Missing Bushwalkers Found Safe & Well

[Overlandman]

Not much of a story
Regards Overlandman

From the Examiner

http://www.examiner.com.au/story/306744 ... ell/?cs=95

TWO missing bushwalkers have been found safe and well after spending the night near Ringarooma in the state's North-East.

The pair are now being walked out of the Ralph Falls track, about 28 kilometres east of Scottsdale.

Tasmania Police received a call from the walkers at about 6.30pm on Friday and a search was launched at 8.30pm.

[Zone-5]

...so what they just misjudged the distances?

My Garmin Etrex can give an ETA to a route, it's quite a simple function available to anyone with a GPS.

[devoswitch]

Not everyone walks with a GPS.... To be honest that would kind of ruin part of the experience for me being able to watch the km/min ticking down until destination.

[Zone-5]

Not everyone walks with a GPS.... To be honest that would kind of ruin part of the experience for me being able to watch the km/min ticking down until destination.

O'really? Having to walk into the night would ruin any experience, especially if you had to spend the night out totally unprepared like the OP has posted.
If you're realised that you are going to run out of sunlight, then to have a GPS to maintain a set pace to get you home before darkness sets in would be a life saver IMHO.

[devoswitch]

Now I may not carry a GPS but I always carry a torch. Sometimes I'll even start my walk at 2 or 3 am to get a few hours of walking in the dark in.

[Strider]

How is GPS usage relevant to this story, Zone-5?

[Zone-5]

How is GPS usage relevant to this story, Zone-5?

The pair are now being walked out of the Ralph Falls track...
...Police received a call from the walkers at about 6.30pm on Friday and a search was launched at 8.30pm.

My original question... still unanswered!

...so what they just misjudged the distances? My Garmin Etrex can give an ETA to a route...

a response...

Not everyone walks with a GPS.... To be honest that would kind of ruin part of the experience for me...

my response...

...Having to walk into the night would ruin any experience, especially if you had to spend the night out totally unprepared...

your response...

How is GPS usage relevant to this story, Zone-5?

again, my original question...

...so what they just misjudged the distances?

The use of a GPS would have helped prevent the need for a night time rescue. The notion put by 'devoswitch' that not everyone carries one highlights this point.

Perhaps Strider your question in the current context of the thread is irrelevant to this topic!

[Strider]

The article says nothing about not having a GPS, nor anything about misjudging distances. You know nothing of their circumstances, but assume a GPS would have made everything OK.

[walkerchris77]

Good they are safe.

[doogs]

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=1401
It's a very short walk and on a well marked track, they must have gone exploring. A GPS may have helped them regain the track but certainly not necessary to judge the time to get back as it is well signposted with times.

[Zone-5]

You know nothing of their circumstances, but assume a GPS would have made everything OK.

I made no such assumption as you claim in relation to the OP article and any suggestion by you Strider that I did is just plainly wrong!

[Overlandman]

The OP (original poster) is sorry to cause a contrerversy with this simple easy to understand post.
Iam with Strider on this one.
Zone - 5 never assume
Regards Overlandman

[GPSGuided]

How were the walkers _missing_ when they phoned in themselves?