Tragedy in the Mountains: Two Young Women Found Dead in Remote Victorian Hiking Area
- Police launch investigation into mysterious deaths of two women in their 20s or 30s near Mt Bogong
- Community in shock as investigation into cause of deaths continues, with police appealing for information to identify the victims
Two young women, believed to be in their 20s or 30s, have been found dead in a remote hiking area at Mt Bogong in Victoria’s alpine region, sending shockwaves through the close-knit community.
Their bodies were discovered by hikers near Cleve Cole Hut, a refuge for walkers and skiers, on Friday afternoon. Police were called to the scene shortly before 1 pm, and a search party, including uniformed officers and the search and rescue squad, was deployed to the area.
The remote location of the scene has made it difficult for investigators to remove the bodies, with police forced to camp overnight due to the isolated location. The bodies are expected to be removed from the scene on Saturday.
At this stage, the deaths do not appear to be suspicious, but police are working to identify the women and establish the circumstances surrounding their deaths. “Police are appealing for information from the public to assist in identifying those involved as we are not aware of any current missing person reports,” a police spokesperson said.
The area where the bodies were found is known for its extreme weather conditions, with sub-zero temperatures and snowfall in recent days. Geoff Stephens, secretary of the Mt Bogong Club, described the region as “extremely exposed” and said the weather could turn quickly. “If a front came through and you were up there and unprepared, you can suffer exposure quite easily,” he said.
Mr Stephens, who has lived in the area for over 20 years, added that the hut where the bodies were found was only accessible by foot and was almost three hours from the nearest car park. “[The area is] quite rocky with not a lot of trees, and vegetation is low, so you’re very exposed,” he said.
The community is said to be “sad and upset” over the tragic deaths, with an investigation into the cause of the women’s deaths ongoing. Police are urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in identifying the victims.