Two hikers found dead near Victoria’s tallest peak, Mount Bogong, are believed to have froze to death after being caught in brutal alpine conditions.
The bodies of the women, believed to be aged in their 20s and 30s, were discovered by two hikers around 1pm on Friday near Cleve Cole Hut, a remote shelter popular with adventurers.
Despite being close to the hut, the pair were found exposed on an open plain at Lendenfeld Point, with no protection from the savage weather.
Emergency crews launched a major recovery operation involving more than a dozen police and SES volunteers.
However, worsening conditions forced rescuers to camp overnight near the bodies after helicopters were unable to fly in.
The grim retrieval was finally completed at 10.30am on Saturday.
Police say the women likely succumbed to severe hypothermia during a period of extreme weather earlier in the week, when temperatures plunged to -2.8°C and snow blanketed the region.
Victoria Police Inspector Paul Hargreaves said investigators believe the pair may have been stranded for up to three days.
The bodies of the two female hikers were found at Mount Bogong, where they froze to death
‘It’s fair to say they may have been there for the last two to three days,’ Mr Hargreaves told reporters.
‘We ask anyone who was hiking in the area and saw someone looking disorientated or inadequately dressed to contact us.’
The hikers who made the grim discovery are assisting police with inquiries.
Authorities are still working to confirm the women’s identities, and the case will now be referred to the coroner.
‘When you look at that period of two to three days, they are exceptionally hard conditions, blizzard conditions, and it is likely the two people have succumbed to those conditions,’ Mr Hargreaves said.
Mount Bogong, standing at 1,986 metres, is a magnet for experienced hikers and backcountry adventurers, but can quickly turn dangerous in bad weather.
‘This area is commonly frequented by outback adventurers who like to experience these conditions, but at times they become quite dangerous and unfavourable,’ Mr Hargreaves said.
Hikers found the women’s bodies near Cleve Cole Hut (pictured) a popular tourist spot
