Another idiot giving bushwalkers a bad name...

[FatCanyoner]

So I get home from four days in the Wollemi searching for aboriginal sites (which on a side note was amazing, including a great art site we stumbled on after taking a wrong turn in twilight!) only to discover a 'bushwalker' has been rescued from the same area while we were out (explaining the chopper we heard at one point).
For those who missed it, check out this and listen to the interview with him: http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/ ... 762840.htm
This idiot was on a "spiritual journey" which involved spending 40 days fasting in the bush. Just a couple days in he managed to nearly die, spending several nights in the bush, after walking down a 3.5km long tourist track! This is the same track I walked recently barefoot. It takes about 1.5 hours each way. He was so overwhelmed by this short walk that he decided a chilly night with no gear was better than trying to walk back up. He also managed to get severely dehydrated while sitting next to a clean river. For mine this guy beats Mr Naan Bread (viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11960). He should definitely be fined IMO. Idiots who plan to spend a month in the bush with no food, then nearly die on tourist tracks because they get tired so camp out with no gear, give all bushwalkers a bad reputation. It really pisses me off (as you may be able to tell!)

[Happy Pirate]

"From a wrecked plastic dinghy and half a canoe, Balzan created a wind shield." ????
Did he just stumble across this stuff or carry it with him? Was he in a canyon or a tip?!

"he intended to spend 40 days fasting in the wilderness......Balzan set out ...... intending to return later that day."
40 days in one day??? This guy is nuts, even if the reports are shaky. He should know you should never try to do more than 6 days per day even if you're fit.

We need another award like the Darwin Awards http://www.darwinawards.com/ for those who deserve to be taken out of the gene pool. Although I suspect that the reason why there isn't such an award is that the candidature is too large.

"In a quest for self discovery" ...... and what do we think he discovered about himself ???
Or more importantly: How much do you think he learned?
Probably nothing. I suspect many 'journeys of self discovery' are more about pursuing something akin to an acid flashback. Anything less is a disappointment.

Steve

[andrewa]

Yep. I agree. *&^%$#@!+++++.

In this day and age, I think we are all going to have to come to terms with having some form of insurance to cover our potential rescues. Big statement....

I've been bushwalking for 35yrs. Never needed a rescue. Never got lost for more than an hour. There are a lot more people out there in the bush these days, and we now have the technology to request assistance in difficult situations, which we didn't have 20 yrs ago.

With my mentality of 20 yrs ago, I would still hope that if I didn't return home by planned time, someone would look for me. My current thoughts are that I would hope that someone would look for me earlier.

Who should pay? Probably me. I've got into the situation. Why should the Govt pay? Hence the concept of having insurance.....I know his is opening a can of worms, but we are all responsible for our own actions....similar to ringing fire brigade or ambulance.

A

[Solohike74]

The system as it is works quite well. I always go out with topographic map, compass, etc but...am on benefits/pension & would never be in a position to pay for rescues, air ambulances etc. Accordingly I hold no insurance to meet such costs.

[north-north-west]

'Idiot' is too kind a term. Actually, I don't think they've invented a word to cover this degree of cluelessness.

[matagi]

How does he give bushwalkers a bad name?

I reckon anyone reading the article would think he is a complete and utter whackjob - or do you think most people assume all bushwalkers are like that?

[Skinky]

What a legend, guys like this make the world go round, and Darwin would turn in his grave if he realised how we reverse his theory with social security and all it's entrails...

[Happy Pirate]

How does he give bushwalkers a bad name?

I reckon anyone reading the article would think he is a complete and utter whackjob - or do you think most people assume all bushwalkers are like that?

The problem is HE got the idea from somewhere.
Not from this forum but perhaps from the general pervasive discussion of wilderness experience.

Come to think of it I suspect these idiots have always been with us but with our shiny new ideals of ' "safety" to everyone always for ever and ever and ever so there' we basically have a policy of rescuing whack-jobs and suicides who neither want nor deserve [restrained] rescue.

I suspect this article raises the idea of wilderness (as an 'elsewhere' space) in our society and our current separation from it even more than risk or education issues.

