Bogong High Plains

This article is about the mountain range. For the mountain, see Mount Bogong. For other uses, see Bogong (disambiguation).

Bogong High Plains
Typical winter scene.
Highest point
Peak	Mount Nelse West (Alpine National Park)
Elevation	1,893 m (6,211 ft) ^[1] AHD
Coordinates	36°50′39″S 147°20′24″E / 36.84417°S 147.34000°E / -36.84417; 147.34000Coordinates: 36°50′39″S 147°20′24″E / 36.84417°S 147.34000°E / -36.84417; 147.34000 ^[1]
Geography
Bogong High Plains Location of the Bogong High Plains in Victoria
Country	Australia
State/Province	Victoria
Parent range	Victorian Alps, Great Dividing Range
Geology
Age of rock	Devonian
Type of rock	Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic

The Bogong High Plains /ˈboʊɡɒŋ/, part of the Victorian Alps of the Great Dividing Range, are a section of plains located in the Alpine National Park in the Australian state of Victoria and are situated south of Mount Bogong.

In winter this area is one of the largest snow-covered areas in Australia and can be easily accessed from the Hotham Alpine Resort and Falls Creek ski resort.^[2] The area is very popular for both summer and winter time activities. Ski touring and all types of cross-country skiing are possible through most winter months. A trail called Australian Alps Walking Track is popular for hiking in summer and cross-country skiing in winter. Mountain biking and bushwalking are common in summer.^[3] Local towns and villages provide the best possibility for exploring the areas, including Mount Beauty and Harrietville.

History

The traditional custodians of the land surrounding the Bogong High Plains are the indigenous Australian Bidhawal, Dhudhuroa, Gunai–Kurnai and Nindi–Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero peoples.^[4]^[5]

Europeans first explored and settled in the area as graziers sought pastoral land mainly for cattle. The biggest early development for the area was the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme which began construction in the 1940s. Two dams were constructed, Pretty Valley Pondage and Rocky Valley Dam, and a series of aqueducts built to capture streams and bring their flows across into the catchments of the Kiewa Scheme. McKay Creek and West Kiewa Power Stations supply most of the electricity generated. Since completion of the Scheme, the area has become much more based around tourism, particularly skiing.

Scientific research

A view of Bogong High Plains in summer

Systematic scientific research began in 1947, when Miss Maisie Fawcett [later Mrs S.G.M. Carr] set up two grazing exclosures to directly investigate the impacts of animal grazing on Australian alpine and sub-alpine vegetation. These original plots have been monitored ever since, and represent the longest continuous series of ecological data of any site in Australia.^[6] Shortly after, grazing was also removed from areas above 5,000 feet (1,500 m). All grazing was finally excluded from the area by the Victorian government in 2005, in part because of the compelling evidence provided by this particular experiment.

The Bogong High Plains continues to have an important place in scientific research. In summer, large numbers of scientists conduct research in the area, including studies of hydrology, vegetation change, fire response, weed invasions, occurrence of native animals (mountain pygmy possum, alpine skink) and introduced species (such as hares). The area is also home to a component of the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX), which investigates aspects of global climate change. It is trying to predict the future impacts of temperature increases.^[7]

Bushfires

This area is prone to bushfires because of the large amount of native forest. The 2003 Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires devastated much of the areas of forest. Many well-known huts were destroyed. More recently the area was again threatened during the 2006-07 Australian bushfire season but due to good luck regarding the weather, damage appears to be minimal in comparison.

Huts

Wallace's Hut in winter

Fitzgeralds hut in 1940

Alpine huts in the area provide accommodation for people out in the winter ski touring and those interested in hiking or other activities in the summertime. There are tens of huts in this area, each different and equipped for different purposes. They were first built by European pastoralists moving in from NSW in the 1830s. They are no longer used by pastoralists. Many are run by ski clubs but some are not regularly used or maintained at all.

Wallace's Hut

This is the oldest on the high plains. Originally built in 1889 like most of the huts has been extended since. It has no modern facilities and so is not used for accommodation. It measures 4.5 metres (15 ft) by 3.7 metres (12 ft).^[8]

Bogong Rover Chalet

Bogong Rover Chalet.

This was the first lodge developed in the area, before the creation of the ski resorts in Australia. It was started in 1938 by Rover Scouts from Victoria. It has the best facilities of any hut or lodge outside of a resort in Australia, with full comforts and amenities for 35 people. It has been expanded and refurbished since it was built. It uses solar power, gas, wood heating and runs its own electricity generators. It has a full kitchen, showers and runs 13 winter weeks for Rovers and Venturer Scouts.^[9]

Cope Hut

This hut was built by the Ski Club of Victoria in 1929.

