Razor-Viking Circuit - seeking water report December 2024

[Gunner55]

I'm dropping this quite specific query in a few chats for what will become obvious reasons, forgive me as spam is not intended (if you respond in one chat no need to respond in another). I am starting the Razor-Viking Circuit on 27 Dec - start/finish Upper Howqua, up Mt Howitt, down Helicopter Spur. I've done it before so I know what to expect.

The query is: has anyone been on the circuit since mid-December (not earlier) and can they tell me what the water situation was like at Viking Saddle, the spring off the back of Mt Howitt (not Mac Springs) and at Hellfire Creek at Magdala Saddle? I'm just assuming water at Mac Springs and Camp Creek is AOK. Subsidiary query is - does anyone have some recent-ish intel on the Razor Spur side-trip lately? Any updates till early arvo 26 December will be appreciated, as about then I'll be going off-grid out of mobile range. Thx!

[Baeng72]

I was heading up there on 14th of December but lergy, 21st of December but fire north of Licola, and today, but fires at Howitt Plains, and north of Lake Cobbler and Whitfield heading southerly.
So, no water report. I hope to read Gunner55's and that all goes well, if walk is attempted.
I might try in the new year....but with my luck there will be plagues and fires and flood concurrently.

[Camminata]

How serious/big are these fires in control??

[Baeng72]

It appears they've controlled the fires near Whitfield and Mt. Cobbler. but not near Howitt plains carpark.
But no updates, so probably hasn't got on a run. The winds were forecast to be high late yesterday and this morning. But light this evening.
The one near Licola that has been bubbling along for best part of a week is listed as under control.
Last report (5:58pm) is that the Howitt Plains carpark fire was heading south-east, so not towards Viking Circuit.
Mac Springs was covered by alert area (evacuate), but it's north, so shouldn't be an issue.
Mt Howitt Walking track and carpark are closed.

Fires

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Howitt update

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Howitt-info

[Baeng72]

Looks like all sorted. Vic. Emergency saying it's contained, or under control, and no mention of walking track or car park being closed now. 14ha affected.

[Gunner55]

Am on the road and mobile, Will update more fully later. Quick update is I modified our route due to fire and didn’t do the RV Circuit. But still had a good but VERY wary trip as smoke was v obvious and visible etc, got to Mt Howitt after climb and, oh, #%^{.

Anyway, re water which started this whole thing…no flow at Helllfire Creek just couple barely there pools. Spring at back of Mt Howitt was barely a dribble and probably dead now. Didn’t get to Viking Saddle but not optimistic there. Good flow at Canp Creek. Didn’t go to Mac Springs. Was told by other walkers at the time good flow at creek high up Stanley Name Spur.

More later…

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Your water report matches my annual prediction. That is to say by New Year's day only Camp Creek, Mac. Springs and the Stanley Name spur camp site water points are usually flowing.
Take care out there and we shall see what happens with the planned BTAC working bee that is
scheduled for The Howitt Plains car park to Mt. Howitt walking track area on the late Jan. 2025
weekend.