A2K peaks - Above 2000-meter peaks in Australia

[paul8]

Out on the internet and from private communication, there are lists of above 2000-meter (A2K) peaks in Australia. The lists don't have any official status. They are clobbered together by climbing enthusiasts who like to bag high mountains.

But the lists don't match up with each other. Even taking into account prominence rules, why are some peaks missing from one list; and another bunch of peaks missing from another list? I don't understand.

In my case, I'm interested in climbing any peak that has a name, as a name always gives me an emotional pull. If there is a prominence rule that excludes such a peak from being regarded as a peak, well, it isn't going to stop me from climbing it !

And so with this in mind, I've compiled my own list of A2K peaks using the following 2 criteria with no regard to prominence:
   - If a peak has a name, and is 2000 meters or higher, then it is in my list.
   - If a range/ridge/spur has a name, and its highest point is 2000 meters plus, then include the highest point.

My A2K list is now in: http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/p/paul- ... peaks.html

Enjoy climbing them !

[crollsurf]

There is a lump between Rams Head and South Rams head that does have a trig on it and is known as "Southerly Rams Head". Don't think it is official but it is the name Alan Andrews uses, who has written a number of books on the history and ski touring in the Snowy Mountains

[north-north-west]

Nice list. Never heard of The Foxhole, so can't claim it, but the others have been done.

[paul8]

north-north-west, Location of The Foxhole is in:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2016/12 ... ridge.html
When in there, scroll forward to the 1st map. You'll find The Foxhole labelled somewhere near the middle of the map.

[roysta]

Out on the internet and from private communication, there are lists of above 2000-meter (A2K) peaks in Australia. The lists don't have any official status. They are clobbered together by climbing enthusiasts who like to bag high mountains.

But the lists don't match up with each other. Even taking into account prominence rules, why are some peaks missing from one list; and another bunch of peaks missing from another list? I don't understand.

In my case, I'm interested in climbing any peak that has a name, as a name always gives me an emotional pull. If there is a prominence rule that excludes such a peak from being regarded as a peak, well, it isn't going to stop me from climbing it !

And so with this in mind, I've compiled my own list of A2K peaks using the following 2 criteria with no regard to prominence:
   - If a peak has a name, and is 2000 meters or higher, then it is in my list.
   - If a range/ridge/spur has a name, and its highest point is 2000 meters plus, then include the highest point.

My A2K list is now in: http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/p/paul- ... peaks.html

Enjoy climbing them !

I must say 2000m can hardly be called high mountains. I think 3000m as in NZ is a good start point.


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[ribuck]

I must say 2000m can hardly be called high mountains. I think 3000m as in NZ is a good start point.

In Peru I would sometimes start off up a mountain after being dropped off a bus at above 4000m. So 3000m doesn't count as a good start point in my opinion. Anyway, spare a thought for the people in England who don't even have a 1000m mountain!

For the purposes of Australian bushwalking, I think a 2000m cutoff is perfect.

[north-north-west]

north-north-west, Location of The Foxhole is in:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com.au/2016/12 ... ridge.html
When in there, scroll forward to the 1st map. You'll find The Foxhole labelled somewhere near the middle of the map.

Ahhh, I just went down the list, didn't get as far as the map. Thanks.
No, never did get over to that bump, although I've eyed it off a couple of times. always had more important places to go.

[johnw]

Well, now I have a project for my upcoming return visit at the end of the year. I thought I had done most of the over 2000s but still missing those below.
Been within spitting distance of quite a few and in hindsight should have done them when I was there .
Won't get Jagungal or Toolong Range this trip but I'll try and tick off as many others as I can.

Kangaroo Ridge
Kerries Ridge
Little Stilwell
Toolong Range
Back Perisher Mtn
The Foxhole
Mann Bluff
Dicky Cooper Bogong
Mt Jagungal

[paul8]

johnw,
Good on you!

[Zapruda]

Is anyone aware of this being done in a single push? As in all 33 in one trip.

[davidf]

On a divergent note which Australian peaks have the greatest relief and the aspect?

[Mark F]

Under the rules of calculating prominence (vertical height from highest low point between it and the next highest peak) Koscuiszko has a prominence of 2,228m (sea level to summit). The peaks with the greatest prominence among the 2K peaks are Mt Perisher (324m), Jagungal (312m) and Gungartan (258m).

