Bushwalk Australia

Seems this story has taken quite a grim turn. The searchers have found items belonging to the young fella but still no sign of him. Apparently he was coming down Hannels spur? Unless it has grown over significantly since I did it a few years back…seems strange he could lose the track?

I suppose it happens though, here’s hoping for better news soon.

We are currently staying in Jindabyne. Yesterday I became aware of a reported fire on Hannels Spur. Whether there is any connection is speculative.

https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/news ... YWxsPTE%3D


Over a week missing hope its not a recovery mission.

I'm VERY familiar with Hannel's Spur both before and after the clearing a few years ago. (I pushed for a couple of years to have it cleared - and it was done!) I've hiked it 7 times since about 2014 - 5 times up and 2 times down. Not trying to sound melodramatic but this is a 'route' that should certainly not to be taken lightly. Yes it was cleared thanks to the awesome efforts of volunteers (KeithS!) and Parks NSW a few years ago but it's a route that's VERY difficult to maintain. I haven't been up for a couple of years now. If you were to go even slightly off trail on false trails or pads in certain sections of the route especially below Moira's Flat I know it could be diabolical to the inexperienced - the sheer depth of the fallen, overgrown trees and foliage is about 3~4metres deep and can take hours to travel even 100metres. (I've done that twice and it was certainly unnerving) With no PLB or GPS or compass? ... I really just wish for the best and a miracle for this young hiker and a part of our outdoor community.

Knowing the sheer depth and thickness of the bush and steep terrain involved in this search I totally take my hat off to all the ground based personal searching off track/trail - especially below Moira's Flat. You guys are friggin' AWESOME!

9th day and still missing, dumb question??? are they using search and rescue dogs surely thats a best way to locate this man.?

As of this morning there's now a bushfire on the lower slopes of Hannels, which can't be helping. Currently up to 40 ha according to fires near me.

According to the report I had read there had been 300 hundred people involved in this rescue mission.
From experienced bushwalking volunteers on the ground to extensive air support. But no mention of dogs? Which I agree would be ideal for such country.

This fire is absolutely devastating for the effort.

As I recall they used a couple of dogs back in 2014 when that Canadian hiker (Prabh Strawn) went missing at the back of Townsend/HannelsSpur. That too was a massive search - never found.

But EXACTLY where were the Trekking Poles found, and exactly what was the 'rubbish' (and where).
Yes, the details really do matter.

Let us imagine that the 'rubbish' is actually food wrappers. Had he stopped there for a snack?
For instance, if the poles and rubbish were found where the track drops off the side of the ridge and crosses a gully (about half way down), then I suggest he may have gone down the gully to get water and had an accident. Or up the gully, ditto.

I found the descent very trying: so much leaf litter on the track that I was forever slitting down - accidentally. Tiring.

Cheers
Roger

Am sure they would have searched area re: poles/rubbish thoroughly , maybe he walked in circles lost with no navigational tools , no food, hopefully has or had a water source & is hanging on, one would think to start a slow painful bash downhill to the highway...? its all speculative...

Walk_fat boy_walk wrote:As of this morning there's now a bushfire on the lower slopes of Hannels, which can't be helping. Currently up to 40 ha according to fires near me.

Just back from Jindabyne. The Hannels Spur fire has been going since at least mid last week, no change in ~42 ha size on FNM. Saw chopper with bucket going over there a number of times.
Presumably parks fire team and RFS volunteers are on the ground in numbers dealing with that, and may also be assisting with the search?
Doesn't look good though, given the length of time, although weather has been mild to very warm there. Dehydration would be an issue. Let's hope for a positive outcome.

puredingo wrote:According to the report I had read there had been 300 hundred people involved in this rescue mission.
From experienced bushwalking volunteers on the ground to extensive air support. But no mention of dogs? Which I agree would be ideal for such country.

This fire is absolutely devastating for the effort.

Dogs have been deployed. The entire area has now been thoroughly contaminated with lots of people so that will make it harder for dogs to search unless he is dead and they are using cadaver dogs.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... ional-park

fire scar & camera found on Sunday.....

This is indeed an intriguing and perplexing case.

I mean, if it is his camp and camera, he's obviously moving around. Surely given the time he’s been missing even if he painstakingly inched his way through the scrub in a downward direction he would have hit the flats/river by now?

The report was he is an experienced bushwalker with youth on his side….dunno?

puredingo wrote:This is indeed an intriguing and perplexing case.

