forget it can flood through there at times..), generally takes 1hr 15ish to New Pelion Hut at an average pace why not just keep going? (i know its a big day but P.West wouldn't be my first choice for side trips unless you could handle such a day).

[pazzar]

8-10 hours as a trip from Pelion isn't that bigger day really, when you consider how much of it is on the OT. You still have until after 8 before it is dark.

[Nuts]

That's another option. I read it as a side trip doing the OLT? In which case as a 'drop pack' side trip is the most efficient. I wouldn't want the back-tracking (even Frog Flats up the OLT on Pelion West to the turn off (2hs rtn)) myself. I'm not sure what Chapman says, iv'e done W'mere to Pelion with a heavy pack in 3hrs, our groups probably take 5 1/2 to 6hrs (to 8hrs). 2 1/2 hours would get you a fair way along the top (as a side trip) ie = 8+ hours day either way.

[tibboh]

Good points.
I now think the most effective use of time and energy is a drop-packs side trip while walking from Windemere to Pelion. A 9-11 hour day is about the same as a day walk up PW from Pelion Hut!
If all goes according to plan we should be on PW Sat of long weekend. I'll put in the order for 18 degrees with light winds and a few clouds shortly.

[Son of a Beach]

If all goes according to plan we should be on PW Sat of long weekend. I'll put in the order for 18 degrees with light winds and a few clouds shortly.

Alternatively, you could just pay me to cancel my bushwalking plans for that weekend. (I have been accused of being the Rob McKenna of bushwalking by some people - ie, a quasi supernormal incremental precipitation inducer.)

[tibboh]

No can do. I'm banking on my powers of good weather creation to thwart your precipitation induction.

[Tread Lightly]

We found it a perfectly good place to camp on a dry, warm February night before we headed up to Achilles through the scrub. However it lived up to its reputation for leaches when we returned on a humid day just before the rain came...