Hargreaves said the hikers who found the bodies were helping police with their inquiries.
The two women were near Cleve Cole Hut but not sheltered when the hikers found them.
Inspector Paul Hargreaves speaking to the media in Bright on Saturday.Credit: Nine
“At this stage police are still working through [identifying] those two people. They are unknown to us at this time,” he said.
“When you look at that period of two to three days, they are exceptionally hard conditions – blizzard conditions – and it is likely the two people have succumbed to those conditions, causing severe hypothermia.”
“We will continue our inquiries to establish their identity. This matter will now become a coroner’s matter,” he said.
“This area is commonly frequented by outback adventurers [who] like to experience these conditions, but at times they become quite dangerous and unfavourable.
Nearby Falls Creek is a popular skiing destination.
“They are arduous to get to, and if you don’t have the right conditions and certainly the right equipment it becomes very dangerous.
“It is not unfamiliar for police to have to rescue people from these areas, and we are quite used to traversing this terrain. As a result, those members who attended last night were well-equipped to stay overnight in those conditions.”
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The first weekend of October traditionally marks the end of Victoria’s snow season, though this is the first time in three years Australian ski resorts have made it past September.
Snow is still forecast to fall over Victoria’s alps between Thursday and Saturday next week.
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