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This was an amazing night.
I have been on many trips, trying to recreate what I experienced when I was 15.
This research isn't done alone, there was some tireless leg work by Dean and Gary and others over the last few weeks. That country is taxing and unforgiving.
To be honest, I just turned up like a rockstar after the roadies had done all the hard work.
The crew had located an access that was way easier than what they had been through. However, it was still gruelling trying to get that trolley all the way over to base camp. We never would have made it if the groundwork hadn't been done.
It got dark very quickly and we were still pushing that cart in pitch black. Reports state that the moon phase was at 5% waning crescent.
Camp was set up in short order and while the gents were cooking up a sausage fest, I had a quick tutorial on the Guide Thermal and off I went. While I had a head lamp on, I never used it. I prefer not using a torch.
My first heat signature was curious, it was located off the ground and had two heat signatures on either side of the tree. I estimate roughly 1.5meters above those I saw a rounded heat signature that was at odds with it being a possum or Koalas head, I perceived it to be looking back in the direction of camp.
I let the team know I was investigating, I was trying to rule out the obvious. When I saw a heat signature that strayed so far from the possum, Koala scenario I radioed back to the crew that it wasn't either of those. The second time I radioed, I believe I was made.
A rounded face, with forward facing eyes looked at me, ducked its head behind the tree. I saw the left lower heat signature disappear, then the right. Then I heard something jump down and settle.
All this was about two minutes in total, I kept the thermal rolling and worked the track left and right trying to locate the heat signature again. After 20 minutes, I hit upon some stump action. Again I let the guys know I was investigating something, it was very odd and behaving oddly.
I wanted to zoom in. To do this the operator needs to turn off recording and use the same button that selects a batch of filters, that are variants of the main filter you're currently using.
I did this, I zoomed in and I had lost what I was looking at completely. It took a further 2 minutes to find something in the direction I was looking. The field of view is now narrowed and any movement I make is exaggerated and terrible. When I finally locate a heat source again, it is the moment I have been waiting for.
I radio base and tell them it's large, human shaped and I would like a back up thermal to sight myself and confirm the source.
While I am doing this the creature is filling the view finder and I believe I am missing the shot. I instinctively try to zoom out as I have done on countless cameras and video recorders and have forgotten to stop videoing. All I do it use the rear button and cycle through another set of dominant filters. I get it back to the Iron setting and zoom out.
In this brief moment, Gary confirms he will move up the track and does so. In a split second both creatures look in his direction and leave in the other. They were so quiet, it was amazing. The exit isn't captured... regrettably.
The next 15 minutes is with lots of clips of bush, Gary and Shannon searching as well. Nothing shows up so, I radio in and let them I will bring the camera back for review.
I do a brief rundown to camera of what's just happened and Gary hooks up the camera via wifi.
A few clips in Gary pulls up a file, that has the footage. We are all aghast... probably none more than me as the footage is very clear. Much clearer than I experienced. I had not focused the diopter to my focal length and now have my glasses on.
The following morning on departure, directly in our path of exit, we were left a message by the Concierge of the bush. One tall stick shoved in the centre of the track, a short stick shoved to the side of the track, a glyph on the ground, and the classic X marker. This was the cherry on top of the Hairycake.
Beginners luck with this thermal, yes. However we are no beginners.
None of this is possible without people like Dean pushing the boundaries. I remember the FLIR he purchased in 2010... that was amazing. There is a photo of one of us on a phone call to Dean in China. He is away on business and we are telling him how fabulous his new bit of kit is.
He lends it to us for 6 months or so before we let him have it back. Generous is a word well suited to him.
This is the third Thermal unit he has bought for AYR and it was fresh out of the box and I was using it again. So thanks Dean for affording myself the opportunity to add to this field of research so we can share it with the rest of the clan of hopefuls.
The Thermal image is of me, taken my my brother in the bush, Gary Lynn.
It's when I am filming them.
A shout out to Shannon who was with us on the night and a lot of fun to be with. A big hug to Sarah who was with us digitally. A thank you to all the researchers who get out there and help, to the others that lend their expertise in other ways.
And a big thank you to Dean for coordinating this effort for years.
I will happily name these few frames - The Harrisson Stickland Footage.
