Chockstone Forum

      Sponsored By
      ROCK
   HARDWARE

Chockstone Photography

Australian Landscape Prints

Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User

Tim Holding missing 3-Sep-2009 At 9:57:11 AM JohnK

Message

ok, I'll bite at this one and chip in 2 cents worth having been up there twice this winter season already.

I think it's awesome that guys like Tim are prepared to get out there - going solo as well is almost like a spiritual experience especially for those in high level high stress jobs.

As usual, it's a series of small mistakes that then contribute to a near miss or a catastrophy. Personally, I dont like to go above the snow line in steep terrain without crampons and an ice axe - that's my choice and not everyone has to do this - but AUS alpine regions are notorious for for being warm after a snow fall and the freezing overnight turning even moderate slopes into slippery dangerous slides. Overall, it's far easier to walk on icy terrain with crampons.

Overall, I think there is a significant difference between being a "bush walker" and going above the snow line - above the snow line creates a whole new set of challanges that are potentially more life threatening then below the snow line.

In my mind, some of the small "mistakes" or judgments he made during his trip then led to the situation he got himself into:

1. The weather forecast was not good - yet he still decided to go (and remember his original plan was to walk across the Razorback)
2. Dont think he had been up there in winter before - so he did not fully appreciate the potential conditions up there
3. Did not take appropriate tools for above the snow line - apperantly he could not put up his tent because he did not have snow pegs; he could not hold his footing because he did not have crampons; he could not adequately arrest his slide because he did not have an ice axe or could not use his stocks (if he had some) to self arrest
4. Not sure if he had a map / compass - if he did he would have realised that going down to the tree line was not the best option, and even if he did, then we could have been able to re-orient himself and get back to Fed or the MUMC hut or the track
5. Even when he came across others he told them he was ok - he could have asked them for directions to the track/nearest hut (like MUMC or Fed) or asked to stick with them as he was having some difficulties

So overall, well done Tim and an adventure that will be hard to forget and that is easy to get into, but some good learnings for all (especially "bushwalkers") on how to bettter handle things when going above the snow line which is a whole different ball game and creates generally more rather than less risks.

p.s. dont agree on people having to pay for their rescues - rescues will happen even for the most experienced people out there - that's what our taxes are for - however good education programs are necessary - and forcing people to carry EPIRB's that's overkill for just going walking, hiking and mountaineering but at people's discetion rather than being compolsury.