by paidal_chalne_vala » Mon 21 Nov, 2016 2:40 pm
I am set to hike up there along this long route starting on Boxing day.
8 Mile flat/ Ritchie's hut ( water point)/14 mile track / Bluff hut ( possible water point if the tank isn't dry )/Lovick's hut/ Mt. Magdala/ Hellfire Creek ( possible pump up water filter trickle type water point, prey for rain the night before!! )/ Mac. Springs( water point)/ Mt. Spec/ Camp Creek ( water point)/ The Crosscut saw/ Stanely Name spur/ possible water point at the bottom of S. N. Spur )/ Upper Howqua ( water!! yaaay! )/ Ritchie's hut/ 8 Mile flat.
As far as I know water is possible at Hellfire creek but take a pump up water filter . Don't rely on enough of a flow to fill a vessel or container of any sort.It was flowing as just a trickle when I went up there last Xmas break with a friend. Bear in mind that we went as day trippers from Mac Springs and went to look at Hell's window from the top and the bottom tracks and sussed out the water situation at Hell fire Creek.
Spring 2015 was quite dry compared with spring 2016.
Because of the wet spring many soaks and under ground water sources will still be good until the end of Nov., however I would carry a spare 4 L. in addition to a 3 L. drinking bladder all along that entire ridge as insurance.
The campsite at the saddle above Hell fire Creek is a ripper. So too is the one on the AAWT on the south side of Mt. Howitt heading towards Big Hill . There are some ancient snow gums there but no water at all.