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Tim Holding was missing - now found


Sabu

31-Aug-2009
9:55:35 AM

It seems our water minister is missing on feathertop.
The report said he couldn't be located at the hut, but was well equipped.
I hope for his sake that he's camped the night somewhere and hasn't come to grief higher
on the mountain.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/856135/victorian-minister-missing-on-mountain

JohnK

31-Aug-2009
2:07:57 PM

There is a thread running on the ski backcountry forumns on this.

http://forums.ski.com.au/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=768545&page=0#Post768545

Bob Saki

31-Aug-2009
5:05:01 PM

Was there on the weekend, skiing was rugged. Sat was so wet.

saw a few keen dudes out there, I camped on the dimantina spur for something different. Didn't see Tim, hope he's found nice to see a pollie showing a set and facing the elements


Sabu

31-Aug-2009
5:18:58 PM

They're saying he tried calling from his phone late on sunday night so that raises the hope
he's only lost and hasn't fallen off the summit ridge.
Fingers crossed.


cruze

1-Sep-2009
10:43:19 AM

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/09/01/2672914.htm?section=justin

Looks like Tim has been found. Great news.


billk

1-Sep-2009
11:23:18 AM

That's great.


Sabu

1-Sep-2009
12:28:48 PM

Great news, looks like we was well and truely off track. I'd be interested to find out how close he was to MUMC hut in the end!


GravityHound

1-Sep-2009
1:53:20 PM

Good on him for surviving. Also interested to know what went wrong. Whiteout?

audtracol

1-Sep-2009
2:54:44 PM

Surely the question needs to be asked why an ex minister for emergency service goes out to feathertop alone this time of year and without an epirb? Pretty damned irresponsible if you ask me.


billk

1-Sep-2009
3:33:47 PM


Sabu

1-Sep-2009
4:29:47 PM

On 1/09/2009 audtracol wrote:
>Surely the question needs to be asked why an ex minister for emergency
>service goes out to feathertop alone this time of year and without an epirb?
> Pretty damned irresponsible if you ask me.
I think it was MORE irresponsible to go without adequate gear. yes you may be an
experienced bushwalker with all the required gear but that says nothing for snow and ice
experience and the extra gear required to deal with it. To try summit feathertop without
crampons, an ice axe or snowshoes in those conditions was asking for trouble.

After a little more reading:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,26009014-661,00.html

Says here he said he slipped 100m off the side, looking on the map it seems he went
down the west face, had he have gone down the SE face he would've been in a much
less healthy state..
This is the the exact reason why you carry an axe!!
That also explains how he got so off track, if the herald suns map is marginally correct,
he was smack between Fed hut and MUMC hut!


ajfclark

1-Sep-2009
5:04:17 PM

Time to update the thread subject?


Sabu

1-Sep-2009
5:55:11 PM

Thanks mods!


Superstu

1-Sep-2009
6:11:00 PM

What was more irresponsible - going up feathertop without an epirb or without an ice-axe? Gee, that discussion sounds familiar...!

patto

1-Sep-2009
6:27:05 PM

On 1/09/2009 Sabu wrote:
>On 1/09/2009 audtracol wrote:
>>Surely the question needs to be asked why an ex minister for emergency
>>service goes out to feathertop alone this time of year and without an
>epirb?
>> Pretty damned irresponsible if you ask me.
>I think it was MORE irresponsible to go without adequate gear. yes you
>may be an
>experienced bushwalker with all the required gear but that says nothing
>for snow and ice
>experience and the extra gear required to deal with it. To try summit
>feathertop without
>crampons, an ice axe or snowshoes in those conditions was asking for trouble.
>
>
>After a little more reading:
>http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,26009014-661,00.html
>
>Says here he said he slipped 100m off the side, looking on the map it
>seems he went
>down the west face, had he have gone down the SE face he would've been
>in a much
>less healthy state..
>This is the the exact reason why you carry an axe!!
>That also explains how he got so off track, if the herald suns map is
>marginally correct,
>he was smack between Fed hut and MUMC hut!

