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Mount Hotham Ski Resort
Mary's Slide ski run
Location:	Mount Higginbotham, Mount Hotham, Mount Loch
Nearest city:	Melbourne
Coordinates:	36°59′0″S 147°08′0″E / -36.98333, 147.13333Coordinates: 36°59′0″S 147°08′0″E / -36.98333, 147.13333
Top elevation:	1861m
Base elevation:	1450m
Skiable area:	245 ha.
Runs:	72
Longest run:	2.5km (Spargo's)
Lift system:	13 lifts
Snowfall:	300cm
Web site:	Official Site

Mount Hotham is a mountain in Victoria, Australia. It is home to Mount Hotham Village, and Mount Hotham Ski Resort. The mountain is located approximately 357 kilometres north east of Melbourne, 746 kilometres from Sydney, and 997 kilometres from Adelaide by road. Mount Hotham's summit rises to an altitude of 1,861 metres above sea level, while Mount Hotham village stands tall at a height of 1,750 metres AHD.

Currently, Mt. Hotham holds the record for the highest annual snowfall of any Victorian resort over the past decade [1][2]. Most of the skiing is based on one side of a large valley, and the area connects to the Bogong High Plains.

Mt. Hotham features 3.2 square kilometres of ski area, including 35 kilometres of tree-lined cross-country trails and a network of 13 lifts. The longest run at Mount Hotham is 2.5 kilometres long. Mount Hotham features an abundance of runs for skiers and boarders of all standards from beginners (20%) to intermediates (40%) and advanced (40%). The resort is home to one of Australia's most difficult runs, the steep Mary's Slide. A list of every ski tow to ever operate at Hotham can be found at wikiski.

Mount Hotham is the second highest resort village in Australia (Charlotte Pass Village in New South Wales sits at 1760m). The road up to the summit, the Great Alpine Road, is akin to some of the lower mountain passes of the European Alps - the gradients are quite steep and there are numerous hairpin bends. From the town of Bright in the valley below Hotham, one can see the road clinging to the mountainside. The whole road was finally sealed in approximately 2000, but there are still numerous winter driving problems, notably the black ice to which the route (along with most other Australian mountain passes) is prone. Great care should be taken driving this route in winter; chains are mandatory and there are fitting stations at certain locations.

The ski fields of Mt Hotham from Mt Higginbotham (left) across to Mt Loch (right) and beyond

Mt Hotham in the summer

Mt Hotham summer scene

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Mount Hotham, Victoria

• Mt. Hotham Ski Resort homepage 1
• Mt. Hotham Ski Resort homepage 2
• History of skiing at Mt. Hotham, and development of the resort