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The place for bushwalking topics that are not location specific.Another Cautionary Tale!
Mon 05 Oct, 2009 10:10 pm
Before I say anything, and before anyone gets in before me, I agree I am an idiot! 
This saturday I decided with the nice weather forecast that I might go into Lake Skinner and have a relaxing evening camping near the lake and have a nice early start on Mt Snowy and possibly Nevada Peak.
My brother was working and Fizzygood was busy elsewhere so I decided to go it alone, something I do quite often.
So I had a nice quiet afternoon on saturday reading and sipping wine next to lake Skinner got a good nights rest and headed of for Mt Snowy at 0700 on sunday.
Made it to the summit of Snowy not long after 0800 and on the way up I could see a beautiful tarn surrounded by snow that I decided to detour to on the way back...
It was a slight detour if I was going to make it to Nevada and back but by the time I was heading back down it was still only 0830 so I made a beeline straight for the tarn. It was a worthwile gem to visit and I became captivated by the thick crust of ice covering part of it.
After taking my share of photos I decided to test the ice and see how strong it was.
After trying my hardest to break through the ice I decided it might be safe to walk on. The tarn looked shallow so I though it couldn't come to any harm! I set my cameras timer to take a snap and with 10 seconds to go I raced out to the edge of the ice to pose...
Right after the picture was taken the ice gave way and I was plunged neck deep into the tarn through the ice.
With the shock of the cold water and the sudden realisation that I couldn't touch the bottom I nearly panicked!
I managed to haul myself out of the ice hole, a process that took several minutes in the water up to my armpits trying to hook my hands into the hard crusted ice! By the time I managed to pul myself onto my stomach the ice was threatening to dump me in again! I had to roll myself back to land as the ice was giving way when I tried to push up. I was dangerously cold by the time I managed to stand back up but soon warmed up. I was thankfull that I was wearing thermal bottoms and top, they dried within half an hour and I was warm in my down jacket even though it was a little flat! I was a bit shaken by the experience and a more than a little embarassed that I had been so silly in the first place and decided to save Nevada peak for another day. Murphies law dictates that the tarn was going to be deeper than I thought and that the ice wasn't going to be as strong as it looked! If someone else was there I am not sure what they could have safely done to help me either?
This saturday I decided with the nice weather forecast that I might go into Lake Skinner and have a relaxing evening camping near the lake and have a nice early start on Mt Snowy and possibly Nevada Peak.
My brother was working and Fizzygood was busy elsewhere so I decided to go it alone, something I do quite often.
So I had a nice quiet afternoon on saturday reading and sipping wine next to lake Skinner got a good nights rest and headed of for Mt Snowy at 0700 on sunday.
Made it to the summit of Snowy not long after 0800 and on the way up I could see a beautiful tarn surrounded by snow that I decided to detour to on the way back...
- Obligatory SS - Mt Snowy
- snowy_summit.JPG (61.26 KiB) Viewed 12095 times
It was a slight detour if I was going to make it to Nevada and back but by the time I was heading back down it was still only 0830 so I made a beeline straight for the tarn. It was a worthwile gem to visit and I became captivated by the thick crust of ice covering part of it.
After taking my share of photos I decided to test the ice and see how strong it was.
After trying my hardest to break through the ice I decided it might be safe to walk on. The tarn looked shallow so I though it couldn't come to any harm! I set my cameras timer to take a snap and with 10 seconds to go I raced out to the edge of the ice to pose...
- The idiot shot!
- tarnandme.JPG (45.98 KiB) Viewed 12095 times
Right after the picture was taken the ice gave way and I was plunged neck deep into the tarn through the ice.
With the shock of the cold water and the sudden realisation that I couldn't touch the bottom I nearly panicked!
- The dreaded hole!
