Water in Mt Howitt/Crosscut Saw area

[neilmny]

Yes, there was some good rain about. We got 37mm at the foot of the Dandenongs.

[Xplora]

47mm at Falls Creek yesterday. Big River and the Mitta are up to a good level now but still a bit cloudy. Most streams should have a good flow for a while. Temps are down now though so Autumn has arrived.

[MartyGwynne]

If this rain persists for a few more days you may be able to get water off the back of the Viking about 5-600 metres down the east slope before you get to the drop off along the AAWT. You would be best treating any water collected at the Viking saddle though.

[Xplora]

Sadly I think the rain is done for now. Loving the cooler temps though.

[Watertank]

So is the consensus that if I want to hike from the Upper Howqua camping area up to Mt Speculation for the night then back the next day to Upper Howqua camping area, I.e. Hike number 26 in "bush walks in the Victoria alps" that I should carry water from the Upper Howqua camping area for the entire hike? I'm thinking of going this Easter weekend. If it is too dry I am thinking of Mt Cobbler as an alternative hike.
Thanks

[damoprz]

So is the consensus that if I want to hike from the Upper Howqua camping area up to Mt Speculation for the night then back the next day to Upper Howqua camping area, I.e. Hike number 26 in "bush walks in the Victoria alps" that I should carry water from the Upper Howqua camping area for the entire hike? I'm thinking of going this Easter weekend. If it is too dry I am thinking of Mt Cobbler as an alternative hike.
Thanks

Xplora said both Camp Creek and Mac Springs were running 9 days ago and there were 50 mm of water 6 days ago, with a little rain forecast tomorrow. So there *should* be water there.

[peregrinator]

So is the consensus that if I want to hike from the Upper Howqua camping area up to Mt Speculation for the night then back the next day to Upper Howqua camping area, I.e. Hike number 26 in "bush walks in the Victoria alps" that I should carry water from the Upper Howqua camping area for the entire hike? I'm thinking of going this Easter weekend. If it is too dry I am thinking of Mt Cobbler as an alternative hike.
Thanks

Xplora said both Camp Creek and Mac Springs were running 9 days ago and there were 50 mm of water 6 days ago, with a little rain forecast tomorrow. So there *should* be water there.

Not that this helps you all that much, but you don't need to carry water on the first c.3.5km from Upper Howqua camp because the Howqua is also accessible at the bottom of Howitt Spur.

[Lophophaps]

I'm very confident that there will be water at Spec. Just go down the track to the road and walk left 100 metres. There may be water halfway down, bit hard to find and less certain.

[Watertank]

There is water at Macalister Springs, as of yesterday. But I don't know about Spec as I didn't get that far. Teeming with happy hikers up there this Easter weekend. Great to see so many people of different ages out hiking.

[damoprz]

As of the Easter weekend there is a reasonable flow of water at Camp creek and Mac Springs. If you take the Helicopter spur there is also some in the gully between the AAWT turnoff to Magdala and the one to the King BIlly, someone has left ribbon to mark the track down from the campsite.

Beautiful area, great walk. I was looking at going to Mount Cobbler next, are there any nice routes north from the Barry's, Viking or Razor, and then west too Lake Cobbler. My SV maps legend is right there, not sure what else is.

[DropbearAT]

On water availability in the Barry's from Mt Speculation to Mt Hotham, 3 of us walked this leg of the AAWT over Easter 2016 and can confirm:

Mt Spec camping area has good reliable water in the creek nearby.
Tank on Barry Saddle 791 929 (full) and also good camp spot
Tank at South Selwyn 907 995 (3/4 full) and a great camp spot (much better than 901 992 on page 93)
Tank on ridge west of the Twins at 036 019, south of the road (half full). Also great camping.

The East Barry tank is indeed stuffed and does not hold any water.
No water found in creeks near Murray Hut site (page 97) despite an exhausting search in the heat of the day in at least 3 tributaries 600m from road. Forget camping here as too close to 4wd track.