Water in the vicinity of Howitt, Speculation, Viking

[oyster_07]

I'll be heading up to do five days in the vicinity of Howitt, Speculation, the Viking, and the Barry Mountains, commencing on Tuesday 20 January 2015.

I know there is a full tank of water at Barry Saddle and plenty of flow at MC springs, however is anyone able to confirm water at Camp Creek and the Viking?

Also, any info on the current condition of Circuit and Bindaree Roads to the base of Helicopter a Spur would be great. DELWP (formerly DEPI) in Mansfield have told me it was graded two weeks ago, but there has been a fair volume of rain.

Thanks for any info, and I'll reciprocate with an update upon return.

[wildlight]

...but there has been a fair volume of rain.

I'd hazard a guess and say that Mac Springs would be fine for water, as would be Camp Creek. Heading East form Viking Saddle into the Buffalo catchment should get you water, and there's reliable water coming off the northern cliff of the Viking, (the water drops to the base of the cliff) considerably to the west of the walking route.

There's also a pool deep within a cluster of rocks, to the South-West of where you pop out onto the summit of the Viking. Again, these spots require either luck or a previous successful visit to locate. Last time I visited them, (decades ago) in a very dry summer- there were no GPS units.

Have a great trip- looking forward to the report and photos.

Cheers

Wildlight

[gbedford]

I was up there between Boxing Day and New Years Day. The road down to the upper Howqua was like a highway.
there was a trickle of water below the Hellfire Saddle campsite near Magdala. Good water at Mac Springs. Camp Creek near Speculation was flowing strongly. We had to descend a fair way down from Viking Saddle to some pools of water in the gully to the east (Buffalo catchment ) . Descend through the open grassy area through a patch of scrub to the next open area adjacent to a cliff in the gully, through another patch of thick scrub to another grassy area and into the bush and then down to the creek bed. Didn't check the time to walk back up hill but at least 10 minutes. For flowing water you would have need to descend much further.

All the best,
Gordon