Australia Australia - Prabhdeep Srawn, 25, Canadian, Snowy Mtns, NSW, 13 May 2013

[FigTree]

From Help Find Prabhdeep's Facebook page:

Lets hear it for a the volunteers! Since yesterday they've been searching the west side of Townsend, covering a lot of ground. This area is a key strategic area since it is where the last ping between a satellite tower and Prabh's phone was found. This area is very steep and covered in dense vegetation. Lets all pray for everyones safety and that this heroic team be shown the path to Prabh soon.

3 cheers for the volunteers!!
It must be starting to get cold at Kosciusko now.
Prayers and strength to the family of Prabh and too the searchers!

 

[FigTree]

Clothing item...
On Find Prabhdeep's FB website a new photo related to a jacket that Prabhdeep was wearing on the day he disappeared. The FB page said he would have worn it under his hiking jacket.

I have a lot of faith that they will find him.

.

 

[Deezee]

Did anyone else immediately think of those tourists such as Sam woodhead earlier this year ? many believe he intentionally 'got lost' bear grills style as a personal challenge/survival challenge in aus. I am not saying that's what happened here, but just putting it out there.

Also, Do we know if he was carrying a gps beacon or any other type of locator? If he was, but it wasn't triggered, then that leans more towards a serious injury or fall. Being a 'survivalist' I would of thought that he definitely would if been carrying one.

If he wasn't carrying one.. Then why not? Could he of deliberately gone walkabout? was there anything in his personal life that turned south? I was up around there the other week on an overnight trek and didn't see any flyers/alerts/photos.

That said, One of his relatives mentioned...
http://oztopix.com/node/21083#.UclqNmthiK0

Dr Sahota is eager to defuse the suggestion that his cousin may have deliberately gone missing.
"Prabh was up in Canada about a month ago. We played two games of chess and I beat him both times. He was telling me that this would be his last semester in Australia and he wanted to see a couple more parts of the country.
"He had had a really great time in Australia, he looked healthy, he looked strong. He didn't look sad or depressed or like he wanted to get away from it all. His roommate said he was in great spirits

Sorry for not formatting this properly as I am on a tablet...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[SapphireSteel]

Maybe he didn't want to leave Australia at all.

 

[FigTree]

From what the reports say and from what I have read on the Facebook page set up by his family, he was a responsible guy who was about to graduate this year from law school after studying in Australia.
There has been no mention of him having a beacon on him, though he did have his phone. The last Ping from his phone was around the west face of Mount Townsend. Early stages of the search found his water bottle and the recent search as located what they believe to be Prabh's footprint.

I still wonder if my theory (posted way back in the thread) that the maps he was using gave him the wrong track or area to take may hold true - but if he did go off the path I think he would have a better than most chance that he would have been able to find his way back, or to the road or have found one of the huts which are scattered in the Park for shelter.
His future looked bright and there was seemingly no reason to suggest a voluntary disappearance.

I hope the searchers have all the luck with them they need.
Prayers for his family.

 

[FigTree]

Find Prabhdeep FB page has a great photo of the NZ search and rescue dogs and their handlers - just arrived in Australia. They are on the case to find Prabhdeep.

I was really surprised to read that Police had not called in dogs to search before!
I read that (FB page) volunteers had come with their dogs to try and help as the search grew cold - but dogs would have been a great asset in the searches very early on in the piece.
I'm glad they're here now.
Good luck to the dogs!

picture of the Search & Rescue team from NZ with their dogs at Canberra airport

 

[CuriousGrace]

Clothing item...
On Find Prabhdeep's FB website a new photo related to a jacket that Prabhdeep was wearing on the day he disappeared. The FB page said he would have worn it under his hiking jacket.

I have a lot of faith that they will find him.

.

Do you mean find him alive or deceased?

I feel so sorry for his family. They are so loving and I can feel their despair and desperation. Unfortunately it's just not an area where people without experience can search otherwise so many more would have got involved.

 

[CuriousGrace]

I do not mean to speculate but it doesn't matter what age you are, when you go on a expedition alone you must always be extremely cautious and sometimes at such a young age you do believe you have the skills to survive however there will always be a new environmental encounters with these types of hikes alone. It's really sad Who flew the Canadian soldiers out? Who paid them? Feel so sorry for his sister especially, she has worked tirelessly!

JMO

 

[FigTree]

Do you mean find him alive or deceased?

I feel so sorry for his family. They are so loving and I can feel their despair and desperation. Unfortunately it's just not an area where people without experience can search otherwise so many more would have got involved.

