Exploring the Outback = beautiful … but whatever you do, don’t drive onto any red dirt that is wet = instant bog!
Join me as I share my 3 hour (2 and 3/4 hours to be exact) dig-out from a bog formed in a small patch of water in Aussie’s red outback dirt in Thrushton National Park, Queensland.
This was a good test of my systems, my self-rescue gear.
I certainly learnt a lot through the process, & from reviewing it all afterwards.
As they say "hindsight is 20:20 vision" and with the the clarity that comes after an event, I realise I probably should have tried using the Maxtrax under the front wheels. Given how bogged my rear diff was I didn't even consider it at the time.
I have since bought some additional self-rescue gear.
NOTE: I did have my Garmin 'Inreach' emergency satellite GPS/message device with me, so was in no serious danger of being lost forever.
After an hour of digging I decided to let my key contacts know I was stuck and that I would keep them informed of my progress.
I asked my mate back in NZ (Kev) to find the number for the local park ranger for me if he could.
As part of the process to help me, he contacted the nearest Police Station, to learn it was closed on a Sunday. Being a smart bloke and knowing it was a very small town he thought to try the local pub... (very smart).
When he phoned the pub to ask for advice, they confirmed that if I had driven onto any wet dirt I would most definitely be bogged. Locals know best.
The publican gave Kev the number for the local policeman.
The local policeman then phoned the my boss to check it was not a crank call.
At work the next day my boss told me that the police asked, "do you have a Tania working for you and is she likely to be camping in the park?". YES, my boss said, that will be her.
So... Policeman gets into his uniform (it was his day off), gets into his 4x4 and drives all the way out to the park. Legend!
By the time he had arrived I had self-rescued and was navigating my way along the roads (aka dirt tracks) towards the main highway. I was still very pleased to see him.
Darren the local policeman was great to chat to. Apparently I am not the 1st person he has come to rescue out of the park and he confirmed its very easy to get bogged. He also confirmed that my decision to turn around and return back the way I had entered the park rather than proceeding on was a wise decision. Yah.
At the same time I contacted Kev in NZ for help, as a backup I also texted a colleague to ask who might be able to tow me out if I could not self-rescue.
I was not sure if either Kev or my colleague were near their phones and thought it best to notify my local contact as well as my key "I am safe" contact back home.
Thanks to both Kev and my colleague for being available, for checking in with my self-rescue progress via satellite texts.
A great test of the system, my gear and how to use it.... and a bit of solid exercise in the process.
If you were worried about what I would have done if I had not been able to get out so promptly.. I have about 80 litres of water on board, sufficient food to last a couple of weeks, plenty of shade from awnings and a stack of good books to read.
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