Dont Hike Alone?

[Overlandman]

No mention of "if you walk alone, carry a PLB" (Corvus)
Mentioned carry a Sat phone or better communication.

http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/215 ... p/?cs=2452

A lone injured and disorientated hiker was forced to walk for hours in the Alpine National Park at the weekend in search of mobile reception to call for help.
The 32-year-old man managed to phone Myrtleford police about 9am yesterday, telling them he’d fallen and sprained his ankle some time on Saturday.

A search party of police, paramedics and SES volunteers set out to rescue him, but Ambulance Victoria flew him out before the group arrived just past midday.
The man was found at Abbeyard, at the Harry Shepherds and Australian Walking Track crossing, between Mount Buller and Mount Hotham.
From there he was flown to Bairnsdale hospital for treatment.
It was not immediately known where the hiker was from.
Temperatures were around zero in the area yesterday.
Ambulance spokesman John Mullen said man had suffered slight hypothermia but was in an otherwise stable condition.
“He was disorientated, but otherwise OK,” he said.
“He needed to be extracted — it was rugged country.”
Wangaratta police Sgt Glen Smith said if the hiker’s injury had been worse, he might have been stranded and unable to get to a location to summon help.
“If he’d been unable to get to an area with phone reception, he could have been in a very serious position,” he said.
Sgt Smith said hikers were best not to travel alone in case something went wrong.
It was obviously not advisable to go into the bush by yourself, especially when relying on only mobile service, he said.
“If people are going to go hiking, they should go with a friend,” he said.
“Or if hiking alone, they should make sure they have a satellite phone or better communication.”
Sgt Smith said the man told police he had food for four days with him.
He said hikers should tell someone where they were planning to go and take plenty of food and water, warm clothing and wet-weather gear.

[north-north-west]

Well, I don't hike, I bushwalk, so going out alone is obviously OK. Such a relief to know I'm safe.

[photohiker]

“Or if hiking alone, they should make sure they have a satellite phone or better communication.”

I often hike alone and I've been trying to get a Starfleet communicator for some time, but they seem to be unavailable.

Wonder what other sort of device would be better than a Sat phone?

[ErichFromm]

I almost always walk alone (my friends can't keep up over the distances I go) - and I often think "what would happen if?".

Guess you just need to be aware of the risks and do your best to be smart about it. Don't think I could afford a satellite phone....nor afford a helicopter to come out even if I did manage to call anyone...

[Strider]

Rescues are free Erich and PLBs are a little over $300. What price do you put on your life?

[GPSGuided]

I am sure one day satellite phones will be even cheaper and economically available to all, like our mobiles. In the meantime, PLB is "better" than a satellite phone.

[walkon]

Well, I don't hike, I bushwalk, so going out alone is obviously OK. Such a relief to know I'm safe.

Lol thanks nnw for clearing that one up

[ErichFromm]

Rescues are free Erich

That's news to me - I thought you had to pay thousands if they had to send a helicopter out for you....?

[ILUVSWTAS]

Rescues are free Erich

That's news to me - I thought you had to pay thousands if they had to send a helicopter out for you....?

It varies from state to state.

Strider was obviously referring to Tasmanian rescues, not the one in question.

Agree with NNW, bushwalking is the better term in Australia.

[neilmny]

............................. Don't think I could afford a satellite phone....nor afford a helicopter to come out even if I did manage to call anyone...

Get a PLB and an Ambulance Victoria subsciption Eric, both money well spent. They'll cost a lot less than a satphone in the long run.

[ErichFromm]

A subscription covers helicopter rides back from Mt Speculation? If that's the case then I'm stupid for not signing up before now....

[neilmny]

A subscription covers helicopter rides back from Mt Speculation? If that's the case then I'm stupid for not signing up before now....

Check it first but that's my understanding that all ambulance rides are in the subscription.

http://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/Members ... e-for.html

[north-north-west]

A subscription covers helicopter rides back from Mt Speculation? If that's the case then I'm stupid for not signing up before now....

