Water in Mt Howitt/Crosscut Saw area

[Rog+pack]

Has anyone recently been to the Mt Howitt area, if so is water available at Macalister springs, Mt Speculation and the Spring at the campsite near the top of Stanley name spur.

[hightower]

Area sounds like it may be getting on the dry side, I notice BSAR put a notice out about some areas north of Howitt
http://bsar.org/Viking%20water%20alert

[damoprz]

This doesn't sound great... I was hoping to do a loop up here over the easter weekend. What is the date on that alert? Has anyone been up there recently? There is forecast rain in the mountains in the coming week.

[hightower]

March 4 is the BSAR alert date, can go to their facebook page and see when. Bit surprising their own website doesn't have a date for that item.

I was looking at doing a trip up there at christmas just gone but others in club that came back from there reported water troubles and suggested I didn't go. So sounds like a long dry season this year

Do a rain dance? hehe

[IanM]

Was there two weeks ago - Mac Spring was just a trickle, although there was water in the tank at VG hut.
We had 7 litres between two of us and got to Mt Buggery and decided to stay there the night rather than press on to Mt Speculation after considering the effort it would take to go down (and up again) Terrible Hollow. If we did not find water at the bottom of Speculation we would have been in trouble - as it was we both ran out just short of the hut (and tank) on the return trip. VERY glad we did that as it was a harder walk than we anticipated (and also a fair bit warmer than the forecast).

[Xplora]

I would be surprised if the spring at Camp creek did not have any water but stranger things have happened. It is regarded as one of the most reliable in the mountains. Hopefully we get some of the rain forecast for the weekend. Sorry to those who have to walk in it but it will be a welcome change from all the heat and dry.

[bernieq]

Certainly is dry - and not looking like significant rain in the near future.

FYI, IanM, the bit between Mt Buggary and Mt Spec is called the Horrible Gap. The Terrible Hollow is down into the head of the Wonnangatta (below the Crosscut).

[IanM]

bernieq
You are right of course - I think I was delirious at the time! Either way it is well named.....

[bernieq]

Yes, it can be a bit dispiriting looking down at the gap and across at Spec - particularly after slogging up Mt B. - but I've always found the reality not so bad.

What I haven't done is drop into the Terrible Hollow from the Crosscut or Mt B. I've often looked at the Devil's Staircase and pondered climbing it (without a pack might be possible).

[bernieq]

Apologies for wandering off topic a little but ..........

Looking into the Terrible Hollow, across the Devil's Staircase - Jan 2011

..... anyone here climbed the Devils Staircase?

[oyster_07]

Tempting....

[north-north-west]

..... anyone here climbed the Devils Staircase?

I've been roughly half way down it. Not as bad as it looks. Kind of fun in a masochistic way.

[damoprz]

Take a rope and lower your pack down?

[north-north-west]

Take a rope and lower your pack down?

Only if you're in a hurry. It's possible to sidestep the steepest bits of the cliffs.

[Rog+pack]

Thanks everyone for comments - sounds like Mac Springs and Mt Spec will be OK but very doubtful about Stanley Name Spur spring. May have to cart water on first day. Not leaving until 4th April so if anyone visits Stanley Name spring in the meantime then an update would be great!

[damoprz]

I think I will give this a go on the Easter weekend.

Camp at Upper Howqua campsite.
Day 1: Hike up Helicopter Spur to Mt Highett/ Macalister Springs.
Day 2: Drop down the Devils staircase. Join up to the Wonnangatta river track and hike along it, camp when it gets dark, or when we reach the Viking turnoff.
Day 3: Hike up and over the Viking, to Mt Spec, camp.
Day 4: Hike across the crosscut spur, and down one of the spurs to the UH campsite.

Should be no problems with water at the three campsites & seems like an interesting route. Is it scrubby along the Wonnangatta river or will finding a campsite be easy?

[oyster_07]

I think I will give this a go on the Easter weekend.

Camp at Upper Howqua campsite.
Day 1: Hike up Helicopter Spur to Mt Highett/ Macalister Springs.
Day 2: Drop down the Devils staircase. Join up to the Wonnangatta river track and hike along it, camp when it gets dark, or when we reach the Viking turnoff.
Day 3: Hike up and over the Viking, to Mt Spec, camp.
Day 4: Hike across the crosscut spur, and down one of the spurs to the UH campsite.