Steve (living in a ditch under a wrecked shopping trolley and half a fish)

[Hallu]

We're clearly missing bits and pieces of the story there... First, you don't eat for 40 days, you die, especially an old man like him. Bobby Sands died after 66 days, an healthy 27 year old tough Irish man, how the hell did he think he was gonna survive 40 ? So maybe "fasting" meant "finding food only in the bush" for him ? I'm not angry, but more sad and perplex for him to be so stupid. Finding yourself ? In the beginning of winter ? Try it in the tropical North instead, perfect season for it....

[Chris]

especially an old man like him.

Come on Hallu, he's only 58 - hardly OLD!!!!
Personally I prefer the term "mature" but must admit it may not apply to him
Just remembered that a senior member of this forum once told me it made me sound like an old cheese, but there are worse things to be called

[andrewbish]

Well, he claims to have recently fasted for 34 days, so that adds some credence to his talk of fasting for 40 days - and it's not unheard of. He seems simply a bit naive and certainly unfit - he was tired out from a relatively short walk (though had some gradient). The situation was compounded when he got injured. I don't think there's any need to talk of fines or leaving folks out there. There's room in the wild places for all sorts - even the silly and the unprepared - and they should all be given our support when needed (except perhaps the wilfully destructive)
A

[Strider]

Darwin would turn in his grave if he realised how we reverse his theory with social security and all it's entrails...

Or should that be Wallace...?

[doogs]

I can't wait for the movie

[The Perambulator]

What a legend, guys like this make the world go round, and Darwin would turn in his grave if he realised how we reverse his theory with social security and all it's entrails...

Where is the evidence that this person is the recipient of "social security" ?

[wayno]

dont assume everyone is playing with a full deck of cards....bear grylls has a lot to answer for....

[wayno]

on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing now because of endless incidents of people hading off on this exposed walk to 1900m with totally inadequate clothing, all the shuttle bus operators have signed a deal whereby they now act like the Bushwalking police... they arent supposed to let anyone on their buses that looks inadequately clothed for the conditions. they decide what days they will and won't operate according to the weather. if they deem its too rough for the average hiker then they won't run at all..
so its debateable if the tourists end up much the wiser about how to prepare for the outdoors. they'll just go on another adventure somewhere else where no one makes the decisions for them and they will just come a cropper somewhere else.

[Nuts]

welll. give him a break, i'd say every bushwalker iv'e ever met has a bit of that guy in them. does anyone think bushwalkers have a generally level-headed reputation?

[matagi]

especially an old man like him.

Come on Hallu, he's only 58 - hardly OLD!!!!
Personally I prefer the term "mature" but must admit it may not apply to him
Just remembered that a senior member of this forum once told me it made me sound like an old cheese, but there are worse things to be called

An old cheese? Fine wine, surely.

[Franco]

In my opinion it would be a lot easier if we had more signs in the bush telling us where we are .
This type (to avoid visual pollution):

that would reassure not only the geographically lost but the guys that go bush to find themselves.

[Strider]

In my opinion it would be a lot easier if we had more signs in the bush telling us where we are

I have posted a photo before of such a thing in NZ. Just a short post with coordinates on it.

[bernieq]

Here's a link to a bit more of the story : http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/1511 ... t/?cs=2452
In the article, he's quoted to say : "It's not a religious thing. I'm probably the least religious person you'll meet." - not religious, but brainless none the less.

How does he give bushwalkers a bad name?
I reckon anyone reading the article would think he is a complete and utter whackjob ...

I agree - I don't see his behaviour reflecting on bushwalkers at all.

[frenchy_84]

Seems like the Alexander Supertramp Syndrome (Into the Wild), apparently there are now regular copy cats in Alaska that go Into the Wild and now need to be rescued by the authorities.

[Hallu]

Yeah this example is dangerous. Finding yourself, solitude in the wild, no problem. Put prepare yourself... Maps, compass, food, local knowledge etc... Don't be a moron like Supertramp. Like the Alaskans said, he had only himself to blame for his death, and this new guy would have had too...

[wayno]

supertramp aka chris mccandless died because he didnt seek local knowledge or take a map.. he was trapped by a swollen river. there was a bridge across the river a few miles away he could have used had he had a map or done a bit of research about where he was going.

