Rescued: An Outdoor Podcast for Hikers and Adventurers

One of the biggest barriers that stops people from getting out and connecting with nature — through hiking or bushwalking — is the fear of getting lost.
Today's guest is no stranger to the bush. She'd done some research, packed for the conditions, let someone know her plans and downloaded the AllTrails app. But despite all of that, her 10 km day walk (which should’ve taken about 4-5 hours) turned into an unplanned night out, alone, in difficult terrain, with the looming anxiety of being completely lost.
She's sharing her story today with real courage and gratitude, having received a bit of unhelpful judgment after the event. So in the spirit of the Rescued Podcast, I ask that we receive her story with kindness and see what we can all learn from her experience.
Key learnings from this episode:
If you’re lost, stay where you are unless it’s not safe to do so
The importance of slowing down to think through decisions if something goes wrong, not rushing about or panicking
The value of rest on your body and mind when something goes wrong
Why packing (or wearing) thermals is a good idea
Being sensitive to anyone you know (or work with) who may experience something like this
Why it’s always a good idea to carry a raincoat, even if it’s not forecast to rain while you’re out
Understanding that apps like AllTrails are best when used as one (of many) research tools (ie. when looking to walk in a new area), not relied on for navigation
Gathering reviews and comments from people online can be a helpful tool in research, but they’re subjective: what’s easy for one person can be hard for another. The Australian Walking Track Grading System is an objective national guideline.
The value of carrying a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)
Carrying a first aid kit with an emergency blanket
The strength of not walking/adventuring solo - groups like bushwalking clubs or other groups/MeetUps/organisations are great resources if you don’t have any outdoorsy friends
The limitations of smartphones to pinpoint location via apps when under/near the base of clifflines or in narrow, deep areas
Why it’s good to test out gear/equipment/apps before relying on them in the bush
Importance of carrying a battery power bank to keep phones and other devices charged
Planning for contingencies - even for a short day walk such as extra food, water, clothing layers and an emergency bivvy (eg. SOL bivvy bag) for unplanned overnight or in an accident
When leaving your trip intentions with people, write down the details or send them the link/details via SMS/email
NB: Olga refers to a ladder that she used to ascend a short section. This ladder is not part of the old and decommissioned waterboard structures attached to the cliff face in the area-these are inaccessible.
Other Resources:
Day hike packing list
Overnight hike packing list

LISTEN to part 1 first
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The things we love to do in nature can lead us to explore and discover places not just close to home, but to some very remote and uncharted places around the world.
In this special double episode of Rescued, we hear from 3 friends, all highly skilled and experienced canyoners, as they find themselves in the embrace of Taiwan’s small and dedicated canyoning and rescue community, after a life-threatening fall during a multiday expedition.
If you ever needed a reminder of the value of regular, high-quality wilderness first aid training and the importance of being able to rely on the people you adventure with - this is it.
This isn't a straightforward pack n’ send case of helicopter, paramedics and hospital. Their reliance on each other, their skills and a solid sense of humour is put to the test throughout this 2 day ordeal.
Key learnings from this episode:
The importance of having the right skills, training and experience for the environments
The ability to make fair self-assessments of the above
Planning is key to better outcomes
Research multiple contingency plans, if your exit from a canyon doesn’t work, are there alternatives you can see on satellite imagery? Plan refuge and camp spots
Being able to rely completely on your adventure buddies if something goes wrong. Q: Can you say this about strangers you connect with on MeetUps or similar?)
Value of research, local knowledge and connections
Huge thanks to the incredible and supportive local canyoning community of Taiwan
Being smart about choosing your emergency contacts and setting up a What’sApp group - briefing them all properly with plans, contingencies and giving them permission to act as your advocates if something happens
The essential recert and muscle memory of quality wilderness first aid training
Benefits of choosing to study Wilderness or RAFA over simple Senior First Aid
Brainstorm and practice of roping and rescue problems at home and in easier environments before being confident to execute them in challenging ones
Good open, inclusive and frank communication in and around a patient
How humour can help with stressful situations
Everyone knowing their job and getting it done
How party size can change outcomes in an incident
Importance of essential survival skills eg: fire making, knowing priorities for survival
Stove, lighters and Nalgenes as essential canyon equipment
Making sure your first aid kit is up-to-date (when was the last time you made sure you had enough panadol and ibuprofen?)
Bright clothes, bothy bag, emergency blankets to draw attention
Knowing how to prepare for helicopters and downwash
Aussie registered PLBs activated overseas are received by AMSA in Canberra
There's a bunch of different ways you could help support the work of this pod:
Leave a review on your platform of choice
Leave a donation towards the costs
Visit my sponsors at Paddypallin.com.au
Buy my book - "How to Navigate - the art of traditional map and compass navigation in an Australian context."
Check out my Navigation Courses

