by north-north-west » Tue 03 Aug, 2010 7:14 pm
There are a couple of reliable trickles on the Twins 4WD track, but not on the section of the AAWT that goes over the Twins and Wongungarra. Once you're back on the 4WD track,there are often dribs and drabs, but nothing major or reliable. The only reliable water would be to drop down to the river after you're past the Mt Murray turnoff. It's not too far.
I've only done this section of the AAWT once (OK, twice, but that was there and back in the one trip) and the memory is rather vague on some of the details. You can get water near Selwyn Sth, down . . . Canyon Road? I think it is . . . but I don't recall anything near the crossroads. A short walk back up the vehicle track once you're back on it after dropping down from Selwyn Sth, AFAICR. I did cross a couple of trickles between there and the next major junction to the west (Humfray's/Whites) one which has changed considerably since my map of the area was published.
Then there's the water tank near the junction east of Barry Saddle. That's the last reliable water on the ridgeline. Camp Creek (Mt Spec car park) is sometimes dry by midsummer, although it's been a wet winter and so should be OK, ditto the creeks that run down from Catherine Pass. It's a long and hard walk down to the river and back up, though - wouldn't it be better to get to Howitt via the Crosscut?
Macallister Springs is also often reduced to a drip - or less - in dry conditions, but should be OK this summer.
From the Barry water tank to Catherine Pass, there's no water. The Razor and the Viking are dry as, unless it's actually raining at the time.
From Howitt to Buller you have a range of options.
There are tracks down Howitt Spur and Stanley's Name Spur to the upper Howqua valley, plus a rougher route down Queen's spur from Mt Buggery. From there you could link up with the Mt Thorn track onto Stirling.
Or you can continue on the AAWT over Magdala, and head down over Picture Pt and Lovick to the Bluff Hut. The only access up to Buller that I know of from those areas, however, is on 4WD tracks. Open 4WD tracks.
That's all my maps show too - although there are bound to be ski runs for some of the distance that would be walkable.
Enjoy. It sounds like a lot of hard work and fun.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."