Holding thought he would die on mountain

A state government minister who says he thought he would die as he plunged down an
icy mountain face in the Victorian alps has vowed to make the trek again.
Tim Holding on Wednesday told his story of survival after he was discharged from a
Melbourne hospital following his helicopter rescue just 24 hours earlier.
Embarrassed and emotional, the Victorian tourism and water minister vowed to return
to the mountain that almost claimed his life.
But next time he'll take an emergency beacon and he won't go solo.
Mr Holding was stranded on Mount Feathertop, Victoria's second highest peak, for two
days after he slipped while descending the icy 1,922-metre summit on Sunday.
"When I slipped on Feathertop and I slid off the top, off the mountain, I thought I
was going to die," he told a packed media conference.
"I slid very, very fast ... you start slowly and you slide faster and faster and you
gather huge momentum.
"I had my pack on and as much as I tried to use my hands and my feet to gain
traction I just couldn't stop myself ... I thought I'd go off the edge of a cliff
and hit a rock and that would be it."
Mr Holding estimates he slid several hundred metres, spinning upside down, before he
came to a stop on a small ledge. There he was met by three hikers on their way up.
He declined an offer to join them, instead heading down below the snow line where he
thought he could safely follow a creek out.
But the terrain was wet and impenetrable.
He camped in the forest and spent the following night in a makeshift lean-to on a
rocky ledge.
Mr Holding's head lamp was spotted by an Australian Federal Police (AFP) plane using
secret surveillance equipment and he was winched out by helicopter the following
morning.
Critics say the minister had no place being on the mountain alone and without an
EPIRB (emergency beacon).
He conceded an EPIRB would have saved his family some anxiety, not to mention a
rescue bill of tens of thousands of dollars.
But the minister defended his decision to go alone and hopes his experience will not
discourage others from hiking solo.
"I don't think that's the fundamental issue. I take on board what comments people
have made about the EPIRB, and I'll make sure I have one in the future."
Mr Holding said he would return to Feathertop, which he has climbed twice before but
next time would be different.
"I'll go back there, I won't go back in the circumstances I found myself.
"I'd encourage everyone to come and if they want to come with me, jeez, I can act as
the guide now."
Mr Holding thanked all who assisted in his rescue and apologised for the grief he
had caused his family, saying he was officially "grounded" by his partner.
Police confirmed he would not be billed for the rescue.
The minister will return to parliament on Thursday sporting little more damage than
scratches, blisters, a swollen ankle - and a bruised ego.