Mount Bogong
| Mount Bogong | ||
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| height | 1986 m | |
| location | Victoria (Australia) , Australia | |
| Mountains | Great dividing range | |
| Coordinates | 36 ° 44 ′ 0 ″ S , 147 ° 18 ′ 0 ″ E | |
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| First ascent | 1843 by cattle herders | |
| particularities | Highest mountain in Victoria | |
The 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 plateau Bogong High Plains in the south. 'Bogong' is an Aboriginal word and means Bigfella (English, colloquial for big fellow, "big guy").
Mount Bogong is a popular destination for ski tourists in winter, but is only covered with snow from mid-winter to spring. From Mount Beauty , the mountain is 12 km as the crow flies or 30 km by road or hiking trails. The Mount Hotham and Falls Creek winter sports areas are also nearby. Camping is safe below the tree line, but the summit region is very exposed.
Emergency shelters are available at the Bivouac Hut on Staircase Ridge , Cleve Cole Hut over Camp Creek on the broad ridge line south of the summit, and Michell Hut on Eskdale Ridge .
vegetation
Mount Bogong is covered with high forests of Alpine Ash trees ( Eucalyptus delegatensis ) from the base to a height of around 1,300 m ; from 1,300 meters to 1,800 meters there are forest areas of varying density with snow eucalyptus trees ( Eucalyptus pauciflora ) , above 1800 meters the vegetation consists of alpine bushes, grasses and herbs.
A large part of the mountain flanks, especially on the north side, was severely damaged by the major forest fires in 2003.
history
This impressive mountain rises above the valley of the Kiewa River and was of great importance to the local Aborigines.
Aboriginal historian Eddie Kneebone pointed out that the tribes gathered at Mungabarreena (near present-day Albury ) on the Murray River before climbing Mount Bogong and the Bogong High Plains . After the upcoming ceremonies, initiations, weddings, negotiations, settlement of disputes and renewal of alliances and friendships, the groups from Albury went to the mountain regions to eat the protein-rich Bogong moths .
After the settlement of the Europeans, the Aboriginal groups were decimated and the survivors settled on reservations, often far from their traditional tribal area. It is generally believed that the great Aboriginal visits to Mount Bogong ended in the mid-19th century. For some time the pastures served as pastures for cattle; after that, the next groups to visit the mountain in large numbers were hikers and skiers.
In August 1936 Mick Hull, Howard Michell and Cleve Cole made the first winter crossing of the Bogong High Plains. The group got lost in the blizzard and Cole died of hypothermia after a rescue team alerted by Michell found him and Hull. Cole was buried in Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery on August 22, 1936 . A mountain hut was built in 1938 and named after Cole. It serves as a base for hikers and ski tourists. The hut is free to use, but the owner, The Mount Bogong Club , welcomes donations. Parks Victoria advises hikers and ski tourists to bring bivouacs and not to rely on the huts to stay overnight.
Cole's death shows the dangers on Mount Bogong and in the Australian Alps in general. The mountains are old and weathered. Its low height and its round, flat crests make it easy for hikers and ski tourers to climb, but if you have to descend over the steep mountain slopes in a snowstorm, it is difficult and dangerous.
Ascent routes
There are quite a few ascent routes for mountaineers, such as B. (listed clockwise from northwest):
- Staircase ridge
- Eskdale ridge
- Granite flat ridge
- Long ridge
- Duane ridge
- Quartz Ridge
All routes overcome an altitude difference of more than 600 from the 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 start at the Mountain Creek Picnic Area . A fire extinguishing route, which can be used by four-wheel drive vehicles and is closed in winter, connects the starting points of both routes. Both ways are moderately difficult. The staircase ridge is 8 km long and can be climbed in 4–6 hours of walking. The Eskdale ridge is 10 km long and it takes 5 ½ –7 ½ hours to climb.
The staircase ridge is considered to be quite steep. After 5 km you come to the Bivouac hut on a small ledge on the ridge. The refuge can serve as emergency shelter and resting place before climbing the summit.
The Eskdale Ridge is only the shorter alternative if a four-wheel drive vehicle is available. Otherwise it is just longer than the staircase ridge. With the all-wheel drive vehicle you can drive from Mountain Creek, where the trail begins, to Camp Creek Gap , from where you can reach the summit in about 2½ hours. This is also the easiest way to climb in winter when the road is not covered in snow.
A little more than half the way up the Eskdale ridge is the Michell Hut , which burned down in 2003 and was later rebuilt. Emergency shelter is available there as well, as well as a camp site, toilets and a rest area before climbing to the point on the tree line where the Eskdale Ridge meets the Granite Flat Ridge. There is again a good but exposed campsite.
The Granite Flat Ridge is also an option to climb to the summit. The approach with a four-wheel drive vehicle is either from the Eskdale ridge or - not in winter (!) - as a continuation of the road over the Camp Creek Gap. From the end of this road you still have to hike 1 ½ hours to the summit. Overall, the last-mentioned route is not faster, only the hiking route is shorter.
Above the tree line, both the Eskdale Ridge and the Staircase Ridge are very exposed to wind and weather, especially in winter. The path can then be very icy and dangerous - especially after 4 p.m.
Trivia
The Bogong High Plains and the Bogong moth have the same name as the mountain .
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ big fella. Entry in the Reverso dictionary, accessed September 14, 2019.
- ↑ The Mount Bogong Club website
Bimberi Peak ( Australian Capital Territory ) | Mount Kosciuszko ( New South Wales ) | Mount Zeil ( Northern Territory ) | Mount Bartle Frere ( Queensland ) | Mount Woodroffe ( South Australia ) | Mount Ossa ( Tasmania ) | Mount Bogong ( Victoria ) | Mount Meharry ( Western Australia )