Leaders were Deidre Slattery, Rod and Jan Orr and Patrick Ward.

Travel to Mt Hotham

The group travelled from Harrietville's Feathertop Chalet up to Mt Hotham through sun-dappled towering hillsides. There was a noticeable change in the vegetation from the montane zone, through the sub-alpine to alpine, with its grassed open slopes and greater variety of flowers showing.

The fire affected areas showed up very clearly, with tongues of vegetation not burnt more obvious in the alpine zone, where the trees are not as tall.

At our stop at Mt Hotham, the vegetation is influenced by other than altitude and depend on micro-climate influences. The three zones mapped by Keith McDougall are the tussocky grasslands, the herbaceous shrubs and the low flattened shrubs.

It was an easy walk up to the summit from the coach stop. From that point we had a lovely clear 360^o view of the surrounding mountains.

From the Mt Hotham summit stop, a group took off to walk to Mt Loch. Others continued in the coach through the Mt Hotham village and lunch at the J.B. Plain picnic area. The group later dispersed to wander in various directions. Some went towards Dinner Plains village and some to an area that was found to be blocked by a bog.

J Payne and A Graham

Vegetation

Deidre Slattery showed a number of 1954 photos by A. Costin, which showed rocky soils on Mt Hotham and Mt Higginbotham, and deep erosion towards Mt Loch. There has been much recovery since cattle and sheep were removed in 1958.

Tussock Grassland plants on the southern slope include Snow Daisies, Billy Buttons, Leafy Daisies, Silver Ewartia, Alpine Celery, Orange Everlasting, Alpine Leek Orchid, Alpine Trachymene and Hoary Sunray.

Heathland. The east side of a long gully is covered with Kunzea heathland and some open heathland. Plants include Yellow Kunzea, Alpine Everlasting, Bidgee-Widgee, Australian Carraway, Yam Daisy, Prickly Starwort, Woodruff, Dusty Daisy-bush, Alpine Grevillea, Alpine Orites and Alpine Mint-bush.

Walk to Mt Loch. Patrick Ward and Rod Orr then lead a walk towards Mt Lock through tussock grassland and open heathland. At the start we saw a patch of uncommon Bogong Daisy. Most of the above species were present. Also seen were Dwarf Buttercup and Ivy Goodenia. Further on, Gunn's Willow-herb, Alpine Buttons and four Craspedia species were seen.

We had lunch under Snow Gums. On a drainage line nearby we found Variable Groundsel, two Acaena species and the exotic Ox-eye Daisy. A little further on we came to a beautiful grassy field of Trigger-plants and Snow Daisies among small burnt Snow Gums. Also present were Rusty Pods and Scaly Everlastings.

Tussock Grasses in the area include Soft, Bog, Helms and Horny Snow-grasses.

>Geoff Lacey

1: Cloud over Mt Hotham. View from the Great Alpine Road. Tree trunks were killed by the 2003 fires.
2: Snow Gums along the track to Mt Loch in mist. Dec 2005.