POLICE and other emergency service agencies are responding to a plea for help from a hiker at Mt Feathertop this morning.

Sergeant Paul Pursell of Wangaratta police said the 36 year old hiker from Box Hill contacted police late yesterday afternoon calling for assistance.

“He is an experienced hiker who lost sight of the track during a whiteout yesterday and contacted police,” he said.

“Because of the conditions we were unable to recover him last night so he bunkered down in his tent, waiting for assistance Sunday morning.”

Mt Hotham reported 16cms of fresh snow during the 24 hours to 9am Sunday.

The temperature was minus 6.5 on the mountain this morning, heading for a top of minus three degrees with a moderate south-westerly wind.