Bushwalk Australia

There are three Yanks missing in the Snowy's http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/american-trio-missing-after-storm-hits-on-camping-trip-20120109-1pqrb.html

Not sure why she became separated when her tent blew down?

Greenie wrote:There are three Yanks missing in the Snowy's http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/american-trio-missing-after-storm-hits-on-camping-trip-20120109-1pqrb.html

Not sure why she became separated when her tent blew down?

Perhaps she chased after it????

Camping on Rams Head range is rather exposed so it not surprising a tent blew down. I expect they camped near Lake Cootabatamba (illegal) and possibly followed Swampy Plain River downstream from the lake. This is not a great idea as the river bends slowly to the north and only reaches the Alpine Way at Geehi - about 15-20km of rough country. The girl with the sense to use a compass may have crossed the low divide between Swampy Plain River and Leather Barrel Creek and followed the creek to the Alpine Way a few km from Dead Horse Gap.

Mark F wrote:Camping on Rams Head range is rather exposed so it not surprising a tent blew down. I expect they camped near Lake Cootabatamba (illegal) and possibly followed Swampy Plain River downstream from the lake. This is not a great idea as the river bends slowly to the north and only reaches the Alpine Way at Geehi - about 15-20km of rough country. The girl with the sense to use a compass may have crossed the low divide between Swampy Plain River and Leather Barrel Creek and followed the creek to the Alpine Way a few km from Dead Horse Gap.

Yes, sounds feasible. Coincidentally I spent all of last Thursday walking through the Rams Heads. Started from the Dead Horse Gap saddle and followed the old track up to South Rams Head. Easy to lose it as you get higher up. It was blowing pretty hard most of the time though probably not enough to knock down a decent, properly pitched tent. Saw no one camped anywhere in that neck of the woods. In fact I didn't see a soul up there all day and had the whole place to myself , until I finally hooked up with the Kosi walkway about 6pm after visiting Rams Head and North Rams Head. Just saw a few summit stragglers (I assume) as I started down the track to the Cascade Trail Head. I note that these guys appear to have started out on Saturday; possibly a few more people may have been about and saw them? It is a pretty isolated area though, hopefully the others are found OK.

Re Cootapatamba, yes illegal to camp in the catchment but should be OK below the lake, for example near the hut?

They have been found now http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-09/us-hikers-missing-on-kosciuszko-found/3764406

I would like to pause at this moment and reflect on the fact that other people than just Americans get lost in the bush...

Just thought I'd say that, for the record, such as it is.