Yes, Ambulance Subscription covers all emergency medical transport within the state.
I know one bloke who had a PFO (previously undiagnosed) and passed out from what turned out to be a minor cerebral embolism after a dive. Cost him a fortune for the chopper ride from Portsea into the Alfred. They put it down to a freak minor DCS issue. Three months later, thinking everything was OK now and still not knowing about the PFO - and still not having a subscription - he went through the same experience again.
Think it was the end of his diving career. As well as his savings - all for the want of a $30 annual subscription . . .

[Strider]

We are on the brink of moving to VIC so this is great info guys. Thanks

[portlester]

Just read the Ambulance VIC website, does anyone know if membership covers transport by private suppliers such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service? My health fund supposedly covers all ambulance travel/treatment except this, which has me thinking. We do a remote desert camp trip in SA/NT/Qld every year or two.

[neilmny]

Just read the Ambulance VIC website, does anyone know if membership covers transport by private suppliers such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service? My health fund supposedly covers all ambulance travel/treatment except this, which has me thinking. We do a remote desert camp trip in SA/NT/Qld every year or two.

Give them a call and ask.

[matagi]

Getting back to comms ..... we have one of the very early Iridium satphones (left over from our offshore sailing days) which always goes with hubby when he goes off on a solo walk. Kept switched off to save battery but switched on once a day to collect the daily weather reports I txt him.

[Nuts]

I'd say a tracking beacon would be 'better' for solo in areas of better coverage.
Then again Irridium phones aren't that expensive bought used and on a minimum contract or pre-paid.

[Samma3l]

Guys,

I'm the person this was about. This is very embarrassing.

I would like to set a few things straight. I'm not inexperienced with bushwalking and I did not feel that I was in an emergency. I was carrying a PLB, and being from NSW, I have private health cover that has Ambulance cover. I didn't feel it was necessary to set the PLB off to get out of there if I could find mobile reception, and I thought it was possible to get to a position that makes it easy to get off the track. Unfortuately, I don't have friends in the area with 4WD that I could have called on to get me out of there. I don't think a 2wd taxi could get there. I thought that a police 4WD was the best solution considering my circumstances.

Background:

I fell and tumbled when I was descending The Viking on the AAWT. In the process I bruised my knee quite hard and ruptured my plantar fascitis which I had been managing well until then.

I was able to walk to Barry Saddle the remainder of that day with the help of anti-infamatories. I rested that night to see how things would pan out. It rained and the equipment I had kept me warm and dry.

The next day, I set off. I was still to walk 50km to reach Mt Hotham (2-3 days walk). Very early on, I realised that I still need to use anti-inflamatories to continue walking. I felt that this being the case, the best thing to do was to get myself off the track to prevent further injury. I looked at the map and it indicated that Myrtleford was 73km via Harry Shepard's track. I was able to get myself to a position to get in contact via mobile phone to contact police via their general phone line (not 000). I told the police of my situation:

Where I was (I had a GPS with me as well), I gave them a 6-figure grid reference.
How they could get to me (Harry Shepherd's Track)
That this was not an emergency, however that the injury would likely worsen if I were to continue.

The weather was cold, but I was wearing clothing that kept me warm. I had access to still more gear if things got worse.

My friends and family knew where I was (I was able to text from Mt Speculation the day prior).

Yes, I'm embarrassed that a helicopter had to be called, but I didn't ask for one. I wasn't disorientated, I knew exactly where I was, and I wasn't "forced to walk for hours" to get there. I got to a position that I thought would make getting off the track as easy as possible (possibly by police 4WD). I did have plenty of food (I was 50 km from Mt Hotham where I was due to be resupplied and I was freshly re-watered from Barry Saddle, carrying 5.5 litres). Friends and family knew my walking plans. I was carrying a PLB, and I contacted police through non-emergency means. I was upset that I wasn't able to continue walking and I am still very embarrassed, possibly that looks like mild hypothermia.

I apologise for the fuss.

It is always less than ideal to have to leave the track when you get injured. I did impress on them that it was NOT and emergency.

