Hells Window / Hellfire Creek - is there water???

[Elizabeth]

Hello - wanting to find out if there is water currently near the saddle in the Hells Window area near Howitt - I think it is Hellfire creek. I was there a number of years ago (at this time of year) and there was a small, but good flow from a plastic pipe from memory. I have read through some other posts from this year - but just wanted to see if anyone has been out over the last couple of weeks as it has been fairly dry of late. Thanks.

[andrewp]

I think this spring is quite reliable. I have been there twice at this time of year, most recently last year and there was plenty of flow. More than the previous time in 2009.

[madmacca]

Plastic pipe I think is Macalister Springs.

Although I think you had to go a LONG way down during the drought a few years ago, in recent years I understand Hellfire creek has been pretty reliable.

When I was last there in Jan 2011, there was enough water to swim in.

[byrnesy8]

There is a plastic pipe at hellfire creek as well. I was there last year between Christmas and new year and there was a good flow. Given the reasonable winter I would expect that you will get water

[Kinsayder]

I'm not sure about Hellfire Creek but I was at Hell's Window two weeks ago and there was a lot of water, um, springing. I threw my filter into small pools a couple of times to pump some water and it seemed fine.

[Elizabeth]

Thanks for the info. I look forward to getting out into this beautiful area again soon.

[Summitview]

Hi there.

I am considering walking a circuit at Easter, relying on water at Hellfire Creek (below Mt Madgdala) and Camp Creek (at Mt Speculation). Would appreciate any more recent reports on water availability at these locations.

thanks

[ryantmalone]

Both Hellfire Creek and Camp Creek are usually running, that said, getting towards the end of Summer, ANY water is going to be scarce.

With the amount of rain that the high country has received as of late, I'd assume that both Hellfire and Camp Creek would be running, but consider alternatives just in case.

Example - there is usually a little water in the gully to the right of the track up Howitt, at the campsite just before the treeline.

Mac Springs is usually reliable, but a filter here is mandatory, as the water supply is ridden with Giardia. Not using a filter here is like playing Russian Roulette.

Water is usually reliable 1km down the Stanleys Name Spur track, however that is an extremely steep 1km.