Going solo.... risk aversion?

[peregrinator]

A suggestion regarding the issue of a change of plans mentioned by several posters. When notifying others (including AMSA if you have a PLB) of your trip itinerary before you depart, state clearly that the plan can be varied if conditions demand. List the alternative locations you may consider visiting instead. Its a big country, so they may be hundreds of kilometres away from your original location/s!

Note also, if you have not been aware of this change, Telstra phone boxes in country towns and in some remote places are free to use. For example, Balcanoona rangers HQ in Vulkathunha, and Arkaroola, both in SA.

[Allchin09]

You can set a SPOT to automatically update your position. A plb you have to set it off. If you have a catastrophic fall you won't be doing that.

Maybe true but to me a catastrophic failure means being dead anyway.

That's exactly why I activate tracking whenever I go solo off-track. If I die from a stroke (or a fall) my body can be recovered with a minimum of fuss. Otherwise an extensive search would be needed, and if my body wasn't found it could cause years of uncertainty and anguish for my family.

My InReach Mini, set to a two-hourly tracking interval, works for this purpose.

Yep - this was the main reason for the tracking, for the benefit of those at home.

I just had one of the earlier SPOTs which had tracking and a few buttons with preset messages to push. Couldn't justify the $ for something more expensive which allowed you to sends texts but those costs are now reducing (somewhat).

It's useful as well when you need to change plans and you want to let others know. Eg, you might be an extra day or two because of the conditions and a minor injury, and don't want a search party to be sent out. Or you might have to change where you finish to a completely new area and want to give someone a heads up that you might need a lift from a different spot!

I'm hardly walking these days so no longer have a spot subscription as the monthly subscription cost isn't trivial. But (per other threads) I'm hoping that costs will come down in future for these communication methods, particularly with StarLink offering SMS via satellites to mobiles!

[Warin]

Note also, if you have not been aware of this change, Telstra phone boxes in country towns and in some remote places are free to use.

Some of these phone boxes have free wifi too. You can find out where they are on the telstra website.