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#21
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Another warning to outback drivers.
"Frank Slootweg" wrote in message ... Keith Willshaw wrote: [deleted] Their was a classic case at lake Ayre a few years ago when a german couple got bogged down. They tried to walk out but the man wised up and returned to the car. His companion tried to walk out and died. Not only was there enough food and water for a week in their campervan but they were stuck next to a survival tank with 200 litres of water ! To be fair to these people: - They *did* leave a note at the pub/hotel in Williams Creek, but the son of the owner put it in a new logbook because he could not find the old one and thought that it was full, and the father only knew/checked the old one. - They had been told that probably no-one was coming down that track for *weeks*. What were they supposed to do, wait for weeks? (They *did* wait several days.) Yes, someone came down the track a week later and they waited less than 48 hours. They got bogged on 7 December and decided to walk out on the 9th. The policeman who recovered the vehicle spent less than 10 minutes digging it out before letting some air out of the tyres and unbogging it. People often criticize people for leaving their vehicle, and they are 'right'. But not leaving your vehicle, i.e. doing *nothing*, is very, very hard to do. Some compassion, especially when people *die* 'because' of their 'mistakes', wouldn't go astray. Compassion is fine but instilling wisdom might save a life. Keith |
#22
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Another warning to outback drivers.
On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 02:15:21 +1100, "Peter Webb"
wrote: I cannot believe 50 people hadn't told him that rule by the time he found himself in a 4WD in the Great Sandy Desert. City-based, four wheel drivers are the bane of the bush - all they have is what is under the bonnet. I am safer in my two wheel drive HX panel van than they are. On one occasion I even showed a bunch of them how to handle a situation. And probably the biggest reason I am safer is the warning that comes before anything else - check with locals before you go. And as to where you are going. __________________________________________________ ____________ Keith Sayers, Canberra, Australia Mail : 6 Clambe Place, CHARNWOOD, ACT 2615 http://www.pcug.org.au/~kmsayers -------------------------------------------------------------- |
#23
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Another warning to outback drivers.
And check with the locals as you go. Conditions can change rapidly. Although
it's no longer a requirement to let the police know if you're attempting a remote track, if it's summer or you're on your own (and perhaps don't have any friends/relatives to notify) it may be prudent to do so. Cheers Jim "Keith Sayers" wrote in message ... On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 02:15:21 +1100, "Peter Webb" wrote: I cannot believe 50 people hadn't told him that rule by the time he found himself in a 4WD in the Great Sandy Desert. City-based, four wheel drivers are the bane of the bush - all they have is what is under the bonnet. I am safer in my two wheel drive HX panel van than they are. On one occasion I even showed a bunch of them how to handle a situation. And probably the biggest reason I am safer is the warning that comes before anything else - check with locals before you go. And as to where you are going. __________________________________________________ ____________ Keith Sayers, Canberra, Australia Mail : 6 Clambe Place, CHARNWOOD, ACT 2615 http://www.pcug.org.au/~kmsayers -------------------------------------------------------------- |
#24
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Another warning to outback drivers.
"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
... People often criticize people for leaving their vehicle, and they are 'right'. But not leaving your vehicle, i.e. doing *nothing*, is very, very hard to do. Some compassion, especially when people *die* 'because' of their 'mistakes', wouldn't go astray. Compassion is fine but instilling wisdom might save a life. http://www.courts.sa.gov.au/courts/c...000/grossmuell er.finding.htm She still had water. Walking in sun you should count on 1 litre per hour, walking 50km, say 25 litres, 25kg, if all goes well. 8-10 litres a day if 40C+ not moving. Also salt replacement. One problem is that after 3 or 4 hours of high loss and drinking a lot people just don't _feel_ thirsty. So they quickly run an imbalance, only a few litres/hours later disorientation sets in, stagger around, die. This is something that can creep up on people even if they know full well what to look for. Eg. one of my stuffups Quietly working away, not even 40C , taking water and salt regularly, then suddenly you notice you cannot see your hands when you look at them. Not black, just not there, your blind spot is half your field of vision. Something like that could so easily lead someone alone, in unfamiliar territory without water a fridge and airconditioning handy into absolute panic. Just now it is 11:45 am 37C, forecast 39C. In the shade. In the car driving free air temp is 39C, but on the seat in the sun with good air flow the thermometer (white reflective) reads 59C. Thats what the environment is trying to get you to when walking in the open. |
#25
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Another warning to outback drivers.
