Water between Mac Springs and Hotham

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Victoria specific bushwalking discussion. Please avoid publishing details of access to sensitive areas with no tracks.

Water between Mac Springs and Hotham

Postby Mr Bean » Tue 16 Apr, 2019 9:32 pm

Just wondering if Camp Creek at Speculation is running and if the tanks have water? We are heading up Howitt Spur on Saturday for 6 days walking to Hotham. Between 2 of us, we will have capacity for 11L of water, but hope to carry less depending on the available water.
TIA
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Re: Water between Mac Springs and Hotham

Postby Xplora » Wed 17 Apr, 2019 6:27 am

Not heard about Mac Springs for a while but last it was a trickle. Camp creek is one of the most reliable sources of water in the mountains. I may be low but you should get some. Not heard about the tanks for a bit either.
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Re: Water between Mac Springs and Hotham

Postby Lophophaps » Wed 17 Apr, 2019 1:48 pm

Unless there's been quite a bit of precipitation, Mac Springs tends to run low or not at all from late summer until winter. Camp Creek is always running. There may be water between the shoulder campsite and the road; it's just a question of finding the creek in the scrub. The Barry Mountains tanks should have water, but have a fallback plan in case one or more is dry. The Barry Saddle tank will need filtering and treatment. Viking Saddle water will be a fair way down. In case one water container breaks, consider taking a spare container such as a wine cask.
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Re: Water between Mac Springs and Hotham

Postby paidal_chalne_vala » Wed 17 Apr, 2019 8:16 pm

Beware of the Dry Barry Mountains. You will find water near the Twins flowing across the Twins Jeep road. It is some of the best drinking water in the VIC ALPS.
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Re: Water between Mac Springs and Hotham

Postby Mr Bean » Thu 18 Apr, 2019 9:29 am

Thanks for the replies. The curly bit to add is that according to the Parks Vic website, Mac Springs is off limits (no access). While I'm aware of the dryness of the area, there's a few of spots I'm hoping will have water (Camp Creek, down from Catherine Saddle and down Canyon Rd - Buffalo River), along with the tanks. And yes PCV, the water near the Twins is great (we found that in January on a day walk).
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Re: Water between Mac Springs and Hotham

Postby Lophophaps » Thu 18 Apr, 2019 9:54 am

PV has a map at
https://parkweb.vic.gov.au/safety/fire- ... ional_park
The Howitt Road is closed at or near the Wellington River. There's a straight line from east of Mount Clear to north of Howitt. Much of the AAWT is open but from Big Hill it's closed. The Crosscut Saw to east of Barry Saddle is open ... just. I think. The map is not very clear in places.
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