Viking Circuit

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I have never walked the full circuit
but if the Zeka Spur foot route track clearing comes to
fruition then sections of the loop will be at their least masochistic scrub bashing/ fallen timber dodging best .

[north-north-west]

Drew,

Your green spur is good walking; did it some fifteen years ago. Steep but straightforward and suprisingly scrub-free. Never did get around to the Devils Staircase.

[Drew]

Drew,

Your green spur is good walking; did it some fifteen years ago. Steep but straightforward and suprisingly scrub-free. Never did get around to the Devils Staircase.

Thanks NNW. Well if that spur was good 15 years ago when you did it and 6 years ago when (I think) I did it, then hopefully it's still good now! I don't think that area has burned since then, so fire regrowth shouldn't be an issue. Still, if anyone has more recent experience I'd love to hear of it.

[Baeng72]

Is it safe to assume Howitt road past the gate will be 2WD suitable?
Graded and not washed out?
Circuit Road/Bindaree road and the road from Bennies to Lake Cobbler have never been an issue, so if it's in that level I think I'd be OK on the off chance I can get up there.
Regarding which spur? Why not go down a spur into the Wonnangatta, then you'll get the Gravity boost and finish the walk on the Crosscut (anti-clockwise)?

[Drew]

Regarding which spur? Why not go down a spur into the Wonnangatta, then you'll get the Gravity boost and finish the walk on the Crosscut (anti-clockwise)?

I find it's usually easier to go up untracked spurs than down. While having gravity on your side helps, it's easier to keep on the right spur when climbing.

If I go it might be next week after the long weekend - hopefully someone will go over the long weekend and be able to give reports of track, water, and roads (I'm thinking of starting at Upper Howqua to make the drive a bit easier, so a Bindaree Rd report would be handy).

[Baeng72]

Regarding which spur? Why not go down a spur into the Wonnangatta, then you'll get the Gravity boost and finish the walk on the Crosscut (anti-clockwise)?

I find it's usually easier to go up untracked spurs than down. While having gravity on your side helps, it's easier to keep on the right spur when climbing.

If I go it might be next week after the long weekend - hopefully someone will go over the long weekend and be able to give reports of track, water, and roads (I'm thinking of starting at Upper Howqua to make the drive a bit easier, so a Bindaree Rd report would be handy).

Makes sense. I guess heading a bit far left when heading down the Devil's Staircase might be a worry! Also, if it's very steep, I prefer going up, as I only fall a short way forward into the hill going up, instead of a massive face plant on the way down.
I have never had issue with Bindaree (but could always be a first time), the only problem is, you then have to get up to the Crosscut or Mt. Howitt. A half-day slog. Walking along the river is great, but the grind up Queens Spur/Stanley Name Spur, or Howitt Spur is something. Need more time if going in that way.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Grading of the Howitt road usually occurs in February. It is a semi futile exercise IMHO. The road often sits on bedrock that cannot be shifted.
Spring has been reasonably dry so 2 WD should be okay on the Howitt road but be careful, watch for craters, boulders , mudholes and use low gear in places.
BTAC may be going up there in late Jan. to clear the Zeka Spur foot route.

[Baeng72]

Cheers!

[Drew]

I finished the walk yesterday, tired and a bit scratched up! A few notes:

- Started and finished at Upper Howqua. Circuit Rd and Bindaree Rd were both in very good nick (first time I drove down Bindaree Rd years ago it was pretty rough for 2WD, so I'm always a little nervous about it despite it being fine every trip since).
- My timing was poor: the area was overrun with hundreds of private school kids (Timbertop and various other schools). While they're well behaved and respectful enough, I think it's a bit problematic that there are so many up there at once. At least they don't go down to the Wonnangatta.

- Day 1 from Upper Howqua to Mt Spec via Howitt Spur was about 18km, 1300m up, 500m down. About 6.5 hours total. Hard day - I somehow always forget how much climbing and descending there is on the Crosscut! And also how far it is to go and get water from the nicer campsites on Spec! Despite all the kids I was lucky to get a spot to myself just down from the summit.

- Day 2 from Mt Spec to Wonnangatta River was 19km, 830m up, 1800m down, about 8 hours total. After going all the way down to Camp Creek for water I decided to take the longer but easier road option down to Catherine Saddle (not sure what condition the AAWT track is these days - 6 years ago it wasn't great but not too rough). Lots of trees down at Catherine Saddle - the old Wonnangatta road that I'd followed to find water another time couldn't even be seen from the campsite clearing. Some water was flowing across the road a couple of hundred metres before the saddle. Clear walking to the Razor. Parks have done a lot of work clearing fallen trees, but in the last few hundred metres to Viking Saddle there are heaps of new trees down - slow going, climbing over, under and along the top of trees, and impossible to follow the track. The Timbertop kids were on a day trip to the Viking and found water at Viking Saddle (north side, a couple of hundred metres down the gully). The climb to the Viking was as steep as ever, and very sweaty in warm and humid weather. After a visit to the summit I backtracked to the top of the climb proper to find the best route to South Viking. I followed the base of the cliff (there are a few cairns amongst the scrub that give a rough idea) around to the small saddle, then south-east to South Viking following a cairned route. The descent to the Wonnangatta was the easiest it's been on my 4 trips - there's even a clear track right at the bottom section! Getting into the river for a swim/wash was a delight. Mosquitoes were savage, but the campsite was very peaceful with nobody but me.

Day 3 from Wonnangatta to Mac Springs was 10.7km, 1050m up, 74m down, and took 5 hours (see pic). Overnight rain probably should have caused me to reconsider my planned route upriver - bushbashing is so much worse when everything is dripping wet! I crossed the river and headed upstream, picking my way along the path of least resistance, but was completely drenched within about 10 minutes. There are some great sections of track for anyone the height of a hog deer. For anyone taller, it means crouching forward and forcing a way under the vegetation, regularly getting your pack caught. Apart from being wet it wasn't that bad, with not too much blackberry and no leeches. After crossing the second gully/creek I started to climb up onto the spur that I'd walked 6 years prior. The bottom few hundred metres were really tough going and not a lot of fun. I was certainly regretting my decision at times. But it started to open up eventually and, apart from some rougher areas, wasn't too bad - there's even a track to follow at times. The coolest part of this spur is the little cliff at the top, which looks intimidating but has a really easy route to take. After that it was fairly easy walking for a while and I thought all the hard work was behind me. Alas, the last 2km or so of the Old Zeka Track were a nightmare of fallen trees. Not what I needed after a rough morning! With skies a bit stormy I slogged on to Mac Springs for late lunch and then a lazy afternoon surrounded by schoolkids. With so many kids the only flat ground available was under some dangerous looking dead branches, so I slept in the hut.

Day 4 from Mac Springs to Upper Howqua via Howitt Spur was 12km, 290m up, 960m down, 3.25 hours. Gorgeous morning to walk out.

[Baeng72]

Nice report Drew! Sounds like a good one.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

An Impressive effort ,full of type 2 and type 3 fun.
:-0

[Drew]

An Impressive effort ,full of type 2 and type 3 fun.
:-0

Definitely periods of type 2 fun. I suspect that the periods of type 3 fun could fade to type 2 fun as my scratches heal. Can be more fun to do that kind of walking with a friend if it's the right friend (eg, laughing at the adversity), but much worse if it's the wrong friend (having meltdowns at the adversity)!

[Ironfox]

Congrats on your walk (and post) Drew. It’s nice to know it’s still doable. You certainly didn’t muck around from the time you posted an old map of walkable spurs to getting out there and committing to hiking it again! Another one to add to the bucket list.

[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!