I can go anywhere!

Santa · Guru

I can go anywhere!

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

They should have stopped when it rained hard and before they bogged to the axles.
Other than that, I wish I was there too :)
Cheers,
Peter

tea spoon · Senior Member

need a bulldozer to get that out .....or dynamite

Whenarewethere · Guru

We came down the track in 2019. Would like to see it wet... & obviously not move!

SoloMC · Senior Member

Ive been keeping an eye on those desert tracks for a while and the 3 big ones have been closed since Wednesday
Hopefully they didn't ignore the road closed signs and head off.
They would have gone further than a 4x4 dragging a van/camper but even those off road motorhomes cant go everywhere
If they did ignore the signs i really hope they have the 'book' thrown at them
Either way its a great adventure, although a costly one

Cupie · Guru

If they are getting supply drops one would think that 'sit tight' would be the best strategy & spend the time (perhaps a couple of hours per day) slowly & carefully digging out/preparing the exit path for when it all dries out in a few weeks or even a month or so. The only concern would be any potential medical emergency.

Be nice if they could afford a sat phone drop.

The correct mindset could turn it into a great adventure.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Call in the Air force with a big Chinook. That will sort the boys from the girls.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I like this line in the report!

'SA Police and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) are currently working on a plan to rescue the travellers, who are about 150 kilometres north-east of Oodnadatta in the Simpson Desert.'

SoloMC · Senior Member

Cupie
Be nice if they could afford a sat phone drop.

Did you even read the article?

They have supplies

They got a sat ph dropped to them

TheHeaths · Guru

Cupie wrote:

Be nice if they could afford a sat phone drop.
The correct mindset could turn it into a great adventure.

I know they had a EPIRB, but would have been good to have had the sat phone themselves, rather than needing to get one dropped to them. Total preparation, especially for this sort of adventure, with young children is important. Better to have and not need, than need and not have!

-- Edited by TheHeaths on Saturday 13th of November 2021 09:20:59 PM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Their position (for those who know the area) is about 5km west of Purnie Bore, just out of the dunes.
Cheers,
Peter

Cupie · Guru

SoloMC wrote:
Cupie
Be nice if they could afford a sat phone drop.

Did you even read the article?
They have supplies
They got a sat ph dropped to them

Yep I sure did read the article but missed the bit about getting a Sat phone dropped ... my cognitive ability is not as good as it was. But thanks for pointing it out so nicely to me.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

For those who have been to the Big Red Bash, this is what it looked like in 2012.

Cheers,

Peter

rgren2 · Guru

Did Poeppel Corner that year, the water was there, think it was Easter. The flies carried us most of the way.

SoloMC · Senior Member

Cupie wrote:
SoloMC wrote:
Cupie
Be nice if they could afford a sat phone drop.

Did you even read the article?
They have supplies
They got a sat ph dropped to them
Yep I sure did read the article but missed the bit about getting a Sat phone dropped ... my cognitive ability is not as good as it was. But thanks for pointing it out so nicely to me.

No need to thank me because I'm here to help everyone

Mike Harding · Guru

SoloMC wrote:
No need to thank me because I'm here to help everyone

Will you lend $1000 to me then?

dogbox · Guru

as long as they are in no danger let them wait it out

Bicyclecamper · Guru

As you all know, I carry a sat. Phone, when doing outback touring on my bike. Have come across a few nomads, and younger people, whom have had neither a Sat. Phone nor a PLB, in trouble, 2 were accidents and one was a broken c.van spring, and these incidents were all with 300-km of Birdsville. If I didn't have a sat. phone for one of the 3 situations, one guy would have died. I carry a Sat. Phone and a Spot Gen 2, for emergencies and to keep in touch with my family. I blame social media these day's for people getting themselves into bad situations, believing, if Sky could get thru these tracks in her AWD Rav 4, I should be able to do it in my 4Wd truck or standard 4Wd with on road c.vans, that is what the van with the broken spring was, 200km west of Birdsville.

Mike Harding · Guru

dogbox wrote:
as long as they are in no danger let them wait it out

Indeed.

Unless there are factors which are not clear at this time (illness perhaps) I'm not sure why they triggered the PLB. Being bogged is not a reason to do so unless it's clear it may lead to imminent loss of life. PLBs are not a get out of jail free card.