Should be no problems with water at the three campsites & seems like an interesting route. Is it scrubby along the Wonnangatta river or will finding a campsite be easy?

Have look here: viewtopic.php?t=19159

I did a similar circuit essentially in reverse. You will see my comments and location of a possible night location.

[damoprz]

I think I will give this a go on the Easter weekend.

Should be no problems with water at the three campsites & seems like an interesting route. Is it scrubby along the Wonnangatta river or will finding a campsite be easy?

Have look here: viewtopic.php?t=19159

I did a similar circuit essentially in reverse. You will see my comments and location of a possible night location.

Cheers.

If you still have it and I PM you my email could I grab the .gpx track? I am reading the thread and others linked within, it looks like it should be easy to find a camp close to the track leading up to the South Viking.

edit: Sorry for Hijacking your thread Rog!

[oyster_07]

If you still have it and I PM you my email could I grab the .gpx track? I am reading the thread and others linked within, it looks like it should be easy to find a camp close to the track leading up to the South Viking.

I'm pretty sure I have the GPX still. PM me your email address and I'll send it to you.

The vegetation was pretty dense along the river when I was there...

[damoprz]

This post: viewtopic.php?f=37&t=4153&p=121688&hilit=Zeka#p121688 mentions a campsite at GDA94 55 E477265 N5887812 .

I have sent you a PM.

[MickyB]

Has anyone visited the waterfalls to the north west of Macalister Springs? Are they easy enough to get to and are they worth seeing? TIA.

[Xplora]

This just in from James (Eljimberino) "Hi I'm at Mac Springs now. Trickle at the Spring and tank is good. Looks like the last of the dry weather as fog and drizzle today. Amazing contrast to yesterday. Camp Creek had good water."

[damoprz]

This just in from James (Eljimberino) "Hi I'm at Mac Springs now. Trickle at the Spring and tank is good. Looks like the last of the dry weather as fog and drizzle today. Amazing contrast to yesterday. Camp Creek had good water."

Good to know, is he passing over to Mt Spec? It sounds like Camp Creek should be ok but it would be nice to be certain.

[Xplora]

James has been through camp creek and is heading south. Camp creek is good for water.

[damoprz]

40+ mm forecast for Mt Buller this Friday-Sunday, unfortunately it also looks like the rain might hang around for the Easter weekend.

One more question: If we are making good time and choose not to camp along the river, but instead start climbing the South Viking from Wonnangatta are there any good camp-sites on the way up? Or do you have to make it up the top of the Vikings to camp?

[bernieq]

.... start climbing the South Viking from Wonnangatta are there any good camp-sites on the way up? Or do you have to make it up the top of the Vikings to camp?

I don't recall any camping options between the Wonnangatta (the bottom) and Sth Viking (the top) - some nice open grassy spots but 25deg slope not so good for camping

I've camped in the saddle between the two peaks (but had to carry water from Viking saddle).

[damoprz]

Cheers, I might haul water for dinner and we can grab a little extra from the Viking saddle in the morning (if this rain keeps up). Is the saddle between the two Vikings very exposed, room for two small tents?

[oyster_07]

Is the saddle between the two Vikings very exposed, room for two small tents?

Certainly; there is enough room to fit a dozen or more tents in a dispersed fashion.

[neilmny]

40+ mm forecast for Mt Buller this Friday-Sunday, unfortunately it also looks like the rain might hang around for the Easter weekend.

THe BOM forecast is for 40 percent chance of rain for Mount Buller with 50 percent chance of 1mm Saturday.
With 70 percent chance of 2 to 10mm Good Friday.
http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/mountbuller.shtml

[damoprz]

40+ mm forecast for Mt Buller this Friday-Sunday, unfortunately it also looks like the rain might hang around for the Easter weekend.

THe BOM forecast is for 40 percent chance of rain for Mount Buller with 50 percent chance of 1mm Saturday.
With 70 percent chance of 2 to 10mm Good Friday.
http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/mountbuller.shtml

Yeah, Fingers crossed it clears up for next weekend. 50mm already today http://www.bom.gov.au/places/vic/mount-buller/.