From what I have read
The family are treating it as a search and rescue, not a recovery. They have so much faith not only in Prabhdeep but I think they have huge support from their community back home in Canada, and their divine faith as well. They are going beyond the call - they really are making a huge effort under difficult circumstances. I wish the Government in Australia had given them more help and support.

I'm surprised there aren't tonnes of people out there looking for him. The ski season is open there, so there would be more people available. I hope some of them have volunteered their time to the cause of searching while they are there.

I also hope the search by officials wasn't scaled back because the ski season was about to start and they thought it might be detrimental. I was listening to a report from a resort representative around the time the season was about to begin (just after the search for Prabh had been scaled back) - all they were really concerned about was getting people to spend money there and how much of a competitive business it was. How they had to see Australia as a great place to come. It just sounded cold against the realization that someone out there was missing

I hope they have news of Prabh soon.
Prayers for the family and all those doing the search.

 

[FigTree]

I do not mean to speculate but it doesn't matter what age you are, when you go on a expedition alone you must always be extremely cautious and sometimes at such a young age you do believe you have the skills to survive however there will always be a new environmental encounters with these types of hikes alone. It's really sad Who flew the Canadian soldiers out? Who paid them? Feel so sorry for his sister especially, she has worked tirelessly!

JMO

Yes, I think going anywhere new is always a risk if you don't know the exact terrain and the exact paths.

The Canadian Soldiers (as far as Im aware) came out on their own accord to look for him - they were his friends in the Army.

Prabhdeep had been studying at University in Australia so he must have been settled enough in Australia to feel familiar, and the winters aren't anywhere near as harsh (snow wise) as they are in Canada. There is not a lot of snow.
But he didn't go on the hike (as I can remember reading) as well equipped as maybe he could have been. He had his phone, but the coverage/reception there is apparently not fantastic for phones. I'm not sure how he was dressed - except for the grey jacket he bought when he was there) - maybe they don't know what he was wearing, but it would help if it was known.

 

[CuriousGrace]

From what I have read
The family are treating it as a search and rescue, not a recovery. They have so much faith not only in Prabhdeep but I think they have huge support from their community back home in Canada, and their divine faith as well. They are going beyond the call - they really are making a huge effort under difficult circumstances. I wish the Government in Australia had given them more help and support.

I'm surprised there aren't tonnes of people out there looking for him. The ski season is open there, so there would be more people available. I hope some of them have volunteered their time to the cause of searching while they are there.

I also hope the search by officials wasn't scaled back because the ski season was about to start and they thought it might be detrimental. I was listening to a report from a resort representative around the time the season was about to begin (just after the search for Prabh had been scaled back) - all they were really concerned about was getting people to spend money there and how much of a competitive business it was. How they had to see Australia as a great place to come. It just sounded cold against the realization that someone out there was missing

I hope they have news of Prabh soon.
Prayers for the family and all those doing the search.

Me too. I agree with your sentiments. I knew the ski season was about to start but how has the snow been there? I know a lot of skiers and I haven't heard any of them making the trek this season. Is it quieter than normal with tourists? 2 months missing in such dire conditions would indicate he is deceased now but unfortnately the attempt to find his remains in this environment until the snow completely clears will prove difficult. I know the family hold hope but reality of the conditions are against them. I agree with you, had it been an Australian national missing search efforts would be extremely different.

 

[CuriousGrace]

Maybe he didn't want to leave Australia at all.

I do not know what this poster means? Was his visa meant to expire? Or something more sinister and sad?

 

[CuriousGrace]

Yes, I think going anywhere new is always a risk if you don't know the exact terrain and the exact paths.

The Canadian Soldiers (as far as Im aware) came out on their own accord to look for him - they were his friends in the Army.

Prabhdeep had been studying at University in Australia so he must have been settled enough in Australia to feel familiar, and the winters aren't anywhere near as harsh (snow wise) as they are in Canada. There is not a lot of snow.
But he didn't go on the hike (as I can remember reading) as well equipped as maybe he could have been. He had his phone, but the coverage/reception there is apparently not fantastic for phones. I'm not sure how he was dressed - except for the grey jacket he bought when he was there) - maybe they don't know what he was wearing, but it would help if it was known.

Awww love the Canadian soldiers

The Gold Coast is extremely different to the Snowy Mountains. I thought he was studying in Sydney, didn't realise he was a Gold Coast student? Do people normally trek alone in the Snowy Mountains? Neve heard of it, ever. No one ever treks there with 2 months worth of supply, you can't just camp there for weeks, and never heard of anyone doing it alone. Very strange. What was the last communication from him? Who was the very LAST person to see him? And has there been any evidence he was there? I know it's an extremely large region, just trying to understand last point of contact.