I mean, if it is his camp and camera, he's obviously moving around. Surely given the time he’s been missing even if he painstakingly inched his way through the scrub in a downward direction he would have hit the flats/river by now?

The report was he is an experienced bushwalker with youth on his side….dunno?

I would've thought that an experienced bushwalker would stay in one place (assuming there's no immediate danger)

I don't understand why he has left a camera and poles behind is he trying to leave a trace?? Answer my own question on another news source he left a video message on the camera

Puddle Duck wrote:I would've thought that an experienced bushwalker would stay in one place (assuming there's no immediate danger)

No beacon, no tracking device that someone can follow and alert authorities to your location. It would be a long wait.

puredingo wrote:Surely given the time he’s been missing even if he painstakingly inched his way through the scrub in a downward direction he would have hit the flats/river by now?

If I'd just gotten lost in logs and scrub, I'd head to top of spur, knowing track wouldn't be far away.
After some time of not being able to find track, then finding water, and heading downhill would probably be the go.

Baeng72 wrote:

Puddle Duck wrote:I would've thought that an experienced bushwalker would stay in one place (assuming there's no immediate danger)

No beacon, no tracking device that someone can follow and alert authorities to your location. It would be a long wait.

Well, yeah, ordinarily you would think that would be the case but the fact that the searchers have come across two of his sites means if he had of just stayed put he’d be found by now. Particularly the second one which was at a water source. But yeah, it’s all speculation. Maybe with the fires burning he feels like he has to keep moving? Hopefully it won’t be long before he can tell us exactly what went on.

Baeng72 wrote:

puredingo wrote:Surely given the time he’s been missing even if he painstakingly inched his way through the scrub in a downward direction he would have hit the flats/river by now?

If I'd just gotten lost in logs and scrub, I'd head to top of spur, knowing track wouldn't be far away.
After some time of not being able to find track, then finding water, and heading downhill would probably be the go.

For me personally that would depend on what part of the mountain I lost the track on. 2/3’s from the top I’d put the effort in and head back up but if I’m lower I’ll let gravity drag me down a valley river.

All of the "I'd do this/that/whatever" remarks ignore the possibility of injury. And once you get lost in sufficiently thick scrub, getting unlost is very hard work even with good landmarks nearby, and that process increases the likelihood of injury.
It's seldom just one thing going wrong in such cases. One little thing gets compounded by another one or two or three little things and the end result is an ex-walker.

north-north-west wrote:All of the "I'd do this/that/whatever" remarks ignore the possibility of injury. And once you get lost in sufficiently thick scrub, getting unlost is very hard work even with good landmarks nearby, and that process increases the likelihood of injury.
It's seldom just one thing going wrong in such cases. One little thing gets compounded by another one or two or three little things and the end result is an ex-walker.

It seemed that people were offering their speculation about what to do, which might help someone down the track if they found themselves in poo.
Definitely cascading issues come into play. Injuries, lack of food or water, no gps, and if you're tired, you don't make great decisions.

puredingo wrote:

Baeng72 wrote:

Puddle Duck wrote:I would've thought that an experienced bushwalker would stay in one place (assuming there's no immediate danger)

No beacon, no tracking device that someone can follow and alert authorities to your location. It would be a long wait.

Well, yeah, ordinarily you would think that would be the case but the fact that the searchers have come across two of his sites means if he had of just stayed put he’d be found by now. Particularly the second one which was at a water source. But yeah, it’s all speculation. Maybe with the fires burning he feels like he has to keep moving? Hopefully it won’t be long before he can tell us exactly what went on.

Exactly. From a very early age, and long before electronic gizmos, I had it hammered into me by my father and other walkers and ski tourers with experience dating back to the 30s that when you become properly lost STAY PUT.

Moving around creates a moving target for organised searchers which is much harder to locate. The current situation seems to underscore the wisdom of this advice.

I wasn't intending to cast aspersions on this walker, and I didn't say staying put was a bad idea, but I can understand after a long wait, fire near by, other reasons we can speculate, how it might be a hard thing to do.
I'll leave it there, got nothing of value to add.

Was found a short time ago.
More details probably tonite on the news

Moondog55 wrote:Was found a short time ago.
More details probably tonite on the news

Missing info ... found alive.

Glad he's found alive, would be an epic trip report..

Alive is good

Nice!
Guardian says found near Blue Lake. Long walk uphill.
He didn't go just up to crest of spur, went to crest of continent. I like the cut of his jib.

Found! Police update to follow shortly.

Amazing work to all involved.