I am unsure what you mean by aspect and relief. The longest vertical ascent is considered to be Hannels Spur from Geehi Flats (approx 430m) to Byatts Camp Peak (2,159m) but most continue to Townsend or Koscuiszko.

Zapruda - definitely done several times but it all depends on what you put on your list. My own list has 25 named peaks (as recognised by the NSW Geographical names Board) and about 7 unnamed peaks. My criteria is a named peak of any prominence or an unnamed peak with at least 25 metres prominence (2 contours). Things like Foxhole are not recognised names and have almost zero prominence. Moving slowly the 2K peaks can be done as circuit in 7-8 days.

[Zapruda]

Zapruda - definitely done several times but it all depends on what you put on your list. My own list has 25 named peaks (as recognised by the NSW Geographical names Board) and about 7 unnamed peaks. My criteria is a named peak of any prominence or an unnamed peak with at least 25 metres prominence (2 contours). Things like Foxhole are not recognised names and have almost zero prominence. Moving slowly the 2K peaks can be done as circuit in 7-8 days.

Thanks for the reply, Mark. I have been on top of all the peaks Paul has on his list but I think I lean more toward your thinking. Especially "peaks" like Foxhole. I might give this a go over about 4 days in December when most of the big drifts have melted.
Cheers

[Heremeahappy1]

I like this a lot. Pick a theme to direct your outdoor activities... Gold. A great way to interact and decide on trips. Lists are endless - highest falls, steepest single verticle climbs, oldest peaks by naming age?, alphabetical order, areas with endemic floral species. Thanks for inspiration and a new perspective. We each have a finite amount of trips... Use them wisely

[rcaffin]

My main memory of Stillwell was a broad area of sheet ice a cm thick - we were on skis.

Cheers
Roger

[Zapruda]

I skinned up the western side of Stillwell last month and it was one of the few times I have taken the skis off and walked to the top. I wish I had crampons that day. Very icy and wind packed. Stupid me.

[vagrom]

Could I enquire about Australia's 2000'ers. I think the world has something like 7 or 8 8000'ers, all in the Himalayas. Maybe there's a few more but these few meet a certain criteria.

I once read that Jagungal is the most northerly of our 2000'er lot and I think the only others are in the Main Range, all lying east of the Khancoban road, north of the Thredbo road and west of the Cooma Tumut road.

So all would fit in an oblong box of a certain size that's thick at the southern end and peters out in density till arriving at Jagungal. If so this suggests the Main Range has an average altitude of X thousand meters with 36 or so bits that poke up above the 2000 metre mark? Think as if there was a flood.

Maybe I've got it wrong with the Main Range alone. Jagungal seems to be an isolated remnant. The others are all or part of several ranges but the Main Range's name is appropriate, having the biggest and most of the lot?

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

I think the world has something like 7 or 8 8000'ers, all in the Himalayas. Maybe there's a few more but these few meet a certain criteria.

No, there are 14 and four of those (including K2) are in the Karakorams.

Maybe I've got it wrong with the Main Range alone. Jagungal seems to be an isolated remnant. The others are all or part of several ranges but the Main Range's name is appropriate, having the biggest and most of the lot?

Kind of. J is the most isolated and northernmost of the 2000's as you say, but Gungartan, Dicky Cooper and the Kerries are all also technically not in the MR (I don't think... to me the MR kind of ends around Consett Stevens Pass?). But yeah they're most concentrated in the MR itself, along the axis between the Ramsheads and Mt Tate, with a few offshoots like the Perishers/Stilwell, Townsend area etc.

[vagrom]

Thanks fatboy. Good info. Seeking a little more clarity I found these useful Images. The black triangles appear to support a sort of skyline-traverse of most of them at least from South Ramshead to Gungartan. So the Main Range is the continent's high point.
Then there's the list, from Kossie to 2004 metres. I include the last for a chuckle. When AI's not certain it has a bob each way.

Wikipedia has a good piece on Kozzie. The paintings by Von Gerrard obviously take poetic licence and in this case are probably unrecognisable to people who know the area. First visit was up Hannel's Spur.And Ramshead has been declared a Holy Mountain.

[vagrom]

Very particularly. Open the pod bay doors Hal ...

