24 December 2012

Incidents in the mountains

24 December 2012 | By johnboy

Recent incidents in which people have ventured out into bushland inadequately prepared has prompted ACT Policing to warn the community about the need to plan for contingencies.

In the first incident, a 4WD vehicle became bogged on Saturday (December 22) while driving on tracks in the Brindabella Ranges near the Mount Coree turnoff.

The two men, with two two-year-old children and two 18-month-old infants in their vehicle, had become stuck and did not have the equipment to extricate their 4WD.

One of the men walked some distance to obtain mobile service, then texted their location. The Specialist Response Group’s Search and Rescue team was despatched, but fortunately a passing vehicle had provided a tow before police arrived.

In an unrelated incident, a group of seven unprepared bushwalkers who had left at 5am yesterday (Sunday, December 23) for a walk in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve were caught out by the sudden change in weather and had not returned by 8.30pm.

The group, which had been lightly clothed and carried only daypacks, texted friends that they were sheltering in the bush overnight. While there were no immediate concerns for the group’s safety, the poor weather overnight prompted ACT Rangers and SRG Search and Rescue to head to the location at first light today (Monday, December 24) to ensure the walkers were safe.

SRG Sergeant Will Collins said these incidents reminded people they should prepare carefully if heading into the bush.

“We would encourage anyone who is heading into a remote area to follow the practice of preparing for a range of weather contingencies and unforseen circumstances, and always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return,” Sergeant Collins said.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

Join the conversation

All Comments

All Comments
Website Comments
Facebook Comments

LatestOldest

wildturkeycanoe5:41 pm 29 Dec 12

Jivrashia – I could get through that series of minor bumps in any car you gave me. That doesn’t look remotely challenging in ANY sense of the word.
There’s the difference between an experienced and confident driver, and any soft roader who ventures off the tar once in their life.
When the muddy water is up to your knees and the bog at least 20 metres long [old Brindabella Falling Leaf motorcycle rally campsite, half way to Tumut], then you face a little bit of a challenge.
I’ve pulled a Nissan Patrol shorty out of a snow drift on the side of the Brindy road with a Datsun 180B. Effortlessly. That was when I had my P plates – so much for the experienced part, maybe it’s all just confidence…..

goggles135:21 pm 29 Dec 12

Jivrashia said :

In the first incident, a 4WD vehicle became bogged on Saturday (December 22) while driving on tracks in the Brindabella Ranges near the Mount Coree turnoff.

The two men, with two two-year-old children and two 18-month-old infants in their vehicle, had become stuck and did not have the equipment to extricate their 4WD.

Was there on Friday afternoon.
On my return from the Mt. Coree sumit I came across a set of huge holes while circumnavigating around the said mountain.

The bog holes where big enough to take in a small car whole, and probably half of a 4wd.
They were THAT EFFING BIG (pic here).

I got out and looked about to see if there was any way to navigate around it but in the end I decided not to risk it, as there was a real danger that the tyres could slip into the hole and roll the vehicle, and went back the way I came.

While leaving the scene I had a thought as to who will be fool-hardy enough to try to cross over it.
Well, there’s my answer.

Looking at the pic I can see at least one line through, if not two. yes I have done a bit of 4wding. its all about knowing where you wheels are.

but back to the original story, the driver should have never ever gone out by himself, even in summer with small kids. very irresponsible.

I have been stuck in the brindies before with older kids and it got cold very quickly. but I did have other vehicles with me so, we got out ok

LSWCHP1:56 pm 29 Dec 12

Postalgeek said :

I would not use something like a new Subaru to discover the limits of my 4WDing skills in the Brindies. Mistakes start to get really expensive.

This. My mates and I (in V8 Land Cruisers) have recovered a lesser vehicle from the middle of the Eucumbene river after it conked out while attempting to cross. There was water up to the drivers window, and I suspect the engine had consumed some of it. Properly equipped Cruisers and their ilk can go places that other vehicles can’t, and we had no trouble crossing at the same point.

