Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

You both seem to have confused me as someone who is advocating closure. I never said that.

What I said, is that I expect it will get closed or chains installed.

Used to be a death every decade or so, now there’s multiple deaths every year. Despite people signing waivers, acknowledging T&Cs and walking past big warning signs, I expect it won’t be long before Parks Tasmania’s lawyers say that the history here might give them a problem in the future.

You’re right - Instagram and YouTube have shown these places to people who aren’t equipped. And they’re going to ruin it for everyone into the future.

IMHO If you want to climb it and haven’t yet, you might want to get your skates on.

[Paul]

People will still climb Fedders, regardless of whatever restrictions or closure is implemented.
Paul.

[Mechanic-AL]

With the exception of cultural restrictions or access through private property are there any mountains in Australia that your not permitted to climb ?
Or can anyone, anywhere bowl up to any peak and start climbing ?
Cant imagine how you could enforce this one..........

[Son of a Beach]

This is complete bollocks... In the Examiner today:

Experienced climber calls for greater safety measures following tragic deaths

Mountain climber John Carswell calls for safety chains to be placed in steep stretches of dangerous mountain tracks in Tasmania.

But even someone as experienced as Mr Carswell can see the need for better safety in the Tasmanian mountains.

"At Cradle Mountain, Federation Peak and Frenchman's Cap there are short but dangerous sections of track where there have been fatalities in the past," Mr Carswell said.

"I said in July there would continue to be fatalities and now there has been one, and nothing's been done about it."

Mr Carswell suggested a simple and cheap alternative: installing 10 to 30 metres of anchored chains that climbers could hang onto while climbing steeper sections of the tracks.

He said it was a common practice in Europe, called via ferrata, or iron path, which involves climbing with the chain.

"You can choose not to, but they're put there for people that feel unsafe on that sort of ground ... the man that died at Federation Peak [December 31] would probably still be alive if those chains had been installed," Mr Carswell said.

"I've climbed Federation Peak three times - I haven't taken any special precaution because I consider myself a competent climber, but if there were chains there, I'd be hanging on to them."

A government spokesperson said in response to any serious accident, the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service examines the circumstances and considers whether improvements can be made to prevent similar incidents in the future.

"That process examines the condition and classification of the track and its markings, and the presence of information and hazard warning signage," they said.

"The Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service continues to encourage visitors to our parks to choose a walk that matches their capabilities and carry the appropriate safety and walking equipment.

"That includes physical maps, a first aid kit, a portable battery bank, adequate food and water, and clothing suitable for all weather types. We also encourage the use of a Personal Locator Beacon."

Don't ruin the wilderness because people die. Yes, it is tragic. But you can't wrap the entire world in cotton wool. People will make mistakes and die, and sometimes people will die even when they do everythibng right and even when all safety measures are in place. There will still be tragic accidents. It's terrible, but it's life.

We could ban people from walking out of their front doors, but some of us will still trip over our own cushy sofa and break our necks on the coffee table.

Educate people about the risks and let people take responsibility for their own safety, but don't build safety rails through the wilderness. (Yes, I know that there are already safety chains on Hansons Peak and Marions Lookout.)

[keithj]

The above article fails to consider the 2nd round effects.

At present it is known by all to be a difficult ascent, so only the most experienced attempt it.

Installing chains will be seen as lowering the difficulty level. This will be a signal by PWS that anyone can do it and that they are encouraging more people to attempt it.

Many of them will not have the experience to either judge the safety on the day or their ability to both ascend & descend.

The end result of making anything easier is that fewer experienced people will have accidents, but (far?) more of the less capable will.

[vagrom]

I would guess that most have died on the descent rather than on the climb. In that sense Fedders is the odd one out.

If you're a little freaked by heights and exposure as many of us are then a bit of foot guidance from below must be helpful. Once you get the shakes then that's compounding.

You'll be able to say there's a bit of chain there now but none of us found it necessary to use.

[Overlandman]

From Pulse Tasmania

A helicopter search is underway to extract stranded bushwalkers from within Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park.

The group reportedly found themselves in a difficult elevated position which they were unable to safety return from, raising the alarm with authorities around 5pm.

