Source : Perth Now news
A 30-year-old Melbourne bushwalker who was excited to complete a bucket list climb on one of Australia’s most notorious treks fell up to 100m to his death, a coroner has found.
The man, who has not been named, was part of a Melbourne hiking group and would go bushwalking with his partner most weekends.
The couple completed a 12 day trek along the Northern Territory’s Larapinta Trail in 2024 and decided to travel to Tasmania to complete the Eastern Arthur Range Traverse to climb the “notoriously difficult Federation Peak” about five months later.
The pair had appropriate clothing and supplies and gave themselves 10 days to complete the walk.
They commenced their trek from Scotts Peak Dam, about 150km west of Hobart, on December 22, 2024, and met another bushwalker who they invited to join them.
All three set off from a camp at Bechervaise Plateau to climb Federation Peak carrying packs with water, food, mobile phones and rain jackets in the early hours of December 30.
The man appeared really excited to complete his bucket list climb and used his mobile phone to find a junction to the peak, but could not locate the path because there was no established track to the area.
The trio stayed close together and climbed carefully tackling one ledge at a time, and encountered two more bushwalkers who told them the track was close by.
They backtracked then found a route with man-made markers and started following them vertically, but the track was steep.
As the trio climbed higher they noticed they were surrounded by exposed drops and decided to head back fearing it was unsafe to continue.
The man went around a rock corner and was out of sight of his partner and the other woman when he fell.
His companions heard a gasp followed by two thuds, but could not see him and he did not respond to their calls.
The two women returned to their camp and set of their personal locator beacon.
A search party and rescue helicopter found the man’s body the following morning, authorities estimated he fell between 80m and 100m.
A post-mortem identified the man suffered multiple blunt force injuries, the most serious were catastrophic head injuries.
“Given the scale of these injuries, it is highly unlikely that (he) was conscious or had a significant survival time following the injuries,” Coroner Madeline Wilson said.
The Coroner noted Federation Peak had been the site of multiple fatalities, with sheer faces and formidable jagged edges that was 1225m high.
She said the last few hundred metres of the ascent were almost vertical in places and the peak had a reputation as one of Australia’s most challenging bushwalking goals.
“The Eastern Arthur Range Traverse, and particularly the ascent of Federation Peak, is a challenging walk which should only be undertaken by highly experienced walkers and if within the individual’s capabilities,” she said.
“In particular, walkers should consider whether their experience is relevant and comparable to the hike to be undertaken. “Walkers should be prepared to turn back or change their plans if the weather conditions deteriorate or if the walk is more challenging than expected.
“For individuals undertaking their first hike in Tasmania, Federation Peak is an ambitious choice.”