Fitzgerald Hut

This was one of the older huts. It was accidentally burnt down by a school group in 1991 and rebuilt in 1993.^[10]

Roper Hut

This was burnt down in the bushfire of 2003 and rebuilt in 2008.

Wilkinson Lodge

Affectionately known as Wilky, this hut was built by the State Electricity Commission as a hydrological survey hut prior to the construction of the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme. The hut was later sold to a ski club but this sale never included title to the land on which it sat. The hut was purchased in 1962 by members of the Melbourne Bushwalkers who then donated it to the club. The hut was renovated and maintained by the Melbourne Bushwalkers and used throughout the winter as a base for cross-country skiing. It was well-used throughout the year for research and outdoor activities by members and by many other groups. It survived the 2003 bushfires but burnt down one year later (January 2004) in a cooking accident, while being used by non-members. The woodshed still remains. The National Parks and Wildlife Service which administers the land has refused permission to rebuild.

Batty's Hut

This hut burnt down in the bushfires of 2006.

Cleve Cole Hut

This hut on Mount Bogong was built in 1938 as a memorial to Cleve Cole who died on a ski trip on Mount Bogong. Technically, Mount Bogong is not part of the Bogong High Plains.

Also on Mount Bogong are Michell Hut, on Eskdale Spur, which was rebuilt after the 2003 fires and Bivouac Hut on the Staircase Spur. Other huts in the area include Tawonga Huts, Young's Hut, Ryder's Huts, Cope Saddle Hut, Pretty Valley Hut, Edmondson Hut, Johnston's Hut, Buckety Plains Hut, Faithful's Hut, and Langford Gap Hut.

Topographic Map of the Bogong High Plains area, showing huts, hiking (green) and mountain biking (pink) paths

Ecology

Vegetation

The Bogong High Plains contain a mixture of various types of vegetation. About 50% of the High Plains are heathlands, which cover some of the steeper and more wind protected areas in the high plains. The soils are typically shallow and rocky. Approximately 25% of the High Plains are grasslands, which occur in more exposed areas, on gentle slopes are typically more resistant to wind and frosts. Some of the best soils occur in wetlands, which cover about 10% of the high plains. These areas are defined as places where there is stationary water for at least one month per year. The presence of water typically leads to highly organic soils, from the decay of vegetable matter, and very little mineral matter. Snow patch herb fields occur in places where snow remains for a large portion of the summer and are very rare.^[6]

Range peaks

Mountain	Elevation^[11]
Mount Nelse West	1,893 m (6,211 ft)
Mount Nelse North	1,885 m (6,184 ft)
Mount Fainter South	1,883 m (6,178 ft)
Mount Hotham	1,862 m (6,109 ft)
Mount McKay	1,842 m (6,043 ft)
Mount Cope	1,837 m (6,027 ft)
Spion Kopje	1,837 m (6,027 ft)
Mount Jim	1,818 m (5,965 ft)

Mount Bogong, the highest mountain in Victoria, is just north of the High Plains. Technically it is not part of the high plains because it is separated from them by the Big River. There are several huts are on the mountain, the earliest of which was built following the death of a skier in 1936.^[12] Mount Feathertop is a much more foreboding summit in the west of the Bogong High Plains. It is a popular bushwalking destination due to its proximity to Mount Hotham but can also be approached from Harrietville.^[13]

View of the Bogong plains from the west, taken from Mount Feathertop in spring

Bogong High Plains Road

The Bogong High Plains Road runs from Mt Beauty, up to the ski resort of Falls Creek, up to an elevation of around 1720m, before steeply descending through Trapyard Gap at gradients frequently exceeding 9%. The road was fully sealed in 2009,^[14] immediately gaining the interest of road cyclists as it allows a complete circuit through Omeo, Mt Hotham, Harrietville and back to Mt Beauty. It is now used in the Peaks Challenge Falls Creek and Audax Alpine Classic ACE annual cycling events.

Rocky Valley Storage dam just southeast of Falls Creek.

References

1 2 "Mount Nelse West, Australia". Peakbagger.com.
↑ "Victoria's seven alpine resorts". www.visitvictoria.com. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
↑ "Alpine National Park". Parks Victoria. Archived from the original on 6 February 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
↑ "History". Australian Alps National Parks. Australian Alps Liaison Committee. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
↑ Rintoul, Stuart (12 December 2008). "Dream time inspires mountainous change". The Australian. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
1 2 "The Cow Paddock - a report to Parks Victoria". Retrieved 5 June 2007.
↑ "Alpine plants put to global warming test". The Age. 14 June 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2007.
↑ "Wallace's Hut". Kosciusko Huts Association. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
↑ "Bogong Rover Chalet". Retrieved 28 March 2012.
↑ Alpine National Park, The High Country, walks around Bogong High Plains and Mountain Creek, Accessed 6/4/10
↑ "Victoria Alps (sic)". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 3 September 2007.
↑ "History". The Mount Bogong Club. July 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
↑ "Mt Feathertop". Remote Tech's Bushwalking site. Retrieved 22 August 2007.
↑ "Falls Creek (Omeo side) | The Climbing Cyclist". theclimbingcyclist.com. Retrieved 2016-01-03.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bogong High Plains.

