She certainly was foolish. No real bush driving experience, no 4WD, and a heavy vehicle with all her wordly goods within.
She did everything wrong including leaving her vehicle and not telling anyone where she was going.
I'm glad she is ok, and this time it all worked out ok.
Please, please do it by the book for your own safety. Ask questions and accept advice.

.. hmmm .. yes .. you've all said what I'm thunking ..

I know that country - and it is tough out there. Heat exhaustion would set in very quickly while walking, even at night - she is one very lucky lady. All who read the article should take a lesson from it - as Zoomtops says- let someone know, even if it is local storekeeper, and be prepared.

How lucky was she that she got mobile coverage (I could go on about Mobile coverage, but won't). I don't think I would have gone in there with my set up. I have been thinking of a personal EPIRB and have been looking around on the Internet at some that hang around your neck, something like the ones you have in the house when you are house bound (heaven forbid). I think I might look harder now. You just never know??? I hope she has recovered and has not lost that get up and go.

Dougwe wrote:

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Gerty Dancer wrote:

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Tough lady! I'm too cautious to go into places like that, even the front page story about hoons in a free-camp in Tas makes me nervous.

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GD, I think they should be hung from the nearest tree and very high up.

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 I agree Doug, but the ******'s  chainsawed the trees!

I agree with all the things and items she should have had for remote areas, but in relation to the story with two mobiles that had no reception, I am wondering who she had her phones with.

Down at Parry's Beach (only 20 kms from Denmark, WA) people with Optus and Vodaphone were not able to get reception at all even standing on high ground etc.   

On the other hand, my Telstra prepaid Next G prepaid mobile got good reception even inside my van.   My phone was much in demand by friends wanting to ring home (Perth) etc.   As a general rule you should be able to get coverage with Telstra within 40kms of a town.   FYI.

 

 

-- Edited by Vic on Thursday 5th of January 2012 11:44:32 AM

They just showed this story on ch 7 news.

Couldn't believe the deep soft sand she was travelling on along that track. Would a vehicle like that be suitable for that type of terrain?

Vic wrote:

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   As a general rule you should be able to get coverage with Telstra within 40kms of a town.   FYI. 

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Vic

If you look at the Next G Coverage maps for Victoria there are two areas south of Mildura that are not covered, and in the surrounding area an external antenna is recommended. These are the desert National Park areas just to the north and south of the Mallee Hwy. This lady was in the Northern Park not too far off the centre. Going by the Telstra Next G maps she certainly would not have had coverage except by satphone.

As said before very harsh but beautiful country that would be dam hot this time of year.

The roads/tracks in that area can be rather deceptive. What looks like a good dirt bush road can lull you into a false sense, then suddenly it turns into a sandpit with deep drifts across the road. The area she was heading for, Rocket Lake, is really 4WD country.

However from the newspaper report it would seem she was not bogged but had a mechanical breakdown.

I bet she'll be contacting Toxic Tech about a sat phone in the near future!

That really was her worst mistake as I wouldn't think that driving down a bush track like one of those in and out of Hattah/Kulkyne would be much of an issue. Things like Transit vans can get into more places than you'd ever expect and she seems to be reasonably bush savvy so I am sure she knew her limits in that regard.

Happywanderer wrote:

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In the TV news the pictures showed she had put rescue tracks under her wheels so I'm presuming she may have got stuck in the deep sand.

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 Yes, but she had the Maxtrax and knew how to use them - things like minor boggings like that are nothing to worry about as long as you know what you're doing. 

I carry an Epirb at all times

Gday...

Except she did not tell anyone she was going in there ... and that area is a bit remote and may not have had a visitor to find her for weeks......

Cheers

John

I never thought of that Boroma, your'e right though, I will stay with my mobile roof if ever needed but I will be still looking into a small EPIRB.

Gday...

EPIRB excellent idea ... but if you don't have one, and you haven't told anyone where you were going, depending on when your "family/friends" next expect to hear from you - you may not have enough tucker and water to last.

Therefore - even with an EPIRB - ALWAYS tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be returning ... and a 'drop dead' time/date to advise the authorities if you haven't been back in contact - eg: going into Big Bad Desert Monday for three days, should be back by 5pm Thursday. If I haven't contacted you by 5pm Friday call for help. For instance

I travel alone (and have done so for the past 12 years in reality) .... I always tell someone so they an get the coppers etc on my wheel if needed.

cheers

John