Mapping error - again

Hi Jim,

No offence intended, but I disagree that they had any idea. This is not the time of year to go to Cape York.

Regards, Macca.

By “some idea” I meant about surviving. Didn’t panic, waited, then prepared for a long walk.

Quite agree about the initial decision.
Came across a Swiss couple in southern Tasmania , who had just completed two weeks of hell walking across the bottom.
Many visitors have almost no idea about the Aussie bush ….. but they could do more research that’s for sure.

They were lucky it ended well.
Cheers
Jim

Also …… they didn’t seem to have any useful recovery gear.
Should have been able to get unbogged with some decent gear.

I do remember being in some very dodgy situations when we lived in the Canadian wilderness in the 70’s. Very green about Canadian conditions.

Cheers
Jim

Short on recovery gear?
And a PLB would have had them rescued quick smart.
It's just reminded me to go on line and check my PLB registration is still current.
Don't go remote without one.

Cheers

Why do people not take paper maps anymore as a back up

When I did the Cape in 2009 I had the first Hema GPS, this died after a mate played with it so it was back to maps.

Mind we also had a HF Radio with HF-Tel subscribed and a UHF radio for local contact

These lads were incredibly lucky

I expect they would have done the same thing with paper maps Cookie1!

We carry several back up’s to our Hema HX-1 Navigator.

Exploroz Traveller (more an alternative than a back up), on iPad, an older Hema ringbound Atlas covering the entire country, & a set of Hema Desert Maps which have as yet never yet been never needed to be unfolded, + a compass, a small handheld GPS (for walking) , a UHF, a PLB & a sat phone.

True with regards if they had paper maps but it does go on to say there are no crossings across the Archer, in fact looking at my map the tracks only go to camp grounds so if they did have a map, they should have seen this and not proceeded.

And lets not forget the last backup item. A pack of playing cards.
Dave.

And a billy!

hERE WE JUST SAY "BLOODY IDIOTS"!

I stand with Peter on this one. These two young men planned a trip half-way round the world in search of adventure and it seems as if all went according to plan until they were brought undone by some deceptive ground. Fortunately, because they were resourceful (and well resourced) they were able to get back to safety without having to seek help from emergency services (or others), and without any injury to themselves.

It is noteworthy that the Senior Ranger described them as "young, fit, prepared and motivated" - all the attributes you need for an adventure. They obviously focused on the positives rather than the negatives, and were prepared to back themselves when obstacles were encountered. I take my hat off to them.

Interestingly, a quick search of the 'net under "overlanding" suggests that a number of young Europeans are travelling the world these days in search of adventure, and here is but one sample https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9PAaT-3-BM . There are many others. I admire (and envy) them!

Cheers,
Roger

Anyone who has never made a travel mistake has never travelled. We have made our fair share. :)

We met a young Swiss couple in the NT in 2007. Wonderful people having a wonderful adventure. That was 17 years ago. We have since visited them in Switzerland several times and they have been back here too. Life long friends.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome.

To Pete and Roger, and without wanting to cause offence, I simply ask this question, would you travel to Cape York in the “Wet Season”, or the Canning Stock Route in Summer as a single vehicle with no support.

Macca.

In 2009, we waited on the Atherton Tablelands until the roads were opened and then we drove north. We were a single vehicle with no support.
The Cape is at its best as soon as you can get in after the roads are opened.
The roads were officially OPEN.
So the answer is YES.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

I feel those guys were idiots.

They wanted to get to the Top.

Anyone that has been there knows the main road north of Coen is very wide and signposted, so why would you take a small sidetrack, let alone in the middle of the wet………

Macca,
In response to your question I would say "No, I wouldn't" but that is purely my personal preference; it is not the same as saying it can't be done. Conversely, if I was enduring a bitter winter in Germany I might be tempted!

I know we can tut-tut about all the potential risks involved, but in this particular case I am focussing on the happy outcome, and those two adventurers will be able to bore their children (and grand-children) about it for ever and a day.

Roger.

I think Peter has a point.

Back in late 2009 my wife & I had an ‘adventure of a lifetime’. With hindsight & experience we wouldn’t do things the same today, but truly we had a ball back then & were lucky to have done so without incident. If it had turned out badly I have little doubt we would have been criticised, if indeed, we had survived.

Mid November on the Birdsville track, ambient temps in the mid 40’s, my wife & I , with no PLB & no satphone, no gps, & no air conditioning in a dual rear wheeled 2wd vehicle, over the course of 10 days saw no other vehicles on a remote track experience unlike anything we had done before.

We rose daily before it was light, travelled at first light , not for far before it became to hot, & we risked overheating the motor & the tyres.

We had tried to do what is suggested by informing the policeman in Birdsville of our travel intentions, but he hadn’t been interested, nor did he suggest we were foolish to do what we planned. We did phone a friend on the east coast to say ’send in Cavlary if we don’t call you again within a fortnight’.

We met up with Peter and Margaret in theFlinders ranges, feeling like seasoned adventurers, having survived a very soft sand detour off the Birdsville Track as well as temparatures like we had never before experienced. So many things could have gone wrong, but they didn’t.

Hindsight suggests (to me) that we were foolish & naive, but it is still one of the best things we have ever done & today tracks like the Birdsville seem nothing more than dirt highways to us. But one on which time of year changes everything.