[roysta]

dont assume everyone is playing with a full deck of cards....bear grylls has a lot to answer for....

A highly relevant comment.

[FatCanyoner]

"From a wrecked plastic dinghy and half a canoe, Balzan created a wind shield." ????
Did he just stumble across this stuff or carry it with him? Was he in a canyon or a tip?!

Unfortunately the paddling community have a lot to answer for. There was a smashed canoe jammed in some debris when I was last down at that spot a few months back. We also carried two damaged pack rafts out of the gorge a little higher up late last year. Plenty of paddlers underestimate the river, trash their gear, then can't be bothered carrying it out. Another issue that gets me fired up!

"In a quest for self discovery" ...... and what do we think he discovered about himself ??? Or more importantly: How much do you think he learned?
Probably nothing.

Totally agree!!!

Who should pay? Probably me. I've got into the situation. Why should the Govt pay?

Absolutely a can of worms, but something I'm also grappling with. I spent last night reading the report into the paramedic who died during a rescue on Christmas Eve 2011. That was a totally necessary rescue, but what if a death like that occurred in a case like this? Do we really think it is acceptable for people to do any stupid thing they want, with no preparation of knowledge, and expect people to put their own safety at risk to save them? All at taxpayers expense!

'Idiot' is too kind a term. Actually, I don't think they've invented a word to cover this degree of cluelessness.

+1!!!

How does he give bushwalkers a bad name?

From my experience, most people in the general community struggle to tell us all apart. Every time some idiot does something like this I find friends and family bombard me with questions, clearly seeing us all as one mob apparently made up of far too many idiots. Just like any part of society, if enough idiots get highlighted it quickly becomes a stereotype that is very hard to shake!

(living in a ditch under a wrecked shopping trolley and half a fish)

Yeah this example is dangerous. Finding yourself, solitude in the wild, no problem. Put prepare yourself... Maps, compass, food, local knowledge etc... Don't be a moron like Supertramp. Like the Alaskans said, he had only himself to blame for his death, and this new guy would have had too...

Totally agree. If you're properly prepared and something goes wrong, fair enough. If you're just an idiot who expects someone else to solve your self-inflicted problems, you're a *&%$#!!

[matagi]

If the story in the Border Mail is accurate, I find it somewhat disturbing that another person saw him earlier and ignored his cries for help.

[wayno]

its a pretty contentious issue if SAR were to start picking and choosing who they will rescue.. they dont have time to evaluate enough anyway to gather the all facts of the whys and wherefores of how people came to be where they are, they have to expedite a rescue as quickly as practicable and if they dont go to the rescue then other less experienced people might and it becomes a bigger issue of more people being put at risk...

[Nuts]

Totally agree. If you're properly prepared and something goes wrong, fair enough. If you're just an idiot who expects someone else to solve your self-inflicted problems, you're a *&%$#!!

There is no indication that he expected someone else to 'solve his problems'.

Why does it make things ok if your well prepared? still you who *&%$#! up somewhere (perhaps for some, even with all the gear, that happens when leaving home). I see the message about the PLB.. carrying it suggests that one expects someone to ultimately solve their problems.

I find it curious in these sort of threads, like some people think it diminishes their self image, is an affront to their perceived level of experience.

I spent many years introducing newbies to the bush.

One thing that is immediately obvious when people get into trouble is that the circumstances, situations, outcomes more often than not lead to empathy with even a basic first hand account (as compared to 'bull-at-a-gate' responses to news grabs that these things seem to get on here).

PS.. oh yeah, I took that unfortunate paramedics partner (rescue team member) on a walk not long after the event. Perhaps it helps to understand that ^^ this is very much the attitude amongst people who deal with such things- empathy, no judgement. They rescue well prepared 'idiots' all the time..

[climberman]

The system as it is works quite well. I always go out with topographic map, compass, etc but...am on benefits/pension & would never be in a position to pay for rescues, air ambulances etc. Accordingly I hold no insurance to meet such costs.

Solohike74 - do try and get some ambulance cover. For an individual it should be around $30.00 a year in NSW, maybe $40. Very helpful if they call in a chopper for you one day....