On Saturday a group of five people were about 14 kilometres into their hike from Pretty Valley to Mount Hotham when they contacted triple-0 about one the walkers, a 74-year-old woman, who was heat-affected.

Bright Sergeant Brad Dickens said the call came in about 6.30pm and police and Bright SES worked to access the group from the Machinery Spur Track.

“By the time it got to that point in the day, it was just too much for her and she was distressed,” he said.

“She was from Melbourne but spends a lot of time up here.

“Paramedics checked over her, and she was OK but had heat exhaustion.

“Two of the people in the group kept going and the two others stayed with her.”

Sergeant Dickens said less than half an hour later police were called about another hiker affected by the heat at Mount Feathertop.

“A woman was feeling nauseated and dehydrated, but they were only about one kilometre from the camp, so we kept in communication with them and they were able to get her there,” he said.

The recorded maximum temperature was 22.4 degrees at Mount Hotham yesterday, with it forecasted to reach 27 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sergeant Dickens said while Saturday’s conditions weren’t as hot as some days have been this summer, the sun compounded with high altitude could take its toll.

“It’s a reminder to people to understand their limitations in extreme heat and weather conditions and to make sure they take adequate precautions,” he said.