I thought that Jivrashia’s pics looked impressive, but not impossible to cross for an experienced driver in a suitable vehicle.

bigfeet9:22 am 29 Dec 12

Jivrashia said :

All I can say is, if you can negotiate the seriously bad road west of the trail to the summit to Mt. Coree, I will be more than be happy to pay you for any lessons you can give me with my new SUV .

The fact that you call it a ‘SUV’ says a lot.

Postalgeek9:06 am 29 Dec 12

Jivrashia said :

All I can say is, if you can negotiate the seriously bad road west of the trail to the summit to Mt. Coree, I will be more than be happy to pay you for any lessons you can give me with my new SUV.

Frankly the scene was just of stupidly deep holes and such that I would not have risked being taken into by it. I may have been imaging the risk too much, but frankly the possibility of rolling my vehicle over seemed much much too real.

Please go visit the place of the photo I have taken, and then let me know I was chicken livered.

Over to you.

Not sure what you mean by SUV, but most SUVs are simply not designed for rigorous 4WDing. More than anything they lack clearance with long wheel bases.. Even true 4WDs often need aftermarket accessorising like diff lockers, snorkels, and suspension lifts and larger tires with aggressive tread to contend with eroded fire trails and crossings. A winch is also recommended, whether powered or a Tirfor.
I would not use something like a new Subaru to discover the limits of my 4WDing skills in the Brindies. Mistakes start to get really expensive.

Jivrashia1:43 am 29 Dec 12

All I can say is, if you can negotiate the seriously bad road west of the trail to the summit to Mt. Coree, I will be more than be happy to pay you for any lessons you can give me with my new SUV.

Frankly the scene was just of stupidly deep holes and such that I would not have risked being taken into by it. I may have been imaging the risk too much, but frankly the possibility of rolling my vehicle over seemed much much too real.

Please go visit the place of the photo I have taken, and then let me know I was chicken livered.

Over to you.

KB19717:51 am 27 Dec 12

460cixy said :

Hope your not the sort of person that drives up there in the snow causeing grief for other motorists

Only the summit of Mt Coree gets snow, I have never seen it on any of the lead up tracks such as Pabral, Curries or Two Sticks Roads. Having said that, two sticks does get a bit up at the end near Brinabella Mountain where Brindabella and Mount Franklin Roads meet.

Mt Franklin Rd is usually closed from this point so people cannot drive up the road and “cause grief for other motorists” as there is usually no one else in there.

460cixy8:05 pm 26 Dec 12

Jivrashia said :

In the first incident, a 4WD vehicle became bogged on Saturday (December 22) while driving on tracks in the Brindabella Ranges near the Mount Coree turnoff.

The two men, with two two-year-old children and two 18-month-old infants in their vehicle, had become stuck and did not have the equipment to extricate their 4WD.

Was there on Friday afternoon.
On my return from the Mt. Coree sumit I came across a set of huge holes while circumnavigating around the said mountain.

The bog holes where big enough to take in a small car whole, and probably half of a 4wd.
They were THAT EFFING BIG (pic here).

I got out and looked about to see if there was any way to navigate around it but in the end I decided not to risk it, as there was a real danger that the tyres could slip into the hole and roll the vehicle, and went back the way I came.

While leaving the scene I had a thought as to who will be fool-hardy enough to try to cross over it.
Well, there’s my answer.

Hope your not the sort of person that drives up there in the snow causeing grief for other motorists

KB19713:21 pm 26 Dec 12

Jivrashia said :

Reply

Lazy I11:35 pm 25 Dec 12

bigfeet said :

milkman said :

screaming banshee said :

I’ve driven a sigma through bigger than that
/internettoughguy

I too have a stigma.

I too have a stigmata and can cross muddy bog holes without sinking.

I too have a stigmatism and have trouble seeing large bog holes in the road.