Emergency services launched a rescue operation at Mount Hotham in Australia over the King’s Birthday long weekend after sudden, heavy snowfall stranded more than 20 people in their cars.
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In addition, police, SES, CFA, and Parks responded after two hikers became stranded in blizzard conditions on the Kosciuszko walking trail Saturday morning. Authorities tried to reach them on Saturday afternoon but were forced to turn around but were able to successfully escorted the pair to safety by on Sunday morning, where paramedics assessed them at the scene.
The more dramatic rescue was late Saturday, as a winter storm dumped over 50 centimeters (20 inches) of snow on the Blue Rag Range Track and Dargo High Plains Road, trapping six vehicles and their occupants. 13 people were rescued after spending up to 19 hours stranded, with one man in his 40s treated for minor injuries following a vehicle rollover. As of Sunday night, six people remained in their vehicles, supplied with food and water, while rescue teams deployed snowmobiles and sleds to reach those still cut off by the deep snow.
Authorities closed Dargo High Plains Road for the remainder of the long weekend, warning that treacherous conditions and ongoing search operations required the public to avoid the area. Emergency crews expressed concern that more vehicles could be trapped, as teams continued to check campsites and access points throughout the region.
The weekend’s snowfall marked the heaviest ski season opening in years, with Mount Hotham recording 32 centimeters (13 inches) in 24 hours, and Falls Creek and Mount Buller also reporting significant accumulations. Temperatures plunged to -3.5ºC (25.7ºF) at Mount Hotham.
Police and SES officials emphasized the importance of monitoring weather forecasts, obeying road closures, and carrying legally required snow chains—a regulation that saw nearly 1,500 vehicles turned back at Mount Hotham last year. Fines for failing to have or fit chains can reach almost $1,000.
Bright SES Unit Controller Graham Gales noted that many of those stranded may not have checked the forecast or understood the risks of alpine travel at this time of year. “We look at people driving and we wonder about their thought processes and how much planning goes into what they do,” Gales told 9News.
