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It’s time we respected the Australian Alps

01 Sep 12:52pm

Filed under: Hiking, Safety, Tim Holding, Weather

As I write this piece, news has just filtered through that Victorian Water Minister Tim Holding has been found alive on Mt Feathertop, in the Victorian Alps. Thank God.

Alive: Tim Holding, rescued at Mount Feathertop early today.

I don’t yet know many details of his bungled trip, but I do know this: Holding is just the latest in a series of backcountry adventurers who’ve failed to pay the Australian Alps the respect they deserve.

For nine months of the year, the Australian Alps are a benign bunch of hillocks which are scarcely fit to be called mountains. Our highest peak, 2228m Mt Kosciuszko, is so rounded that tourist buses were once permitted to drive all the way to the summit.

Continue reading "It’s time we respected the Australian Alps" »

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Brad Jackson says:

01:44pm | 03/09/09

Helen, I understand what you are saying and it certainly has merit but I have a ‘‘thin edge of the wedge’ outlook on emergency beacons. (Although in 5-10 years time, I expect my arguement to be considered quite quaint) When do we ‘expect’ people to carry such a device -… Read more »
Helen says:

02:34pm | 02/09/09

You’re right, Brad. They don’t need an emergency beacon as long as there is a mysterious AFP plane flying around to spot them. The beacons are meant to be used when you are in danger. They are not compulsory (except for category 2 yach races) but they are a good… Read more »

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penbo 28 May 12 06:12PM

@GreenJ lady boy.

penbo 28 May 12 06:07PM

@GreenJ how dare you even suggest such a thing. I'd love to blog from their traning session though about what a pack of toffs they are

antsharwood 28 May 12 04:50PM

RT @kellieconnolly: @penbo @antsharwood Not judging Hackett but to set the record straight again I had been asking 9 for a redundancy and left on good terms

penbo 28 May 12 04:01PM

Feisty piece by @antsharwood leading http://t.co/5WsLF5Pf on how ch 9 can punt spiteri connolly rowe but not the delightful grant hackett

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