Nomad rescued from last hope track, Vic

Vic · Guru

RE: Nomad rescued from last hope track, Vic

Cruising Granny · Guru

No one in their right mind, and no one who is bush savvy, would have driven that vehicle into that bush track.
Even Telstra goes dead if you're far enough off the beaten track. While they have the best coverage, and the others except Optus lease space off Telstra, they aren't everywhere yet. Telstra is still the best provider when travelling away from cities and major towns.
If anyone plans to do trips like that, they certainly need to advise a local, and carry an EPIRB.
From the interview I believe she left the vehicle ONLY to get phone coverage to call for help. But it was a long way from her van.

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

Boroma577 wrote:
pricey43 wrote:
The TV report said that the lady's van broke down, but surely she was on the main tracks and had all her facilities in her van to survive for a few days until somebody came by.
That's the part I also do not understand....why would you not stay with your vehicle which has water, shelter and food??
If she was heading in there to camp for a few days or whatever, one would think she'd have sufficient supplies to last till help came. Beats me!!

Believe it or not, even though that National Park borders are within 20-30km of major highways and it is less than 100km from Mildura it is extremely remote area, particularly in the centre of the park. There is no real Through Road like the outback dirt highways(so to speak) crossing the park just a number of tracks through some great desert countryside.

Even during the winter months it does not get much traffic at all, let alone at this time of year. During the winter months 4WD Clubs will do trips through the area, to Rocket Lake, Mt Crozier, Mopoke Hut, and Sunset Tank covering many of the Parks tracks though mainly at weekends/long weekends.

The southern area around the Pink Lakes is a popular camp area but again not at this time of year due to the heat. The Pink Lakes are accessible by 2WD. From memory I think you can get to Mopoke Hut by 2WD. Most of the tracks in the Northern (Rocket Lake) and Western areas are 4WD sand.

The chances of her being discovered up near Rocket Lake by people driving through at this time of year would have been next to zero.

Sure she made heaps of stupid/dumb mistakes, researching the area having suitable communications for remote travel just to name two. However I believe her decision to walk out backtracking along the track, leaving notes with her vehicle etc was the correct decision. It could have been weeks/months before anyone at this time of year may have driven that track and found her vehicle.

Boroma577 · Guru

post removed by author

-- Edited by Boroma577 on Thursday 5th of January 2012 10:55:51 PM

pricey43 · Guru

Yes Ron and Shirley,

It is very remote out there but the track she was on is one of the main ones.

My concern would be that as I said even with a GPS and a up to date map, we got lost returning from Rocket Lake and finished up on the same track as this lady.

According to our maps we shouldn't have finished up anywhere near this track. Our maps were up to date picked up from the DPI office in Mildura that morning.

Therefore my concern is that she could have been walking for days and just be going around in circles.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday....

The bottom line ....... ALWAYS tell someone where you are going, for how long, and a "drop dead" time for them to call authorities if ya haven't contacted them. And that is even if you do have an EPIRB.

You could sustain an injury and not be able to access the EPIRB (unless you carry it on your person constantly) and your ONLY salvation will be those you told where to find you if you failed to contact them. And then stay with the vehicle. If injured away from the vehicle, then stay where you are, try to find what shelter you can and wait.

Even if you don't follow the other "rules" at least someone will know to come and look for you and where to look.

Cheers

John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Friday 6th of January 2012 08:57:17 AM

Rip and Rosie · Guru

I have always been astounded at the adventurers who get into trouble and need to be rescued at taxpayer expense. Sole round the world yatchmen (and women), people who want to row to New Zealand in a canoe or walk across the Simpson Desert. Of late I was saddened by the loss of a paramedic during the rescue of canyoners.
To me, it's selfish.
Lots of comments here have called this woman "tough", but "stupid" is closer to it in my book.
Rosie

Ma · Guru

I knew that paramedic personally and I can tell you he was one of the nicest people you could wish to meet .... and I'm not just saying that after the fact either. He really was.

He couldn't do enough for you when he was called and he certainly was the type of person for the job that he did.

The world is a lesser place for his passing.

Firefly · Guru

From all told to me by this man Ma, he was pretty amazing.

Did the earthquake in NZ, the tsunami in Japan to name a few.

A selfless man indeed with a family on its own now.

Joe · Senior Member

Boroma577 wrote:
I am considering a SPOT personal tracker but need to research it more before I decide.

I keep thinking about one of those too. I like the idea of being able to hit the button to send "I'm OK" text messages to the people you have predefined as well as the other button to call for emergency help.

Of less interest to me, but it is a pretty cool idea, is the ability to have the Spot record your "track" and overlay it onto a map and publish that in the internet so that people can see where you are and where you have been.

Anyone out there use one?

Ma · Guru

Yes Fly, Michael was one of the good guys and would be a tad embarrased to know he was being discussed in such glowing terms on here.

Very unassuming man.