Bogong High Plains
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| Bogong High Plains | |
|---|---|
 Typical winter scene |
|
| Elevation | ~1400 m - 1986 m |
| Location | Victorian Alps |
| Coordinates | |
The Bogong High Plains are a section of the Alpine National Park in the Australian state of Victoria and are situated south of Mount Bogong. This area forms part of Australia's Great Dividing Range and in winter is one of the largest snow covered areas in the country. It can be easily accessed from the ski resorts of Mount Hotham and Falls Creek. The area is very popular for both summer and winter time activities.
The area is popular for ski touring and all types of cross-country skiing through 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.[1]
Local towns and villages provide the best possibility for exploring the areas. Two ski resorts, Mount Hotham and Falls Creek are within this area and are open for both summer and winter activities. Towns like Mount Beauty and Harrietville are also very popular.
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[edit] History
The area was first settled and explored by graziers seeking 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 Pndage 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.
[edit] Scientific Research
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.[2] 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.[citation needed]
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.[3]
[edit] 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.
[edit] Huts
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 would be tens of huts just in this area each different and equipped for different purposes. They were first built by European pastoralists moving in from NSW in the 1830s but are no longer used by pastoralists. Many are run by ski clubs but some are not regularly used or maintained at all. Here are just two examples:
Wallace's Hut is the oldest on the high plains the first part being built in 1889 but like most of the huts has been extended since. It has no modern facilities and so is not used for accommodation. It is only 4.5 m by 3.7 m.[4]
Bogong Rover Chalet was the first lodge developed in the area well before the creation of the ski resorts in Australia. It was started in 1938 by Rover Scouts from Victoria. It is now the best facilitated hut or lodge outside of a resort in Australia with full comforts and amenities for 35 people. It has been expanded since the first building and also refurbished. It utilises solar power, gas, wood heating and runs its own electricity generators. It has a full kitchen, showers and runs 12 winter weeks for Rovers and Venturer Scouts.[5]
[edit] Ecology
[edit] 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.[2]
[edit] Area Peaks
| Mountain | Elevation[6] |
| Mount Bogong | 1,986 m (6,516 ft) |
| Mount Feathertop | 1,922 m (6,306 ft) |
| 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 to the north of the High Plains. It is technically not part of the high plains because it is separated by Big River. Several huts are on the mountain, the earliest of which was built following the death of a skier in 1936.[7] 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. [8]
[edit] Ski Resorts
The two most popular mountains are Mount Hotham and Falls Creek, elevation 1,780 m (5,840 ft), two of Victoria's most popular ski resorts. [9]
[edit] See also
- Bogong (disambiguation)
[edit] References
- ^ Parks Victoria Alpine National Park, Accessed 21/1/7
- ^ a b The Cow Paddock - a report to Parks Victoria Accessed 5/6/7
- ^ Alpine plants put to global warming test The Age, June 14, 2004, Accessed 12/9/07
- ^ Kosciusko Huts Association Wallace's Hut, Accessed 21/1/07
- ^ Bogong Rover Chalet Accessed 21/1/07
- ^ Victoria Alps (sic), Peakbagger.com, Accessed 3 September 07
- ^ The Mount Bogong Club, History , July 2007, Accessed 22/8/07
- ^ Remote Tech's Bushwalking Site, Mt Feathertop , Accessed 22/8/07
- ^ Victoria's seven alpine resorts www.visitvictoria.com Accessed 5/9/7
[edit] External links
- WikiSki - Backcountry skiing in the Bogong High Plains
