Missing Bushwalker Warren Meyer
Submitted: Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 14:19
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TerraFirma
I have been reading the various theories on missing bushwalker Warren Meyer who vanished in The Mt Dom Dom saddle area. Extensive searches have not revealed his body nor belongings , he was equipped with GPS , Mapping and Phone etc etc. Police believe the maps he was using were not accurate or up to date with old and newer tracks etc and because of the forest density the GPS may not have been working.
I find it difficult to understand why they haven't located his body, perhaps it was moved.? (Assuming accidental shooting, or foul play). If he had a heart attack surely they would have found him on one of the tracks.? Also wondering how big is the issue of GPS devices becoming ineffective in this envirorment when they are most needed, I haven't used
mine in a thick forest enviroment, are there any tricks to getting a signal.?
Anyone got any theories or beliefs on his dissappearance, it would be very difficult for his family and friends without some form of closure.?
Reply By: Member - Warfer (VIC) - Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 16:19
Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 16:19
Hiya TerraFirma
It makes you feel like going for a looksee yourself doesnt it....Not that search and rescue/police didnt try hard...
It only takes missing the body by 1 metre,cuddled up because he is cold and thats it....
Tree canopy coverage will stop your GPS dead....Simple as that...Even if you hav a small
clearing,It depends where the sat is too at the time...
Cheers
Oh
*Anyone got any theories or beliefs on his dissappearance*
Theres always plenty of speculates lol
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Reply By: Mike Harding - Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 17:51
Monday, Jun 02, 2008 at 17:51
I spend quite a bit of time in the Vic forests and use my GPS regularly, it's an aged Garmin 12XL and has the original Rockwell chip set (8 channel iirc). Heavy tree cover can be a problem but it has never stopped me getting a signal - just takes a bit longer. Find out where you are and the bearing you need to follow back to
camp them use a compass checking with the GPS occasionally.
It's easy to become confused in terrain without reference points in the distance and one may be tempted to "follow our instincts" and take a direction contrary to the compass/GPS which can be a dangerous thing to do - deserts are bad for this - even people experienced in these areas of navigation can fall prey.
As for finding a body; in most of our dense forests unless it were on/close to a track - very difficult, and if he had snuggled up in the base of a tree, or similar, to keep out of the weather almost impossible.
Like you, TerraFirma, I do feel for the family - a loved one gone with no explanation, very hard to cope with.
Mike Harding
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307357
Reply By: Robin Miller - Tuesday, Jun 03, 2008 at 08:28
Tuesday, Jun 03, 2008 at 08:28
Hi Terra
Even my new srf111 chipset gps loses signal up there , and I never yet plotted a continuous track over the Black Spur. Hills are steep and lots of wet trees and fog.
I have been in a least 3 situations where people have got lost within 2-300m and loose the ability to think rationally.
Their have also ben cases where someone has been lost forever in a known 700m wide area (thinking of boy at top of
Wilson Prom here) .
So I would think it perfectly possible that the most likely just happened.
I.E. He got off track , and got dissabled for some reason , and just ran out of time in the end.
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Tuesday, Jun 03, 2008 at 11:46
Tuesday, Jun 03, 2008 at 11:46
if u use an external antenna the dropouts stop in my experience
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