Bush Search and Rescue Victoria

12 July 2010 11:50am A woman who was reported missing overnight near Lake Mountain has been found safe and well.

She had spent the night lost after visiting Alps Lookout alone at around 3pm the previous day. On her return to the car park the track became difficult to follow and she eventually veered off the proper track.

Bush Search and Rescue members with steep snow and ice skills attended a "dryland" training day in Melbourne to learn some theory and practice steep snow and ice skills including using avalanche transceivers (in South Surrey Park), roping techniques, equipment review and stretcher rigging and hauling using a z-pulley system. Participants were also trained on our latest radio technology.

Bush Search and Rescue has members with specialist skills in alpine rescues on steep snow and ice terrain.  This is a specialist function within Bush Search and Rescue for members who have mountaineering experience using ice axes, crampons and ropes. 

Mandatory Personal Protection Equipment

The following personal protection equipment is compulsory for steep snow and ice callouts:

Bush Search and Rescue Victoria has a comprehensive manual which details how the organisation works along with search procedures, policy and techniques. The latest edition was published in 2003 and is available to all members and other organisations on request.

The following information is currently available on this website:

• Steep snow and ice search and rescue

As BSAR approaches the end of its first 60 years of operation, we've decided to have a birthday party. The venue has been confirmed, for Sunday the 7th November at Nioka Bush Camp which is in the Plenty Gorge Park, and managed by Parks Vic. The site has a remote feel about it, with lots of mature trees for shade, BBQ facilities and some picnic tables, toilets and a hall with wood heater (hope we don't need this!) and kitchen. Cars can be driven right to the site.

Linda, a current and active BSAR member, and her husband Rob Rigato successfully skied to the North Pole in April this year after a strenuous 55 days. At the North Pole they were helicopered out to the Russian Barneo Station and from there on to Svalbard, Norway by the last plane for the season. Linda becomes the first Australian woman to have skied from the edge of the land to the North Pole, and the first to have done the same trip to the north and south poles.

With the recent good snow falls and the upcoming training weekend, here's a good article that covers efficient snow removal when finding persons after an avalanche.

The June 2010 issue of our newsletter Behind the Log is out now. This edition contains details on our recent searches as well as our upcoming training event.