So, on New Year’s Eve he packed up his four-wheel-drive and set off to see for himself.
However, about 40 minutes after turning off the paved roads, his new-year’s plans would change.
“I got about two kilometres off the peak, when I saw a guy walking down the road,” Riley said.
He said the man, who looked about 18, had no shirt on and frantically started to wave at him.
“I pulled over, and he told me he was lost,” Riley said.
“He told me he’d been up there for two days. He left his mates the day before, and he’d slept on the side of the road the previous night.”
The man told Riley he was there to camp and ride his dirt bike, and when it broke down his friends set off to get help, while he stayed with the bike.
When they hadn’t returned in several hours, the man had also set off to try and find help.
“He was pretty excited to see me,” Riley said.
“He said he was shocked there hadn’t been anyone else up there.”
While attempting to walk out, the man had also lost the location of his camp.
So Riley drove to a nearby property where they asked the resident if he knew of any camping area nearby.
He did not.
“We had a drive and couldn’t find it, then decided it was best to head back to Benalla,” Riley said.
The pair then exchanged emails and the man headed into the police station.
It was only after driving off that Riley realised he had never got the man’s name.
A police spokesperson confirmed that the man was dropped at Benalla Police Station on New Year’s Eve, and was picked up shortly after by friends.
Riley has emailed the man, but is yet to hear back. He is hoping he gets in touch soon to find out if he managed to find his campsite and bike.
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