Abandoned Gear

[mrpotter]

I went out to Mt Solitary on the weekend... given the high winds and snow warnings, some would say I'm crazy... but I say they're wimps. It was a great trip though, mostly because the mountain was entirely vacant.

Along the way I found an abandoned backpack, a dome tent, and a camping stove.

While these particular bits of gear were heavy & cheap equipment, I still am lost as to why anybody abandoned these? Do the owners intend to return?

I would have removed them but I was already occupied with 2KG of rubbish I collected on the way. This seemed to have almost no noticeable impact on the waste out there. The idea that people will litter in this manner seems very disgusting.

[Strider]

Have you reported this to the police? The owner may be missing in the area.

[GPSGuided]

Owned by people who were previously air lifted out?

Good thought there Strider.

[Strider]

Or by people who are still in the area...

[Gippsmick]

We found similar on the Viking 2 weeks ago. Reported to rangers just in case. A decent but heavy Deuter pack full of old food and rubbish sitting on the summit. Looked to be abandoned. Hope people aren't carting this in and just can't be bothered taking it out again - very disappointing if that is the case.

[mrpotter]

Have you reported this to the police? The owner may be missing in the area.

Certainly did. They noted it, but didn't seem too overly concerned.

Its most likely to be abandoned gear. Has been there for at least 1 month as I've sighted this gear before.

I'm considering if I should retrieve it?

[Strider]

Have you reported this to the police? The owner may be missing in the area.

Certainly did. They noted it, but didn't seem too overly concerned.

Its most likely to be abandoned gear.

Absolutely but always good to check

[mrpotter]

Hope people aren't carting this in and just can't be bothered taking it out again - very disappointing if that is the case.

If people are intending to throw away money, I'd be much more pleasant if they simply handed it to me in cash form, instead of requiring someone to carry their heavy things they're too lazy to carry for many kilometres.

[perfectlydark]

Was the tent near the intersection of the kedumba camping area track just after you come down solitary? I remember seeing an abandoned looking cheap tent a few weeks back. Blue from memory

[mrpotter]

Yep, that is exactly the location and description.

[perfectlydark]

Hmm strange what people leave hey. We kind of assumed someone was living in it at the time (odd place to camp) didnt see anyone but I looked like it was being occupied

[mrpotter]

I don't think its being lived in, there would be more disturbance like footprints etc. - especially over that length of time.

There is also an abandoned backpack on the eastern bank at the Cedar creek crossing - on the northern trail coming from Mt Solitary (not the trail to Kedumba from Solitary to the south). Possibly related?

[perfectlydark]

I might have missed that, or else it was abandoned after I went through (easter)