| Mount Franklin | |
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Mount Franklin
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| Location | |
| Location | Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Mount Franklin is a mountain located on the border between New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory in Bimberi Nature Reserve (NSW) and Namadgi National Park (ACT), in the Brindabella Ranges at 1646m. A marked walking trail to the summit can be reached via Mount Franklin Road. The summit is accessible by bush walking trails and requires no speciliased climbing skills. It is located close to Brindabella Station, where the Australian author Miles Franklin once lived and the mountain is named after her family. The mountain is often covered in snow in winter and Australian ski pioneers based themselves at Mount Franklin from the 1930s. Today, cross country skiing can be possible in the area during winter, when conditions allow.[1]
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A ski chalet was constructed at Mount Franklin in 1938 to service the Canberra Alpine Club.[2] Ski runs were cleared and ski tows were improvised.[3] The chalet later operated as a museum before being destroyed in the 2003 Canberra bushfires.[4] A new shelter designed and built by University of Adelaide students opened in 2008. It serves as an interpretive centre and can provide park managers and emergency services personnel with a base to conduct search and rescue operations in the event of future bushfires.[5] The ACT/NSW boundary passes through the Franklin Chalet ruin area.
Today, cross country skiing is possible at Mount Franklin and surrounding peaks in winter, if conditions allow.
During winter Mount Franklin is often covered in snow.