This was published 4 years ago
Police hope missing campers are surviving by sleeping in their car
By Simone Fox Koob and Zach Hope
Friday will mark a week since Shannon Lowden and Caleb Forbes left for an overnight camping trip for the near-freezing and rugged conditions of Victoria's alpine region.
Days of searching from authorities – supported by dozens of family members, friends and locals – have failed to find the couple or their car.
As night fell on Thursday, the search parties trudged home to the knowledge Ms Lowden, 21, and Mr Forbes, 22, were facing a seventh night lost in the vast bush of the Baw Baw National Park.
Shannon Lowden and Caleb Forbes are missing after they failed to return from a camping trip.Credit: Victoria Police
Authorities, who will resume the search on Friday, hope the campers are surviving the harsh conditions by taking shelter and sleeping inside their car.
The task is made more difficult because the pair told family they were going to be in the Thomson Dam area, but weren't specific about their exact destination.
Search parties are hoping to find their car, which would mean they can focus their search on a particular area.
Inspector Shane Cashman, from Morwell police station, said after a weekend of rain and snow, the weather had settled down, which provided clear vision for searchers and warmer overnight temperatures for the missing pair.
He said on Thursday the search had already covered up to 2000 square kilometres.
"We've covered a large area from east of Rawson, north of the Thomson Dam towards Mount Useful and west of the Thomson Dam as well. It's probably up to 2000 square kilometres we've checked which is a large area," he told radio station 3AW.
The air wing has been scouring the dense bushland from above, and on Thursday off-road motorcyclists were sent to check all the bush tracks not visible from the sky.
"If they are in their car with camping gear to keep them warm, hopefully they will be okay," Inspector Cashman said.
"If they moved away from the car that's a concern. But if they stay with the car they would have water, some food supplies, but the water access will keep them going."
He said there was nothing in the pair's backgrounds which could suggest why they had disappeared.
"Nothing at all, totally out of character," he said.
Shannon Lowden's mother Debbie said she was hoping for a breakthrough in the search.Credit: Nine News
The pair left on Friday for the Thomson Dam, near Walhalla in West Gippsland, and were expected to return the next afternoon.
When they didn't return on Saturday, the family put it down to a decision to stay an extra night and poor phone reception, Ms Lowden's mother Debbie said.
The alarm was raised when Mr Forbes failed to show up to work on Sunday and again on Monday.
Debbie Lowden said on Wednesday she was "nervous, worried and a little bit scared" but was trying to stay positive.
She said her daughter was outgoing, bubbly and the type of woman who would do anything for her friends.
"I'd say I love you, come home," she said. "I've made you some chocolate muffins. They're sitting here waiting for you, just come and get them."
Anyone who was in the area over the weekend and saw the car – a green 1994 Nissan Patrol wagon with the registration FQC 467 – is urged to contact police.
The car the pair were travelling in. Credit: Victoria Police