I have argued and would still argue that an axe is not necessary to reach either of the huts. However this past month an axe has most definately been needed to safely summit Feathertop.

But to argue that the Minister was irresponsible being up there without an axe? That is a stretch especially given the scant details.

Also by the sounds of things he wasn't anywhere near the summit of Feathertop when he slipped.

Bob Saki

1-Sep-2009
6:32:03 PM

I think it was a foolish attempt w/o at least instep crampons and a mountaineering axe. In reality the weather was bad from the early hours of Sat and he should have bailed the mission. I was up there on Friday night and weather was good. Saturday I was largely confined to tent after a few runs off the Dimantina Spur.
Sunday on the East face was a delight though

I had crampons, axes etc.


JamesMc

1-Sep-2009
6:38:53 PM

Why does a politican climb Mt Feathertop by himself?

Because he doesn't have any friends!

I'm impressed that we have a minister that got out there at all. He still pales into insignificance to Helen Clark though.

JamesMc


Sabu

1-Sep-2009
6:47:34 PM

On 1/09/2009 patto wrote:
>I have argued and would still argue that an axe is not necessary to reach
>either of the huts. However this past month an axe has most definately
>been needed to safely summit Feathertop.
>
>But to argue that the Minister was irresponsible being up there without
>an axe? That is a stretch especially given the scant details.
Without any 1 of the 3 on an Alpine peak in bad conditions, yes thats irresponsible.

>Also by the sounds of things he wasn't anywhere near the summit of Feathertop
>when he slipped.
Probably because he couldn't go any further after reaching the ridge! Some of those initial steep sections could spit you off easily with ice and normal boots.

patto

1-Sep-2009
6:56:57 PM

I do find some the attitudes being cast around on this forum quite amazing considering this is a forum of ROCK CLIMBERS. Words like irresponsible and foolish to describe somebody not equipped with an EPIRB or ice axes!!!!?

Some people would similarly argue that rockclimbing up a cliff is irrepsponsible and foolish when there is a perfectly good track that leads to the top.

I was up at Feathertop during August and I would definately agree an ice axe would be highly recommended if you are attempt to summit. In fact this past month I would and have discouraged people from going up without one.

However I can think of many climbs that are far more dangerous than the summit of feathertop under recent conditions. I'd rate my ascent of Snake Dike as similar type of risk to ascending feathertop without an axe (though even harder). It is fairly easy, but remote and the risk is high if you fall. (And I am certainly not one with big cojones at the moment. I was bloody scared today leading a well protected 16 total at Camels Hump!)

Am I irresponsible and foolish for climbing a classic such as Snake Dike?

Have you guys not ever been run out before while climbing?


mattjr

1-Sep-2009
7:40:32 PM

On 1/09/2009 patto wrote:
>I do find some the attitudes being cast around on this forum quite amazing
>considering this is a forum of ROCK CLIMBERS. Words like irresponsible
>and foolish to describe somebody not equipped with an EPIRB or ice axes!!!!?
>
>Some people would similarly argue that rockclimbing up a cliff is irrepsponsible
>and foolish when there is a perfectly good track that leads to the top.
>
>I was up at Feathertop during August and I would definately agree an ice
>axe would be highly recommended if you are attempt to summit. In fact
>this past month I would and have discouraged people from going up without
>one.
>
>However I can think of many climbs that are far more dangerous than the
>summit of feathertop under recent conditions. I'd rate my ascent of Snake
>Dike as similar type of risk to ascending feathertop without an axe (though
>even harder). It is fairly easy, but remote and the risk is high if you
>fall. (And I am certainly not one with big cojones at the moment. I was
>bloody scared today leading a well protected 16 total at Camels Hump!)
>
>Am I irresponsible and foolish for climbing a classic such as Snake Dike?
>
>Have you guys not ever been run out before while climbing?

Yes, but fortunately I am not the ex minister for emergency service. Agree with your points, you must admit however that the whole situation is a little ironic.

There are 82 messages in this topic.