Mt Bogong rescue

[bushy123]

Hi, I just wondering if anybody knows more on the recent Mt Bogong rescue?
Some reports said the 2 men had a tent, but were unable to put it up because of the snow conditions, and they ended up being found wet in their wet sleeping bags. The only thing I can think of that may have inhibited them putting up their tent was the snow falling very fast, and maybe they thought they would get snowed under; but presumably they could have climbed out every hour or so and given it a shake and lifted it up a bit, until the snow falling lessened.
Any suggestions?
(PS my background is several years with MUMC, inc snow camping, way back, and 30 days in the Himalayas, (Island Peak)
Thanks.

[icefest]

Welcome to the forums!

Any members of BSAR/other S&R group will not give you much answer here - they're not allowed to.

There's been a couple of media releases.
http://bsar.org/2014-03-Mount-Bogong
I'm not sure if they had a tent or if one of the other two pairs in their group had the tent.

[Strider]

Am I the only one that finds it strange the group was broken up into pairs?

[icefest]

Am I the only one that finds it strange the group was broken up into pairs?

No. I thought it was too.

A group of six can be awkward to keep together and I would prefer groups of 3 or 4 (2-3 with compasses and the third checking GPS) for navigation in difficult conditions.

I do not know near enough about the case though, so other than find it peculiar, I don't really have a basis to judge the decisions made.

[Strider]

My only thought was that they perhaps considered a need to rope together in pairs. But how serious is the terrain on Bogong, exactly?

[icefest]

But how serious is the terrain on Bogong, exactly?

This is the top of the staircase:


Some parts of bogong can be a bit more dangerous, but it can easily get deadly up there if you get lost in a storm.

[walkon]

My only thought was that they perhaps considered a need to rope together in pairs. But how serious is the terrain on Bogong, exactly?

Spoke to members of two groups who were up in the area, bogong and feathertop, the conditions were described as horrendous by both. Wet icy snow and extremely low vis. They apparently tried to find Clevecole but couldn't then who knows maybe the men tried for one of the other huts. It's narrow to hit the ridge lines to come off the mountain with steep drops. Just heard on the radio they saved someone else up on bogong.

[Strider]

Yep they are walking the other lost bushwalker out off Bogong at sunrise today apparently.

[GPSGuided]

Not easy to pitch on that steep slope with soft snow.

[slparker]

My thought was why didn't they wrap themselves up in their tent if they couldn't pitch it? the report on ABCnews said that they were in wet sleeping bags on the snow...

[Mark F]

I have trained myself to totally ignore any detail provided by the media about S&R activities - it is inevitably wrong after being passed by scratchy radio link to base, then through 3 or 4 people to the person briefing the press and then through a reporter's brain which is expert at scrambling information into a paragraph or a 5 second sound bite but has no idea about the bush or S&R.

[Ellobuddha]

I agree Mark. The media make an absolute balls up of any media worthy incident I have been involved in. Its just electronic chinese whispers.

[bushy123]

Thanks for the welcome and responses.
and the scary photo.
I thought they did well, deciding they were 'lost', which is a big decision to make, and getting a call out to the police at 4.30pm, during daylight at least. Very lucky they had reception?
I suppose one lesson, if the slope was the problem, is to get yourself onto somewhere flat, no matter how small, before dark, so at least you can put a tent up.

[icefest]

Also, the bad weather tends to come in from the north-east-ish. That means cornices from downwind and they can be deadly at this time of the year. Most Australian avalanches are either spring slush avalanches or cornice falls. With rain and snow they could have easily ran into either. There's also the problem of the steep sidling of the top of the staircase going up the ridge can be even steeper.

I have some photos of a couple of the Bogong cornices, if you're interested.

I'm happy they were both found alive and both evacuated in the same state. I hope neither of them have any lasting injuries and that the same applies to all S&R staff and volunteers. Bogong isn't a happy place in a blizzard.

[walkerchris77]

I agree Mark. The media make an absolute balls up of any media worthy incident I have been involved in. Its just electronic chinese whispers.

Agree. How many times do they say " a dramatic rescue" and then you see the people just causally walking out with the bush with the rescuers.

[walkon]

My thought was why didn't they wrap themselves up in their tent if they couldn't pitch it? the report on ABCnews said that they were in wet sleeping bags on the snow...

Am I the only one that finds it strange the group was broken up into pairs?

Hindsight always seems to have 20 20 vision. Little mistakes compound and when the weather turns bad you need everything going right for you. Who knows, gps could have gone flat, wet, fatigued and lost. You know if you keep walking around losing footing and sliding to your death is a real possibility. Add in hypothermia, which impedes decision making in the middle of this, now your hands don't work... faced with all this it's a wonder that they got out.

It is good to read people's survival tips, I know in the past I've read a few things that I hadn't thought of before. The quoted thoughts were some I ran through my head as well though you have consider what those up there at the time were facing. All I can say is that I'm glad I wasn't up there with them.

[walkerchris77]

I read that this is the 2nd rescue up there since the weekend. Must be bad weather.

[Strider]

Police did not comment on the persons experience who was rescued today, but did remark that experienced bushwalkers are careful when looking at weather patterns.

[Giddy_up]

Spare a thought for poor old Mondoog, who is prowling the white wonderland some where up there. If the lost souls had only know that MD 55's B&B was opened they would have been OK.

[walkon]

I think Moondog would be as happy as a pig rolling in it. Is it just me or can you imagine Moondog standing on top of the Hill facing the blizzard yelling out 'is that all you've got', anything to get more snow. Pour man lugged all the gear up then the lifts started working from the looks of it

[walkerchris77]

There's also a police video that show you the conditions on 3aw.

[bushy123]

This last guy was on the tv news just recently: looked in very good shape- walking, talking fine. His electronics failed apparently. Something else to think about. Some how I got the impression he may have been by himself...

As suggested above, one or two things going wrong, can be OK, but too many at the same time not good.

However when things all are running well, it's a great feeling when you're warm and dry and fed, while outside it's blizzard conditions.

[Strider]

Electronics failed might suggest he was relying upon a GPS for navigation?

[walkerchris77]

People not happy about us having a hobby.

[Strider]

I do agree with the last comment there...

[Strider]

By the logic displayed there, let's also start charging people for the 000 service

[walkerchris77]

[quote="Strider"]By the logic displayed there, let's also start charging people for the 000 service/quote]

Agreed. I dont think theres a lot of bush walkers that have to be rescued each year. Would be interesting to know any figures over the last few years.

I dont think the sar teams mind as much when they help a well equipped bushwalker. Most of them Probably do some walking themselves. Things can go wrong even for experienced people. I guess if people go out un equipped and do something silly they may get a bit annoyed. But it must be a good feeling when they find someone in trouble
.

[GBW]

Charging people for the 000 service? Are you kidding?

[Strider]

Charging people for the 000 service? Are you kidding?

Did you look at the link above and read my post as being related to it?

[Smeagle]

scary thing was my family were freaking when they heard these reports, i bailed out of bogong yesterday morning, due to concerns of the weather, headed to the main range for thr next few nights, took me an hour to pitch tent with conditions, at 1900 i was getting 60/70 + winds with a wet bulb of -13 and that was at 8pm, and moderate to heavy snow dumps, let alone at 3am where i was wondering if the tent was going to flip... this morning was not much better with only 1-200m visability, i can only imagine what is was like on a complete exposed ridge!! spewing i never saw that guy going up bogong(if even the same route) how storys could of changed, argh how we live and learn, glad everyones ok