We do not believe that searching for VH-MDX should be conducted by other than truly competent off-track, remote area bushwalkers or by emergency services competent in remote area operations.
The Barrington Wilderness Area and surrounding areas are a magnificent part of Australia but also present several hazards. Extraction of an injured person is a major challenge even for trained emergency services on standby nearby.
Preservation of the Wilderness Area is an important goal and bushwalkers should ‘tread lightly’ and take out everything they take into this pristine environment. Searching for VH-MDX is not a valid reason to damage the Wilderness Area.
Private land adjoins the Wilderness Area and permission should always be sought to transit such land. Would you like it if people walked through your property without permission?
GNSS (‘GPS’) units need to be of the variety that specifically incorporate a ‘high sensitivity receiver’ as units without such a receiver tend not to function beneath the double and triple vegetation canopy that exists throughout much of the Barrington Wilderness Area.
Searching for VH-MDX is a great challenge and tests a number of skill sets. It can offer the competent wilderness bushwalker a challenging and enjoyable trip whilst offering our emergency services an excellent scenario for training and liaison opportunities between units. At the same time we can possibly offer closure to one of Australia’s great mysteries.
However, VH-MDX is not a treasure hunt; remember real people are involved.