WikiSki - Backcountry skiing in the Bogong High Plains
Flickr Hut Lovers photo pool
Bogong Rover Chalet

Mountains in Victoria, Australia

Grampians

William (1,167 m or 3,829 ft)
Difficult
Wilson
Zero

Victorian Alps

Bogong High Plains	Nelse West (1,893 m or 6,211 ft) Nelse North (1,885 m or 6,184 ft) Fainter South (1,883 m or 6,178 ft) Hotham (1,862 m or 6,109 ft) McKay (1,849 m or 6,066 ft) Cope (1,837 m or 6,027 ft) Spion Kopje (1,837 m or 6,027 ft) Jim (1,818 m or 5,965 ft)

Cathedral Range	Lake (1,482 m or 4,862 ft) The Green Hill (1,241 m or 4,072 ft) Sugarloaf (904 m or 2,966 ft) The Cathedral (801 m or 2,628 ft) South Jawbone Peak (761 m or 2,497 ft)

Cobberas Range	Cobberas No. 1 (1,810 m or 5,938 ft) Cobberas No. 2 Moscow Peak Middle Peak Cleft Peak

Cobbler Plateau	Speculation (1,648 m or 5,407 ft) Cobbler (1,628 m or 5,341 ft) Koonika (1,545 m or 5,069 ft) Despair (1,460 m or 4,790 ft)

Other	Bogong (1,986 m or 6,516 ft) Feathertop (1,922 m or 6,306 ft) Loch (1,865 m or 6,119 ft) Buller (1,805 m or 5,922 ft) Wills (1,755 m or 5,758 ft) Gibbo (1,750 m or 5,741 ft) Stirling (1,749 m or 5,738 ft) Howitt (1,742 m or 5,715 ft) The Horn (1,723 m or 5,653 ft) Buffalo (1,723 m or 5,653 ft) Wellington (1,634 m or 5,361 ft) Buggery (Alpine) (1,598 m or 5,243 ft) Baw Baw (1,567 m or 5,141 ft) Torbreck (1,516 m or 4,974 ft) St Gwinear (circa 1,500 m or 4,921 ft) Mueller (1,460 m or 4,790 ft) Selma (1,456 m or 4,777 ft) Useful (1,435 m or 4,708 ft) Tambo (1,430 m or 4,692 ft) Selwyn (1,411 m or 4,629 ft) Terrible (1,325 m or 4,347 ft) Donna Buang (1,250 m or 4,101 ft) Buggery (Wangaratta) (1,153 m or 3,783 ft) Bulla Bulla (906 m or 2,972 ft) Dom Dom (740 m or 2,428 ft) Brumby Point Pine

Other
mountain ranges

Central Highlands	Macedon (1,001 m or 3,284 ft)

Dandenong Ranges	Dandenong (633 m or 2,077 ft)

Pyrenees Ranges	Avoca (747 m or 2,451 ft) Warrenmang (537 m or 1,762 ft)

Strzelecki Ranges	Tassie (740 m or 2,428 ft)

Other	Matlock (1,377 m or 4,518 ft) Ritchie (1,259 m or 4,131 ft) Toorongo (1,247 m or 4,091 ft) Horsfall (1,130 m or 3,707 ft) Kaye (998 m or 3,274 ft) Elizabeth (941 m or 3,087 ft) Ghiran (924 m or 3,031 ft) Disappointment (794 m or 2,605 ft) Riddell (781 m or 2,562 ft) Beenak (745 m or 2,444 ft) Alexander (744 m or 2,441 ft) Buninyong (719 m or 2,359 ft) Hanging Rock / Diogenes (718 m or 2,356 ft) Warrenheip (714 m or 2,343 ft) Franklin (648 m or 2,126 ft) Beckworth (634 m or 2,080 ft) Corhanwarrabul (628 m or 2,060 ft) Tarrengower (556 m or 1,824 ft) Warrenmang (526 m or 1,726 ft) Teneriffe (444 m or 1,457 ft) Napier (440 m or 1,444 ft) Briggs Bluff (420 m or 1,378 ft) Arapiles (369 m or 1,211 ft) You Yangs (352 m or 1,155 ft) Leura (313 m or 1,027 ft) Noorat (310 m or 1,017 ft) Elephant (240 m or 787 ft) Warrnambool (216 m or 709 ft) Eccles (178 m or 584 ft) Wycheproof (148 m or 486 ft) Cooper (137 m or 449 ft) Fraser Hopeless Typo

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