Australia
7,310 feet/2229 meters
Summited October 27, 2011
7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer’s
Australia’s Kościuszko, located in Australia’s Snowy Mountains, is the lowest of the 7 Summits but is perhaps the most controversial. First, there is the pronunciation, then there is the debate about how it compares to other high peaks in Oceania (is New Zealand continent?) ), and last is the relative ease of this “hill” located next to a ski resort.
In any event, today, it’s considered one of the seven on the Bass list, so most people seeking the 7 Summits will tick the box. The first summit was in 1840 by the Polish explorer Paul Strzelecki. I assume the First Peoples, Aboriginal people, Torres Strait Islander peoples or the Morano had a crack centuries earlier, but I could be wrong, as many Indigenous people treat mountains as sacred and not to be climbed.
A simple walk-up on the otherwise relatively flat Australian continent. But if you want to be precise, Australia has a volcano in her territory on Heard Island – Mawsons Peak, 9005’/2745m. It is an active volcano about 2500 miles off the western coast of Australia, e.g., the middle of the Indian Ocean, and the island has no ports or villages.
The second highest mountain on the Australian mainland is Mt. Townsend, 7,247’/2209m, 2 miles north of Kosciuszko. Although it is somewhat craggy than Kosciuszko, it is still a simple walk-up. It is reported that the locals ask each climber to take a rock to the summit to surpass its higher neighbor.
Kosciuszko Resources:
7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer’s
In late 2010, I launched the 7 Summits for Alzheimer’s campaign, where I wanted to climb all seven (eight) of the Seven Summits in one year. The first summit was Vinson in Antarctica on December 9th, 2010. This was the last summit on October 25, 2011. I had made every summit except Denali, which was stopped by weather, 3100′ short of the summit.
I have been able to send our Alzheimer’s message of hope, need and urgency from each continent, reaching over 12 million people and raising money for research, awareness and caregivers. In 2025, I will continue to dedicate my climbing and public presence to honoring my mom, Ida, and raising research funds for Alzheimer’s nonprofits. Please consider a donation today.