- hole.JPG (49.68 KiB) Viewed 12095 times
I managed to haul myself out of the ice hole, a process that took several minutes in the water up to my armpits trying to hook my hands into the hard crusted ice! By the time I managed to pul myself onto my stomach the ice was threatening to dump me in again! I had to roll myself back to land as the ice was giving way when I tried to push up. I was dangerously cold by the time I managed to stand back up but soon warmed up. I was thankfull that I was wearing thermal bottoms and top, they dried within half an hour and I was warm in my down jacket even though it was a little flat! I was a bit shaken by the experience and a more than a little embarassed that I had been so silly in the first place and decided to save Nevada peak for another day. Murphies law dictates that the tarn was going to be deeper than I thought and that the ice wasn't going to be as strong as it looked! If someone else was there I am not sure what they could have safely done to help me either?
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Mon 05 Oct, 2009 10:35 pm
Hi Lagaro,
I think you need to go back and take this shot again.
The problem is that the foreground has no visible detail, so it's a bit hard to place the landscape. If you could include the front edge of the tarn it might help, as would moving yourself closer to the camera so that you are more clearly placed on the ice.
Good on you for admitting this amazing feat. It clearly could have ended badly!
Lagaro wrote:
I think you need to go back and take this shot again.
The problem is that the foreground has no visible detail, so it's a bit hard to place the landscape. If you could include the front edge of the tarn it might help, as would moving yourself closer to the camera so that you are more clearly placed on the ice.
Good on you for admitting this amazing feat. It clearly could have ended badly!
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Mon 05 Oct, 2009 10:38 pm
Sheesh 
,
You are a lucky one ,did that trick around 53 years ago on a small loch in Scotland sans thermals or down jacket ,did have leather boots ,wool socks,thick serge short pants,wool jumper, wool blazer, wool duffle coat and I guess the rest would have been cotton.
Taking an un official field trip from primary school to check out the snow in the hills (as opposed to the snow in the streets) with a best mate he only got half submerged so was able to assist me ,next thing was how to warm up not a problem just run home the 5 or 6 miles
No problem getting warm when I did arrive home as the belting I got from my Mum just warmed me up for the one I got from Dad when he got home and stood me in good stead for the warm hands I got from the Headmistress when I went to School the next day (BIG leather strap) 6 on each
I was only 10 years of age what is you excuse
corvus
,You are a lucky one ,did that trick around 53 years ago on a small loch in Scotland sans thermals or down jacket ,did have leather boots ,wool socks,thick serge short pants,wool jumper, wool blazer, wool duffle coat and I guess the rest would have been cotton.
Taking an un official field trip from primary school to check out the snow in the hills (as opposed to the snow in the streets) with a best mate he only got half submerged so was able to assist me ,next thing was how to warm up not a problem just run home the 5 or 6 miles
No problem getting warm when I did arrive home as the belting I got from my Mum just warmed me up for the one I got from Dad when he got home and stood me in good stead for the warm hands I got from the Headmistress when I went to School the next day (BIG leather strap) 6 on each
I was only 10 years of age what is you excuse
corvus
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Tue 06 Oct, 2009 7:58 am
I laughed.
I once had a mate who launched another mate’s drink flask across a lake like that. Drink flask owner rapidly (foolishly) chased after said flask until he (and we on the lake shore) heard cracking noises coming from the ice. He hit the deck and "penguin slid" out to the flask and back. It was quite entertaining, but no one got wet.
I once had a mate who launched another mate’s drink flask across a lake like that. Drink flask owner rapidly (foolishly) chased after said flask until he (and we on the lake shore) heard cracking noises coming from the ice. He hit the deck and "penguin slid" out to the flask and back. It was quite entertaining, but no one got wet.
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Tue 06 Oct, 2009 8:03 am
Thanks for being brave enough to tell your tale here!
This kind of thing always scares me when I see it on movies. It must be an incredible shock both physically and mentally when it happens. I'm glad you managed to get out safely.
This kind of thing always scares me when I see it on movies. It must be an incredible shock both physically and mentally when it happens. I'm glad you managed to get out safely.