If you stuff up then you carry the responsibility.

markf · Senior Member

Mike Harding wrote:
....
If you stuff up then you carry the responsibility.

Or at least a sat phone so that you can let family (or friends or the nearest police / emergency services) know what's going on.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Everyone is smarter than they are in hindsight.
I support their use of the PLB.
They have 2 small kids. Waiting until there is a serious emergency is not the time to ask for help.
They have done the right thing to protect their kids.
Now they can sit there knowing that emergency assistance is available if they need it, which they probably won't.
Cheers,
Peter

Mike Harding · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Waiting until there is a serious emergency is not the time to ask for help.

Actually it is in regard to PLBs.

PLBs are *not* to be triggered for minor emergencies - that's what sat phones and/or HF radio are for should one have the foresight (not hindsight) and good sense to take one.

dogbox · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

Everyone is smarter than they are in hindsight.

I support their use of the PLB.

They have 2 small kids. Waiting until there is a serious emergency is not the time to ask for help.

They have done the right thing to protect their kids.

Now they can sit there knowing that emergency assistance is available if they need it, which they probably won't.

Cheers,

Peter

would the number of viewers on their UTUBE blog have been affected in any way ? i am sure there will be a few people who will now risk all, to be part of the rescue

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Waiting until there is a serious emergency is not the time to ask for help.
Actually it is in regard to PLBs.
PLBs are *not* to be triggered for minor emergencies - that's what sat phones and/or HF radio are for should one have the foresight (not hindsight) and good sense to take one.

The authorities will be the adjudicators of this, not you or I, but those people's assessment of their situation is more important than mine or yours.

If the authorities think the PLB was activated unreasonably, they can issue a bill for the services provided.

If I had 2 small children and was stuck for upwards of 2 weeks, I would activate a PLB as well. If I was there with just my wife, I would not.

Who wants a bet there will be no bill?

We have been broken down in the middle of the Simpson, in a remote corner of the Kimberley and bogged as badly as these people are. We have carried a PLB for over 20 years, but have never activated one.

Cheers,

Peter

SoloMC · Senior Member

According to amsa
"a distress beacon should be activated in situations of grave and imminent danger. This equates to when you feel you are facing a life threatening situation. This is a personal decision that is different for everybody.'

Never wait until you are actually IN grave danger before activating, but are FACING a life threatening situation

oldbloke · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Everyone is smarter than they are in hindsight.
I support their use of the PLB.
They have 2 small kids. Waiting until there is a serious emergency is not the time to ask for help.
They have done the right thing to protect their kids.
Now they can sit there knowing that emergency assistance is available if they need it, which they probably won't.
Cheers,
Peter

I think I'm inclined to agree. Although I understand why some would think it not appropriate. Also mum might have been in a bit of a panic. We may not have all the info as well.

Ger08 · Senior Member

For anyone to suggest that they did the wrong thing by activating their PLB is just ludicrous. Bogged to the axels in an incredibly remote part of the country with two small children and limited supplies - thats a serious situation. At least now the rescue agencies can manage this carefully and properly

Mike Harding · Guru

Ger08 wrote:
thats a serious situation

And that's where we differ.

I travel with a PLB (had one for 20 years or so) and two HF radios.

I consider the HF radios to be for "serious situations" and the PLB for "an imminent threat to life".

This is foresight - because I don't really expect anyone else to dig me out of a mess of my own making.

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

They were dropped water. Maybe they didn't have enough water to last until the place dried out. I'm pretty sure that water is vital for survival. To me, that's a reason to activate a PLB.

We don't know the situation, yet everyone seems happy to assess it themselves, but now that family has water and can communicate how they are, then they can wait it out until they can get themselves out or ask for some help.

I've had dealings with AMSA and I'm pretty sure that they are happy that they can keep and eye on that family's welfare.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

The registration process for PLBs and EPIRBs allows a lot of information to be included including travel plans, photos of the vehicle and emergency contacts. The authorities would have called those emergency contacts, so they knew EXACTLY who they were dealing with long before they arrived.
I note on another report that the first emergency drop from the aircraft included DVDs, sweets, nappies and a letter from the grandfather of the kids.
Cheers,
Peter

EDIT. The registration of PLBs and EPIRBs is mandatory.

-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Monday 15th of November 2021 11:37:22 AM