Me and a group of experienced hikers went on a snowshoe hike at the Australian Alps one weekend. We had a plan to camp in the wilderness before making our way out the next day.

Midway through the hike at around midday, we were overcome by strong adverse weather, including heavy snow and strong winds, compounded by injuries to the group. Some people within the group could not continue any further, even though we were less than 1km from an emergency shelter/hut. We sheltered behind a large rock and immediately activated my ACR ResQLink PLB-400. From this point on, our group did our best to stay warm, putting on our layers, jackets, and using our sleeping bags. Due to the strong winds, we were not able to cook any hot food or boil any water. When nightfall came, we tried to set up a tent in the strong winds to get some reprieve from the elements. As a group, we did the right thing to not move away from our location, as we awaited rescue.

About 2 hours after sunset, rescue personnel arrived in snow terrain vehicles, including Police, Search & Rescue, and Paramedics. By this point, many in the group had suffered from cold exposure, but were all conscious and doing well.

To sum up, we are very grateful to all the individuals who supported the rescue effort that day. The emergency personnel reminded us that the PLB we activated played a significant role in helping rescue personnel locate and rescue us. The outcome of this day would have been very different without my PLB and the efforts of everyone involved.