JMO

 

[FigTree]

I do not know what this poster means? Was his visa meant to expire? Or something more sinister and sad?

I'm not sure now after reading it again. I dont know when and if his visa was about to expire - there has been no news relating to that, though I didn't sleuth it.
I don't think he would have had any trouble with a visa - apparently he was doing well with his studied and he was to gradate this year.
:dunno: at this stage.

 

[FigTree]

Awww love the Canadian soldiers

The Gold Coast is extremely different to the Snowy Mountains. I thought he was studying in Sydney, didn't realise he was a Gold Coast student? Do people normally trek alone in the Snowy Mountains? Neve heard of it, ever. No one ever treks there with 2 months worth of supply, you can't just camp there for weeks, and never heard of anyone doing it alone. Very strange. What was the last communication from him? Who was the very LAST person to see him? And has there been any evidence he was there? I know it's an extremely large region, just trying to understand last point of contact.

JMO

Yeah, I don't know why, I thought he was at Bathurst Uni - but he was at Bond University in QLD Australia.

A few articles give a overview of when he went missing:
Sorry, some of the info overlaps, but I found some information which answered some of my questions too.

read more:

The 25-year-old from Hamilton, Ont. is missing in Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales. Srawn was a Canadian Forces reservist from 2005 to 2011, belonging to the 31 Service Battalion's Hamilton Company. His immediate family moved to Brampton in 2012 after he left for Australia.

Read more:

The 25-year-old Canadian law student was last seen parking his rented vehicle at Charlotte Pass, and setting off towards the Main Range Walking Track in Kosciuszko National Park, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, and possibly carrying a light ski jacket.
The trek from Charlotte Pass along the Main Range walk winds through alpine country above the tree line, cutting between and climbing over the rough peaks of the Snowy Mountains.
---
Prabhdeep Srawn, the Canadian bushwalker missing in the Kosciuszko National Park
On the morning Prabh set off, it was a fine,mild day - temperatures were above zero, and the walking track was clear.
But late in the afternoon a cold front moved through, with the resulting blizzard dumping centimetres of snow, covering the paths. He didn't make it back to his car that night.
The alarm was raised a week later.
---
Not much is known about how well-prepared Prabh was. When Mandeep found her brother's laptop, a search revealed his likely route was towards Mount Townsend, Australia's second-highest peak, north-west of Mount Kosciuszko and a short distance off the Main Range walk.
---
Mandeep and Rajveer found dozens of pages of notes on "winter warfare" filed on his computer, with evidence of planning for the hike in the search history.
But police don't know what supplies Prabh took with him for a trek which is usually just a day trip.
---
Prabh had researched the area and had the advantage of army survival training, but he had set out without a GPS device or powerful personal locator beacon.
The discovery of a water bottle bearing the logo of a scuba diving company Prabh had dived with could have been a signal of his whereabouts but there is no indication he took specialist snow gear, adequate food or any kind of shelter.
---
At one stage a sound - thought to be the voice of a man - was heard, prompting a refocused search, but nothing was found.

Read more:

Bond University student and former Canadian army reservist Prabhdeep Srawn, 25, has been missing since May 13, when he parked his vehicle at Charlotte Pass and walked into Kosciuszko National Park.
---
Mr Srawn's family, who have been staying in Jindabyne since arriving in Australia a week ago, said they were extremely disappointed with the co-ordination of the search but they still believed he would be found alive.
---
Mandeep said they had also scoured through Prabhdeep's computer and found more than 30 pages of military lecture notes on ''winter warfare'' and survival techniques for extreme conditions.
''He's been lecturing how to survive in those conditions, so I highly doubt that he didn't know what to do when that [blizzard] hit him,'' she said.

Wikki source:Bond University - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[CuriousGrace]

Thank you so much for all information, FigTree! I am really concerned with the clothes he was last wearing, doesn't seem suitable? And I am worried there was no mention of him carrying a backpack? Is there any evidence he took survival gear with him?

Did he rent the vehicle for this specific adventure? If he took a flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney or Canberra, had he purchased a return ticket to fly home and if so, when was the return date? If not, how long had he intended to rent the rental car for? You do need to provide all these details to the company and provide a deposit. That might provide an indication on how long he intended to stay for the trek. If he did drive, it still would have been at least a 13 hour plus journey from the Gold Coast. He may have been tired and disoriented and set off from there and not having been well rested, got himself into unexpected trouble.