The things we love to do in nature can lead us to explore and discover places not just close to home, but to some very remote and uncharted places around the world.
These activities, like bushwalking/hiking, climbing or canyoning, give us opportunities to step outside the typical tourist or visitor experience, not only opening our eyes to cultures different to our own, but on a deeper level, the chance to connect with the local outdoor community through our shared love of wild places.
In this special double episode of Rescued, we hear from 3 friends, all highly skilled and experienced canyoners, as they find themselves in the embrace of Taiwan’s small and dedicated canyoning and rescue community, after a life-threatening fall during a multiday expedition.
If you ever needed a reminder of the value of regular, high-quality wilderness first aid training and the importance of being able to rely on the people you adventure with - this is it.
This isn't a straightforward pack n’ send case of helicopter, paramedics and hospital. Their reliance on each other, their skills and a solid sense of humour is put to the test throughout this 2 day ordeal.
Key learnings from this episode:
The importance of having the right skills, training and experience for the environments
The ability to make fair self-assessments of the above
Planning is key to better outcomes
Research multiple contingency plans, if your exit from a canyon doesn’t work, are there alternatives you can see on satellite imagery? Plan refuge and camp spots
Being able to rely completely on your adventure buddies if something goes wrong. Q: Can you say this about strangers you connect with on MeetUps or similar?)
Value of research, local knowledge and connections
Huge thanks to the incredible and supportive local canyoning community of Taiwan
Being smart about choosing your emergency contacts and setting up a What’sApp group - briefing them all properly with plans, contingencies and giving them permission to act as your advocates if something happens
The essential recert and muscle memory of quality wilderness first aid training
Benefits of choosing to study Wilderness or RAFA over simple Senior First Aid
Brainstorm and practice of roping and rescue problems at home and in easier environments before being confident to execute them in challenging ones
Good open, inclusive and frank communication in and around a patient
How humour can help with stressful situations
Everyone knowing their job and getting it done
How party size can change outcomes in an incident
Importance of essential survival skills eg: fire making, knowing priorities for survival
Stove, lighters and Nalgenes as essential canyon equipment
Making sure your first aid kit is up-to-date (when was the last time you made sure you had enough panadol and ibuprofen?)
Bright clothes, bothy bag, emergency blankets to draw attention
Knowing how to prepare for helicopters and downwash
Aussie registered PLBs activated overseas are received by AMSA in Canberra
There's a bunch of different ways you could help support the work of this pod:
Leave a review on your platform of choice
Leave a donation towards the costs
Visit my sponsors at Paddypallin.com.au
Buy my book - "How to Navigate - the art of traditional map and compass navigation in an Australian context."
Check out my Navigation Courses

How many decisions do you reckon you’ve made today?
It's probably the conscious ones that come to mind. Do I wear the red shirt or blue top? 1 coffee or 6.
Believe it or not, The Harvard Business Review states that adults can make around 35,000 decisions each day and many of those happen automatically and simultaneously.
When we head out into the wild places we love, or find ourselves in environments with a higher level of risk, some of these decisions (conscious or otherwise) can have some pretty intense consequences.
Today, I’m joined by Hugh Ward, co-owner of the Blue Mountains Climbing School, to learn about an easy tool that we can use every day, to help us make better decisions, smarter choices and have better adventures.
He talks us through the established acronym F.A.C.E.T.S, developed by Ian Mcammon, based upon the work of Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tsversky. It was designed to highlight common deficiencies in our decision making (Heuristic Traps) and to offer a tool to temper the choices we make in high consequence environments.
Excitingly, he then steps us through a NEW acronym, A.C.C.E.S.S. that he has developed with Climbing School co-owner and wife, Bridie Campbell, that works better with Australian outdoor environments. You can read more and DOWNLOAD their handy pocket guide here.
Resources
Article on the Climbing School blog

It was the ABC News that first alerted the outdoors community to Macca's big wall fall near Blackheath in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. With over 30 years climbing under his belt, including many first ascents and stories, some of which are the stuff of legend, he is one of the Blue Mountains climbing community's most well-known characters.
Five years on from the accident, he joins me today with Sergeant Dal Atkinson, the team leader of Blue Mountains Police Rescue Squad, to speak about what happened and what the challenges of location, access, and weather made this one of the longest and most difficult cliff rescues in New South Wales.
https://youtu.be/IVtaK-v99jM