Emergency services say the group have not sustained any injuries, with the rescue helicopter working throughout the night to reach the bushwalkers.

[Overlandman]

From ABC News

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-03/ ... /104780576

A man in his 50s is missing after undertaking a solo walk from Cockle Creek, the southernmost point in Australia accessibly by car
Two other hikers were rescued on Thursday on a separate walk on Tasmania's east coast
The search and rescues come after a difficult week following Christmas, in which three hikers died in Tasmania in separate incidents.

[Overlandman]

Update

An interstate walker has been rescued after failing to return from a solo day walk on the South Coast Track overnight.

The man had set off on a walk from Cockle Creek, but did not return to his family when expected.

Police were alerted just before midnight, and a daylight search was conducted this morning.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Tasmania located the man about 9am and he was airlifted from the area.

Again, we are urging all walkers to be prepared.

➡️ Don't walk alone, and always carry food and emergency communication devices, preferably ones with two-way messaging capabilities.

➡️ Whether you are conducting a day trip or longer, you should always be prepared for the unexpected - take a map and torch, clothing and footwear to suit any conditions, and regardless of the season take a waterproof jacket, and first aid kit.

[Son of a Beach]

...Again, we are urging all walkers to be prepared.

➡️ Don't walk alone...

They keep saying this. And I see their point.

But walking alone is therapeutic in a way that walking with other people is not.

Besides, if I always had to herd cats before a walk, I'd almost never get out bush.

[Lostsoul]

...Again, we are urging all walkers to be prepared.

➡️ Don't walk alone...

They keep saying this. And I see their point.

But walking alone is therapeutic in a way that walking with other people is not.

Besides, if I always had to heard cats before a walk, I'd almost never get out bush.

If I walk with someone else,that’s two people I have to save.
Have the right gear,plb,first aid,food,shelter,warm clothes…don’t see a problem going it alone.

[north-north-west]

re chains: the chains on Hansons and Marions (and now the upper part of the Lake Wilks Track) are because these are tourist daywalks. Fedders and Frenchmans are not, and never will be, in that category.
And as far as TasPAWS' liability goes: just imagine how many lawsuits there will be if someone screws up climbing Fedders using a permanent chain, and dies.

I'm with Lostsoul and Son of a Beach re solo walking. It's different, but not necessarily any harder or more dangerous, just different (and more pleasant).

[grunter]

As Overlandman stated. Wow to these two. Very lucky.

[north-north-west]

Is that on Amos?

[MrWalker]

Is that on Amos?

Mt Dove was mentioned in some early reports, but the ABC, Mercury and Examiner now just say "The Hazards". So We'll have to go and have a look and try to work out which Hazard, and how they got into that position.
Actually I can see they got there by sliding down the rock face, but I can't figure out where they planned to go next.

[eggs]

Definitely Mt Dove. I suspect they had climbed it and did not know how to get down

see my highlighted shot from Amos

[Lophophaps]

Don't ruin the wilderness because people die. Yes, it is tragic. But you can't wrap the entire world in cotton wool. People will make mistakes and die, and sometimes people will die even when they do everythibng right and even when all safety measures are in place. There will still be tragic accidents. It's terrible, but it's life.

We could ban people from walking out of their front doors, but some of us will still trip over our own cushy sofa and break our necks on the coffee table.

Educate people about the risks and let people take responsibility for their own safety, but don't build safety rails through the wilderness. (Yes, I know that there are already safety chains on Hansons Peak and Marions Lookout.)

I think so. If an activity is made safer then it attracts people with lower skills, and at the same time the skills needed earlier wither. Something like this is happening on the roads where drivers may rely on technology. A GPS allows easier navigation, so why bother to learn about magnetic deflection, handrails and offsetting? The cotton wool solution could see the Three Capes remedy, with a lot of the wild elements removed.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Actually I can see they got there by sliding down the rock face, but I can't figure out where they planned to go next.

Down. Very quickly.

[north-north-west]

Oh dear.
There's a route up (and down) that side of Dove, but you have to do a lot of zigzagging, and short-cuts are out of the question. Looks like they did the zigzags on the way up and got inventive on the way down. Not a good decision.

