Mount Bogong
Mount Bogong, located in the Australian National Park Alpine National Park, is the highest mountain in the state of Victoria. The Big River separates the massif of the Bogong High Plains plateau in the south. ' Bogong ' is an Aboriginal word meaning Bigfella.
Mount Bogong in winter is a popular destination for ski tourists, but it is only from the high snowy winter to spring. From Mount Beauty Mountain is 12 km in a straight line or 30 km on the road or on trails. Also the ski areas Mount Hotham and Falls Creek lie nearby. Tents are safe below the tree line, but the summit area is very exposed.
Emergency shelters are south of the summit and the Michell Hut on Eskdale ridge available to the Bivouac Hut at Staircase- ridge, the Cleve Cole Hut on the Camp Creek on the wide degree line.
Vegetation
From the bottom up to a height of approximately 1,300 meters is Mount Bogong high forests of Alpine Ash trees (Eucalyptus delegatensis ) covered, from 1,300 meters to 1,800 meters above sea level there are forest areas of different density with snow Eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus pauciflora ), above 1800 meters, the vegetation consists alpine shrubs, grasses and herbs.
A large part of the mountain slopes, particularly on the north side is heavily damaged by the large forest fires of 2003.
History
This impressive mountain rises above the valley of the Kiewa River and had a great significance for the local Aboriginal people.
The Aboriginal historian Eddie Kneebone noted that the tribes gathered in front of the ascent to Mount Bogong Bogong High Plains and in Mungabarreena ( near the present-day Albury ) on the Murray River. After the upcoming ceremonies, initiations, weddings, negotiations, arbitration of disputes and renewal of alliances and friendships, the groups of Albury went into the mountain regions to eat the protein-rich Bogong moths.
After the arrival of the Europeans, the Aboriginesgruppen were decimated and the survivors settled in reservations, often far away from their traditional tribal region. It is generally assumed that the major visits Aboriginal ended on Mount Bogong the mid-19th century. For some time served the pastures for cattle grazing; then the hikers and skiers were the next groups who visited the mountain in large numbers.
In August 1936 Mick Hull, Howard Michell and Cleve Cole took the first winter crossing of the Bogong High Plains. The group got lost in the snowstorm and Cole died of hypothermia after an alarmed Michell rescue squadron had found him and Hull. Cole was buried on 22 August 1936 on the Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery. A mountain cabin was built in 1938 and named after Cole. It serves as a base for hikers and ski tourers. The use of the hut is free, but the owner, The Mount Bogong Club, happy to receive donations. Parks Victoria advises hikers and ski tourers to carry bivouac stuff and not to rely on accommodation in the cottages.
Cole's death shows the dangers at Mount Bogong and in the Australian Alps in general. The mountains are old and weathered. Its low height and its round, flat tops make hikers and ski mountaineers climb the easy, but if you have to stay in a snow storm on the steep mountain slopes, so this is difficult and dangerous.
Ascent routes
There are several climbing routes for climbers, such as ( listed clockwise from the northwest ):
- Staircase- ridge
- Eskdale ridge
- Granite -flat ridge
- Long - ridge
- Duane Burr
- Quartz Ridge
All routes overcome a height difference of more than 600 Mvom saddle or stream at the beginning of the route to the summit.
The two main routes are the Staircase- ridge and the Eskdale ridge. Both begin at Mountain Creek picnic area. A Feuerlöschweg, with the vehicles to drive with all-wheel drive and is closed in winter, connects the starting points both ways. Both ways are moderately difficult. The Staircase ridge is 8 km long and has to cope with the rise in walking time 4-6 hours. The Eskdale ridge has a length of 10 km and it takes 5 ½ -7 ½ hours for the ascent.
The Staircase ridge is considered quite steep. After 5 km you will come to Bivouac hut on a small shoulder of the ridge. The shelter can be used as an emergency shelter and resting place before the summit climb.
The Eskdale ridge is only the shorter alternative, if a vehicle is four-wheel drive available. Otherwise, it 's just longer than the Staircase ridge. With the all-wheel drive vehicle can be from Mountain Creek, where the road begins to Camp Creek Gap Bike, from where you can reach the summit in about 2 ½ hours. This is also the easiest ascent in winter, when the infrastructure is not snow-covered.
Slightly more than half of the way the Eskdale ridge up is the Michell Hut, which burned down in 2003 and was later rebuilt. Also there is a shelter available, as well as a campground, restrooms, and a picnic area before the rise to the point at the tree line, where the ridge meets the Eskdale Granite Flat ridge. There again is a good but exposed campground.
The Granite -flat ridge is also a possibility ascent to the summit. The access road with a four-wheel drive vehicle is either the Eskdale ridge or - not in winter (!) - As a continuation of the track on the Camp Creek Gap. From the end of the drive way, you have 1 ½ hour hike to the summit. Overall, the latter way is not faster, only the walking route is shorter.
Above the tree line, both of Eskdale ridge and the Staircase- ridge are very exposed to wind and weather, especially in winter. The path can then - especially after 16.00 clock - be very icy and dangerous.
Trivia
The same name as the mountain bears the Bogong High Plains plateau and the Bogong moth.