Mount Bogong

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Mount Bogong
Mount Bogong from near Mount Beauty
Elevation	1,986 metres AHD (6,516 feet)
Location	Victoria, Australia
Range	Great Dividing Range
Coordinates	36°44′S 147°18′E
First ascent	1854 by the botanist Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller
Easiest route	hike

Mount Bogong, located in the Alpine National Park, is the highest mountain in Victoria, Australia. The Big River separates the massif of the mountain itself from the Bogong High Plains to the south. "Bogong" in the local Aboriginal language means bigfella.

The lower slopes of Mount Bogong are covered with tall forests of Alpine Ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis) to an altitude of about 1300 metres. From 1300 metres to 1800 metres, woodland and open woodland of Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) dominate, and above 1800 metres, the vegetation consists of alpine shrubland, grassland and herbfield.

Like most Australian peaks, it can be climbed without specialised mountaineering equipment, and, indeed, there are several walking trails to the summit. The shortest route, via The Staircase Spur, is an eight kilometre walk with the track described as "moderate" in difficulty but with reasonably steep terrain, taking four hours in one direction.

Mount Bogong is a popular backcountry skiing mountain through winter but only has snow for the mid winter-autumn months. It is relatively close (around 30km by road and walking track; 12km direct) to Mount Beauty and several ski resorts (Falls Creek & Mount Hotham), giving easy access. Camping is relatively safe below the treeline but the summit ridgeline is very exposed. Emergency shelter is also available in several huts on the mountain.

The name is also given to:

the Bogong High Plains
the Bogong Moth
the Victorian Department of Education and Training's secondary-level Bogong Outdoor Education Centre [1] at Bogong Village (at 700m ASL, on Lake Guy) on the road between Mount Beauty and Falls Creek (and not to be confused with the nearby YMCA Howmans Gap Alpine Centre.