[johnw]

My view of what constitutes the Main Range is similar to WFBW. I've visited all of the 22 claimed highest peaks above 2,000 metres except Jagungal, which remains elusive as it needs more time and planning due to its distance away and isolation. The others are achievable as day walks; many can be done in a day or less, or as a series, due to their close proximity. To add to the confusion I found an informal definition in my copies of "Snowy Mountains Walks, Seventh Edition, and Eighth Edition, by the Geehi Bushwalking Club". To quote:

The area stretching from the Ramshead Range in the south to Dicky Cooper Bogong in the north is called by some people, mainly skiers, the Main Range.

p.s. Looking at the earlier posts in this thread, I see that I still have unfinished business. Since 2017 I've only managed to tick off two of the objectives from the To Do list I mentioned. Better get cracking!

[north-north-west]

I've always considered the Main Range proper to end a bit north of Anton. Consett Stephens is a fair enough division.

[sandym]

JohnW: Do you have a mountain bike? If so, Jagungal is a day trip from Round Mtn, very pleasant with a bike!

[Tortoise]

I've always considered the Main Range proper to end a bit north of Anton. Consett Stephens is a fair enough division.

I've always thought of CSPass as the obvious northern end.

[johnw]

JohnW: Do you have a mountain bike? If so, Jagungal is a day trip from Round Mtn, very pleasant with a bike!

That's an interesting thought Sandy, yes I have two of them.
One is a full sized folding hardtail and easier to pack in the car.
The other is dual suspension and less compact, but I'd assume that would be the better option.
I'll have to look into it for the next time we do a Snowy Mountains trip.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

JohnW: Do you have a mountain bike? If so, Jagungal is a day trip from Round Mtn, very pleasant with a bike!

That's an interesting thought Sandy, yes I have two of them.
One is a full sized folding hardtail and easier to pack in the car.
The other is dual suspension and less compact, but I'd assume that would be the better option.
I'll have to look into it for the next time we do a Snowy Mountains trip.

Personally would prefer hardtail for the RMT, depending on wheel size

[johnw]

JohnW: Do you have a mountain bike? If so, Jagungal is a day trip from Round Mtn, very pleasant with a bike!

That's an interesting thought Sandy, yes I have two of them.
One is a full sized folding hardtail and easier to pack in the car.
The other is dual suspension and less compact, but I'd assume that would be the better option.
I'll have to look into it for the next time we do a Snowy Mountains trip.

Personally would prefer hardtail for the RMT, depending on wheel size

Both of mine are older 26 inch bikes. Why the hardtail preference?

[Hoojar]

Could I enquire about Australia's 2000'ers. I think the world has something like 7 or 8 8000'ers, all in the Himalayas. Maybe there's a few more but these few meet a certain criteria.

I once read that Jagungal is the most northerly of our 2000'er lot and I think the only others are in the Main Range, all lying east of the Khancoban road, north of the Thredbo road and west of the Cooma Tumut road.

So all would fit in an oblong box of a certain size that's thick at the southern end and peters out in density till arriving at Jagungal. If so this suggests the Main Range has an average altitude of X thousand meters with 36 or so bits that poke up above the 2000 metre mark? Think as if there was a flood.

Maybe I've got it wrong with the Main Range alone. Jagungal seems to be an isolated remnant. The others are all or part of several ranges but the Main Range's name is appropriate, having the biggest and most of the lot?

Depending upon how you define 'Peak,' there exists lists of 26, 27 and 31 of the A2K. You can walk to all of them in one 130km walk. Round Mountain to Southern Rams Head, then double-back to the Peaks around Perisher. I have a couple of Google Maps with all of the Peaks, but not sure if I can share them from my Google or not.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Why the hardtail preference?

Just a personal pref for undulating firetrails (i find suspension more of an encumbrance for climbing, but i'm not an MTB enthusiast... they're a means to an end for me)

[vagrom]

Thanks Hoojar. That sounds interesting. A 130km loop of sorts with huts along the way is do-able for most and maybe a food top-up at the southern end.

So outside the Main Range and the 4 or so north of it there's just Stillwell and the Perishers ? Most would take a north to south, car to car I guess than face a possible hard weather return.

So the same distance as the OLT but a lot more exposed than just the Cradle start.