[Tortoise]

G'day Samma31,

Thanks for having the guts to post the real story. Guess it's a reminder of how unreliable media reports are! Helpful for me in thinking through some more things, as I walk solo more often now. Eg have the relevant non-emergency police numbers in my phone - even though they could still make the call to bring in a chopper unnecessarily.

[GPSGuided]

At the end of the day, a helicopter may cost money but it's the quickest way to extract someone in need. Much more efficient than using the time of multiple rescuers for days on end. A few hours and it's all done. Thanks Samma3I in letting up know the facts and good that you didn't wait till you are more incapacitated. I am sure the police were happy to talk to you rather than guessing based on an activated beacon.

[ErichFromm]

Don't apologise Samma31 - could happen to anyone. I appreciate you posting about what really happened. Does show how important it is to make provisions and have a plan. Particularly relevant as I'm planning a hike in the same area soon...

[wayno]

if you can make radio or phone contact with the police they will decide teh best option
i was on mt taranaki the other day , a woman bashed her head and had a golf ball sized lump on her head, she was feeling unwell and was unsteady on her feet.. i made phone contact with the police,
i explained she was just feeling tired, not in excessive pain, she was mentally coherent, not overly distressed.
The police would have sent the helicopter even though i told them we were at the end of a 4WD road only 3k from the main road and 40k from the police station...
the only reason they came by 4wd was the helicopter was unavailable...
realise that the police will sometimes send a helicopter in non life threatening situations for any one of a variety of reasons. to outsiders it may seem like someone is wasting sar resources but the police have their logic to when they will and won't send a helicopter....
in teh case of this injured lady i dont know the exact reason they would consider the helicopter, but the patient did have a noticeable head injury, she had taken quite a knock to induce such a big lump on her head.. head injuries can be a minefield for complications. The police may have wanted to play it safe and try and get her to hospital as quickly as possible in case of complications from delaying any asessmet and treatment of her condition...

[walkon]

Hey Samma

Dont take it personally, overlandman probably just saw an interesting article and forwarded it. We've all come a croppa at one stage or another. Thankfully most times you get up and keep going. Seriously dont feel bad about your mode of rescue, you were prepared, well equipped and the emergency people knew the facts in relation to your circumstances so that was their call.
Get well asap

Ps I just hope that you weren't to hurt/embarrassed to appreciate the chopper ride over God's own country

[ULWalkingPhil]

If I go somewhere that's remote, I always have a PLB with me. I mostly bush-walk on my own. Last time anyone joined me was almost two years ago on a overnight bush-walk.

[neilmny]

Hey Samma, looks like all your effort to make recovery easier has been totally misunderstood
by the all concerned in your recovery. I reckon next time just lay kicking and screaming and set off the PLB, they'll make less
of an *&%$#! of the facts and maybe somewhat less of s story of it. Jeez.

[north-north-west]

Thanks for the background, Samma. Interesting story. Pity you had to interrupt the walk.
No need for embarrassment, we all have things go wrong from time to time and falling on the Viking is an easy thing to do. Glad you made it out OK.

[stry]

Sounds like you managed it pretty well Samma. Can't see any need for an apology there. I could easily be the star in your story.

The media do like to twist a little drama into their reporting .

Best wishes for a full recovery from your injury.

[Gadgetgeek]

Just to add to the thanks for telling your side of the story. From the sounds of things, not even the police spokesman had the whole story. I wonder how often these write-ups are just stock material that a name or place gets stuffed into? I've heard that most big news services keep a running set of obituaries for famous folks so they don't need to take any time to go to press if they hear someone has died.
Sounds like you had a good plan in place, and made good choices given the conditions. Don't be embarrassed, sure you had to be rescued, but instead of hitting the button, you made efforts to get info to the rescue services, which means that had a MVA call come in, they could have diverted the chopper from you and relied on the ground team. Its their call on how they use the resources, but you did your part to help them. Between that and having proper gear, had something happened where you had to sit for another day or so, you would have been fine. I think you make the right decision in this case.

[David M]

Thanks for your story Samma31. No need to be embarrassed. You did everything right. It's too bad your rescuers and the media didn't understand that. As neilmny said, next time just set off you PLB since your efforts were not appreciated or understood...