The body of a 27-year-old bushwalker who went missing last week has been found at Tasmania’s Federation Peak. Authorities have not yet released his name.
The man set out to hike the 72km Eastern Arthur Range Traverse last Tuesday. He had intended to finish over the weekend. When there was no word from him by then, a friend raised the alarm on Monday afternoon.
Five ground crews and a helicopter began a three-day search, and one of the ground teams found his body on Wednesday. They spotted a beanie hat, gloves, and backpack rain cover. This led them to the location of the body at the bottom of a cliff face on one of the approaches to Federation Peak. They believe the man perished in a fall.
Emergency services at the scene. Photo: Tasmania Police
Searchers have not yet managed to retrieve the body because of its difficult location and the high winds, which grounded the helicopter.
The bushwalker was experienced and had a military background but was not carrying a personal locator beacon or satellite phone.
The Eastern Arthur Range Traverse is not an easy route. It usually takes experienced hikers between six and nine days to finish.
“This walk is for physically capable and highly experienced walkers who are confident with navigation, cliffs, and rock scrambling, pack hauling, and extreme weather,” said the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service.
Lately, winds in the region have reached up to 100kph, and the rain-slicked trail has made for difficult, even dangerous walking. In the last 10 years, police have made 20 recoveries in the Federation Peak area, including six deaths.
