Hiker, families need rescuing

Three families were stranded at Tanjil Bren and a hiker lost his direction at Mt St Gwinear when severe weather swept through the area late Friday afternoon.

Police said the hiker could have died if he was not rescued by two volunteer ski patrol staff from Mt Baw Baw.

The two ski patrol members - Scott Goss and David Axeford rescued the stranded hiker on Mt St Gwinear early Saturday morningt.

Police said the 47-year-old McCrae man had hiked to the peak of Mt St Gwinear on Friday but lost his bearings to the car park when he was snowed in.

Police said visibility in the area dropped to below 3 meters and the man was no longer able to follow navigation poles which led back to the Mt St Gwinear car park.

The man was able to contact triple zero to raise an alarm at 7.45pm.

Police said Thomson Valley Rd was blocked because of trees down and air wing search and rescue were unable to access the area because of fog.

The two ski patrol members reached the man at about 2am on Saturday morning, and were able to lead the man down to the Mt St Gwinear car park emergency hut where they remained until daylight.

Road access was reinstated the following morning and all three men were found safe and well.

Late Friday afternoon, 10 people from Melbourne suburbs, including six children, were travelling in three vehicles when they became stranded at Tanjil Bren late Friday.

Trees across Mt Baw Baw Tourist Rd and about 15 to 20 centimetres of snow prevented the three vehicles travelling any further.

The families had left the Mt Baw Baw ski resort to travel down the mountain but wild weather, and no wheel chains, left them stranded at Tanjil Bren.

Police said the families sought shelter in Cornwalls Cabin at Tanjil Bren.

Vic Roads heavy machinery was called in to clear the roads to Mt Baw Baw and SES crews assisted to rescue the families who were taken back to Warragul where they stayed the night.