[Overlandman]

From Tasmania Police

Tasmania Police Marine and Rescue have responded to two EPIRB activations today.

Earlier today the helicopter airlifted a walker from the Western Arthurs Range. The walker was travelling with a group and suffered a medical episode requiring extraction.

The person was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital.

At 3pm, a walker was reported missing on the South Coast Track (Iron Bound Range). The man's walking party activated an EPIRB and Garmin InReach device.

The walker was several hours overdue to meet his group near the Iron Bound Range High Camp.

The helicopter has been deployed to search for the missing walker.

[Overlandman]

[andrewa]

Many many years ago (40) I did a trip down to Federation Peak via the Picton Range and Moss Ridge with a mate after we finished our medical degree . I bailed on the summit bit at some semi snow covered gully that seemed to aim straight down at Lake Geeves, and this was before the summit bit. I knew my limits. So I’ve been down there, and never got to the summit, but proud to have done what I did.

If there are chains, then the implication is that it is safe to climb using the chains. Please let some places remain free of obvious human intervention, and allow people to take responsibility for themselves ( the purpose of mentioning the medical degree bit is that professionally, as a solo GP, I “hold the can” for everything I do, and that is my approach to being in the outdoors as well).

A

[Overlandman]

Tasmania Police update
Update: The walker missing on the South Coast Track has been located by emergency services and reunited with his walking party.

[Overlandman]

From Tasmania Police

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched at 11pm last night to rescue two bushwalkers at Cradle Mountain.



Two female bushwalkers were rock climbing down Cradle Mountain, near the Summit Track. They did not leave enough time to return before nightfall, and were stranded without overnight equipment.



They were located and winched to the helicopter about 12:40am.

- Bushwalker safety advice:

Tasmania Police would like to take the opportunity to remind bushwalkers of the dangers of the Tasmanian wilderness.

Police advise bushwalkers against walking alone, and to ensure they carry sufficient warm clothing and food, and emergency communication devices. A two-way messaging emergency device is preferred.

Ensure you’re prepared with appropriate equipment – take a map and torch, clothing and footwear to suit any conditions, regardless of the season take a waterproof jacket; adequate food and water, first aid kit.

Research your intended trip – ensure the trip is within your abilities and fitness level, and you have a route plan, map and check the expected weather forecast.

Let someone know before you go – ensure someone knows your route and expected return time.

Always carry a fully charged mobile phone and consider a portable charger to extend battery life. Batteries do not last as long when cold and mobile navigation apps deplete batteries quicker than other apps.

Carry a Personal Locator Beacon but be aware that they are a one-way communication device.

Be flexible. Be prepared to turn back or change plans if severe weather is forecast or eventuates during the walk. Making the decision to push on when you should turn back can put you in danger.

[Lostsoul]

The worst thing is,it’s a bad reflection on all of us.Sometimes I wish the bushwalking craze would die out and go back to the pre instagram days!

[Overlandman]

Update on the last few rescues.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-06/ ... /104785834

In short:
Tasmanian search and rescue helicopter teams responded to three separate incidents involving bushwalkers on Saturday — the busiest rescue weekend of the season so far.
The people rescued were a Tasmanian woman who experienced a medical episode in the Western Arthur Ranges, a Tasmanian man who became lost on the South Coast Track and two interstate tourists stranded on Cradle Mountain at night.
What's next?
While police have commended the hikers for carrying emergency location devices, they are urging all prospective bushwalkers to ensure they are adequately prepared for the state's challenging and remote walks.

[matagi]

Not sure how you prepare for a medical episode.

[Tortoise]

Not sure how you prepare for a medical episode.

I guess there are some we can avoid, by working up to more challenging walks, not suddenly doing something much more demanding than we've trained for, or are used to doing. Then there are the rest of the medical episodes that could happen anywhere.

[Warin]

Not sure how you prepare for a medical episode.

Medical check ups can be had.

Our PM recently commented on someones death "they were doing something they enjoyed". I'd hope the same comment can be said about bushwalkers.

[matagi]

Not sure how you prepare for a medical episode.

Medical check ups can be had.

Won't necessarily pick up an imminent problem.