Jim wrote:
And check with the locals as you go. Conditions can change rapidly. Although it's no longer a requirement to let the police know if you're attempting a remote track, if it's summer or you're on your own (and perhaps don't have any friends/relatives to notify) it may be prudent to do so. Cheers Jim Not only is it no longer a requirement, but in many places the police do no longer offer these services. I think that is a shame because in may cases the police is the only readly available reliable contact. This makes it hard, especially for tourists from abroad (like myself). When you are in the bush, it is not easy to contact someone some 16,000km (and many timezones) away and keep them posted on your travel plans and progress. So our just finished trip we our EPIRB [1] was a 'neccessary' item. [1] And the nice doctor on the Oodnadatta track had a sat-phone, so he could call Oodnadatta and ask if the track was really still open, for we and him thought it should be closed (with us 'stuck' on it)! :-( |
#26
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Another warning to outback drivers.
"Frank Slootweg" wrote in message ... Jim wrote: And check with the locals as you go. Conditions can change rapidly. Although it's no longer a requirement to let the police know if you're attempting a remote track, if it's summer or you're on your own (and perhaps don't have any friends/relatives to notify) it may be prudent to do so. Cheers Jim Not only is it no longer a requirement, but in many places the police do no longer offer these services. I think that is a shame because in may cases the police is the only readly available reliable contact. This makes it hard, especially for tourists from abroad (like myself). When you are in the bush, it is not easy to contact someone some 16,000km (and many timezones) away and keep them posted on your travel plans and progress. So our just finished trip we our EPIRB [1] was a 'neccessary' item. [1] And the nice doctor on the Oodnadatta track had a sat-phone, so he could call Oodnadatta and ask if the track was really still open, for we and him thought it should be closed (with us 'stuck' on it)! :-( I spoke with a copper a few years ago about using them as a contact and he was adamant that it was a waste of his time. Rarely would someone check back in with him and say they had got to XYZ and were OK. I think that EPIRBs are the best option - they are taken seriously by search and rescue and will get help into the right area very quickly. However travelling in the Outback alone (one person or even one vehicle) for inexperienced travellers can still be very dangerous especially when high temperatures are involved. -- www.bribieisland4x4hire.com VW Kombi Camper Buy Backs Landcruiser Troopy - Toyota Hilux Crew Cab Mitsubishi Pajero - Landrover V8 Swag Camper |
#27
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Another warning to outback drivers.
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#28
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Another warning to outback drivers.
And a radio can ofen get you help from over the next dune from a party that
you didn't know existed ) Cheers Jim "Raffi Balmanoukian" a wrote in message news:BC04DAEC.1E700%walkabout@TAKEOUTTHETRASHTOREP LY.ns.sympatico.ca... in article , Roger Martin at wrote on 12/16/03 2:55 PM: "Frank Slootweg" wrote in message ... Jim wrote: And check with the locals as you go. Conditions can change rapidly. Although it's no longer a requirement to let the police know if you're attempting a remote track, if it's summer or you're on your own (and perhaps don't have any friends/relatives to notify) it may be prudent to do so. Cheers Jim Not only is it no longer a requirement, but in many places the police do no longer offer these services. I think that is a shame because in may cases the police is the only readly available reliable contact. This makes it hard, especially for tourists from abroad (like myself). When you are in the bush, it is not easy to contact someone some 16,000km (and many timezones) away and keep them posted on your travel plans and progress. So our just finished trip we our EPIRB [1] was a 'neccessary' item. [1] And the nice doctor on the Oodnadatta track had a sat-phone, so he could call Oodnadatta and ask if the track was really still open, for we and him thought it should be closed (with us 'stuck' on it)! :-( I spoke with a copper a few years ago about using them as a contact and he was adamant that it was a waste of his time. Rarely would someone check back in with him and say they had got to XYZ and were OK. I think that EPIRBs are the best option - they are taken seriously by search and rescue and will get help into the right area very quickly. However travelling in the Outback alone (one person or even one vehicle) for inexperienced travellers can still be very dangerous especially when high temperatures are involved. I'm more partial to a satphone than an EPIRB. All the latter will do is send a signal - it won't say what the problem is or convey any info (vehicle problem, injury, etc.) The fines for "unnecessary" activation is also massive. A satphone might get someone on the other end of the line who can get you moving again without even coming out a thousand km in the first place... |
#29
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Another warning to outback drivers.
Raffi Balmanoukian a wrote:
[deleted] I'm more partial to a satphone than an EPIRB. All the latter will do is send a signal - it won't say what the problem is or convey any info (vehicle problem, injury, etc.) The fines for "unnecessary" activation is also massive. A satphone might get someone on the other end of the line who can get you moving again without even coming out a thousand km in the first place... Can you give some indication about satphone costs, i.e. rental (if purchase is too expensive), subscription cost, usage cost, etc.? For us a radio is not practical because we rent our vehicle/campervan and most rental companies can/do not provide radios. |
#30
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Another warning to outback drivers.
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