Lions Bay Search and Rescue responded to another call on Mount Brunswick after a hiker found herself caught out after dark.
The subject had started her hike late in the day and turned around approximately 1 km from the summit. She didn't have enough warm layers for the dropping temperatures, her phone battery was running low, and her headlamp — purchased earlier that day — was malfunctioning. She had no spare batteries.
She did, however, have 8 litres of water.
We regularly remind people to carry enough water on Brunswick because there are no reliable water sources along the route. However, preparedness is about balance. Eight litres is approximately 8 kg (17.6 lb) of weight. At this time of year, with cooler temperatures and generally lower sweat rates, around 3 litres would have been a much more reasonable amount for most hikers, with some of that weight better allocated to warm layers, a power bank and reliable lighting.
There's another important lesson here: new equipment isn't tested equipment.
If you buy a headlamp, satellite communicator, power bank or any other piece of safety equipment, don't discover how it works when you need it. Charge it fully, learn how to use it and test it at home before taking it into the mountains. For something as critical as lighting, carry spare batteries or a backup light.
Our days are getting significantly shorter. Even if you plan to be home well before sunset, always carry a headlamp and prepare for the possibility that your hike takes longer than expected.
Prepare for the whole day, not just one hazard.