Sunday Herald Sun, October 27, 2002
MATTHEW BAYLEY

It is renowned as one of the most arduous and isolated treks in the world.
Winding for 1800km over parched sand dunes through one of the world's most inhospit able environments, the
Canning Stock Route in Western Australia presents a huge challenge to even the most experienced and well
prepared adventurer. But to German tourist Kirn Hardt, 36, it was just going to be another trip down the autobahn.
Armed with a minimal supply of water and fuel, but plenty of beer, Mr Hardt set off, confident that if he encountered a
problem help would be soon at hand. It came as a shock to him that when he became bogged down in
a salt pan he was unable to summon prompt roadside assistance and was forced to spend five days trapped in the searing desert with almost no water and his life under serious threat.....