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Tue 06 Oct, 2009 9:27 am
That is an amazing story! A bit silly yes, but thanks for sharing! I guess the other obvious mistake would be to point out your referring to Snowy South rather than Mt Snowy which is actually located next to Hartz peak..... 
I saw Bear Grylls do a similar thing on MAN VS WILD once, he stripped off and started doing pushups and star jumps to warm himself up.....
I saw Bear Grylls do a similar thing on MAN VS WILD once, he stripped off and started doing pushups and star jumps to warm himself up.....
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Tue 06 Oct, 2009 11:24 am
Yeah, quite a frightening experience when you are alone.
Only frozen lake walk I did was more of a tarn that was probably only waist deep anyway, did it with full packs "just for fun", both me and a mate standing on the ice on this tarn with full packs and fortunately the ice held.
On the way to my infamous Moonlight Ridge experience.
Only frozen lake walk I did was more of a tarn that was probably only waist deep anyway, did it with full packs "just for fun", both me and a mate standing on the ice on this tarn with full packs and fortunately the ice held.
On the way to my infamous Moonlight Ridge experience.
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Tue 06 Oct, 2009 11:43 am
Lagaro wrote:The tarn looked shallow
tasadam wrote:tarn that was probably only waist deep
Hmm... You're in good company Lagaro!
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Tue 06 Oct, 2009 11:45 am
photohiker wrote:Lagaro wrote:The tarn looked shallowtasadam wrote:tarn that was probably only waist deep
Hmm... You're in good company Lagaro!
I don't know whether that's a compliment to me or an insult to Lagaro!
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Tue 06 Oct, 2009 12:34 pm
Wow - glad you made it back to tell the tale!
Would be a horrible feeling for the next walker to discover the camera still set up, see the tanandme shot as the last photo taken then look out at the tarn to see the hole in the ice where you were standing in the photo...
Would be a horrible feeling for the next walker to discover the camera still set up, see the tanandme shot as the last photo taken then look out at the tarn to see the hole in the ice where you were standing in the photo...
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Tue 06 Oct, 2009 1:32 pm
Singe, that would be creepy as!
have to admit Iv'e played around on some frozen tarns, but message recieved.
have to admit Iv'e played around on some frozen tarns, but message recieved.
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Tue 06 Oct, 2009 2:03 pm
Hi Lagaro,
Good to see you made it out safely, and thanks for sharing your experience. I came across this quote the other day. "Inexperience and poor judgment cause the most problems when bushwalking". We all make mistakes, it is often how we learn.
Tony
Good to see you made it out safely, and thanks for sharing your experience. I came across this quote the other day. "Inexperience and poor judgment cause the most problems when bushwalking". We all make mistakes, it is often how we learn.
Tony
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Tue 06 Oct, 2009 2:57 pm
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Last edited by Ent on Mon 15 Nov, 2010 2:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Tue 06 Oct, 2009 9:22 pm
A friend came upon a fellow who had just broken through at Lake Newdegate at Mt Field and each effort he made to get out resulted in more breaking ice. Quick thinking saved the day as my friend managed to get a bit of corrugated roofing iron from near the hut and edged out on it to pull the fellow out.
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Tue 13 Oct, 2009 1:51 pm
Nice work Largo
Someone has to do the fieldwork for the theorists !
Im told the Lk Skinner area has a history of waylaying travelers back into aboriginal times
Maybe next time we can coordinate our capers so that i can keep you warm while you carry me down the hill
Daz
Someone has to do the fieldwork for the theorists !
Im told the Lk Skinner area has a history of waylaying travelers back into aboriginal times
Maybe next time we can coordinate our capers so that i can keep you warm while you carry me down the hill
Daz
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Wed 14 Oct, 2009 7:05 pm
Having just spent two hours on the exercise machine while watching Eight Below, I'm really relieved you're still alive. Next time, take a team of huskies with you . . .
Re: Another Cautionary Tale!
Wed 11 Nov, 2009 9:52 am
Ha! Sounds like the kind of thing I might of done! Good to see your alright
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