JMO

 

[LadyL]

makes no sense to me that he's been described as a survivalist who intended to climb a mountain in freezing conditions without apparently being adequately prepared

I wish the search hadn't been scaled back so soon & I wish more people had been able to get there earlier to help because I think within the first few days there was hope but sadly I feel none now

the report of hearing a man call out for help haunts me - I think it was him and I think he could've been saved then JMO

 

[FigTree]

Thank you so much for all information, FigTree! I am really concerned with the clothes he was last wearing, doesn't seem suitable? And I am worried there was no mention of him carrying a backpack? Is there any evidence he took survival gear with him?

Did he rent the vehicle for this specific adventure? If he took a flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney or Canberra, had he purchased a return ticket to fly home and if so, when was the return date? If not, how long had he intended to rent the rental car for? You do need to provide all these details to the company and provide a deposit. That might provide an indication on how long he intended to stay for the trek. If he did drive, it still would have been at least a 13 hour plus journey from the Gold Coast. He may have been tired and disoriented and set off from there and not having been well rested, got himself into unexpected trouble.

JMO

In one of the articles it said...

The 25-year-old Canadian law student was last seen parking his rented vehicle at Charlotte Pass

So it was a rental. It might have been the non return of the car that sparked the search.
The Bond University website says they have a semester which starts 6th May, but Prabhdeep was missing from Charlottes Pass on May 13th - that was the day classes commenced - but I have not researched his University timetable - he may not have had to have been there for that semester - or he had finished his exams maybe?
From what I gather he was staying in a hotel - though I dont know which one.
It might be a good idea to do up a timeline - im getting confused - its starting to be a long time now

 

[FigTree]

makes no sense to me that he's been described as a survivalist who intended to climb a mountain in freezing conditions without apparently being adequately prepared

I wish the search hadn't been scaled back so soon & I wish more people had been able to get there earlier to help because I think within the first few days there was hope but sadly I feel none now

the report of hearing a man call out for help haunts me - I think it was him and I think he could've been saved then JMO

I have the feeling that because the day was so nice, he was just in tourist mode - and possibly didn't think he would need to be in survival mode. There were others on the path he was trekking too - so there were people around. I wish I could find the article that said another trekker who was interviewed said 'he knew he was not too far behind him (Prabh) because he could see his footprints on the path.'

The round trip on the WALKING MAP from GOOGLE says the trip back to the carpark via Mt Townsend (Caruthers Peak) takes 5 hours 4 minutes to walk (map below) - so I dont think Prabh thought he would be gone all day - 6 hours at the most for a fit person - he was 25 y.o.

What concerns me in the NORMAL MAP from GOOGLE puts Mt Townsend in a different area. I had questioned before about what type of maps he had taken with him. There are spots on the track that are not well marked or crisscross over other tracks - one wrong turn and you could be walking away from your destination instead of towards it.

The have the K9 squad from New Zealand there now - thats a great help. Those dogs have experience in the snow for sure.

Lets hope the puppies get some results!

Map 1 is the walking track map
Map 2 normal map

 

[FigTree]

Hope springs anew - Prabhdeep did take a good amount of supplies with him for his trek.

A recent report on Find Prabhdeep Facebook page posted from a relative:

New detail: In addition to being appropriately dressed Prabh had bought a fair amount of food for his hike. He had purchased a 2 liter jug of OJ, 12 eggs, salami, beef, nuts, granola bars, water and TONS of fruits. This is very different from what the police claimed which was only a couple of granola bars and water.

His shopping list the night before the hike:
Home brand spring water 1.5 liter qty 3
Orange juice 2 liter
Market value salad spinacn 160 g
Banana 1 kg
Home brand eggs 12 pk
Snack pots cranberry & nut medley 200g
Red apples .5 kg
Walnuts californian 190g
Deli fresh honey ham 125g
Deli fresh mild salami 80g
Deli fresh spicy chorizo salami 80g
Deli fresh roast chicken 100g

He had food - which is great news, and he was appropriately dressed for the hike. This would make a huge difference.
Now they have clues to look for on the search too - paper, wrappers, cartons, containers.

I'm glad this was posted because so little information regarding his preparations were given at the beginning (from mainstream media news) that in this case each little survival item gives a little more hope.

Main stream media and Police may not have known what Prabhdeep took with him, but the new family Search & Rescue efforts seem to be pulling up clues left right and centre. They were the ones that searched Prabhdeep's car and found his computer, and his maps.

On the FB page, Prabhdeep's sister Mandeep has posted a very good scenario of people who have survived for a very long time when lost - people who have faced more extreme challenges with less food, and in colder environments.

She has the right to have hope for Prahbdeep.

The search continues.