Viking Circuit
Posted: Thu 09 Nov, 2023 11:35 amWe hiked this again over Cup weekend 2023. Some short notes and time comparisons from 2021. A lot of work has been done on the AAWT section of the track. Times include breaks lunch etc
Pics including some video of the watering points
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BrPfvFTyDXzAs5vk7
1. Trail Head to Mt Speculation
Water at Macalister Springs was flowing well. A few patches of snow on the southern slopes of Howitt. The track was in good condition and quite fast through the Mt Buggery section. The rope is still in place on the first scramble on Mt Speculation. Camp Creek flowing well.
Time: 6 hrs vs 8 hrs (2021)
2. Mt Speculation to Viking Saddle
A prominent pad for the first part of the descent of Spec. Not sure but the scrub seemed thinner than last time. The GPX track leads to a gully, which is the track for the remainder of the descent onto the 4WD track above Catherine Saddle. Some excellent work was done clearing the track over the back of Mt Despair. You fly through this section now. We walked out to The Razor. Head up past the Cairn and bias left (west) to get to the top of the ridge, this way, you can avoid some of the more scrubby gullies and sets you up for the path of least resistance along the ridge.
The final section of the track between The Razor and Viking Saddle has been transformed. This used to be a commando course of fallen trees that have now been removed. The spring at Viking Saddle was flowing, but you needed a piece of bark to get a decent flow for filling bottles, etc. See the pics and video above
Mt Spec to The Razor: 3.5 hrs vs 5.5 hrs inc lunch on the way (2021)
The Razor: 1 hr vs 1 hr (2021)
The Razor to Viking Saddle: 1 hr vs 2 hrs (2021)
3. Viking Saddle to Wonnangatta River
The track up to the Viking is well-formed and doesn’t seem to have degraded. The rope seems in good condition at the climb at the top of the Viking ascent. A few cairns to guide you from the pack drop point below The Viking out to South Viking. From South Viking, we followed the cairns along the ridge. Lots of trees down as you start scrub bashing. It’s always a bit of a compromise between sticking to the GPX track and working your way around the fallen trees. We ended up “constant contouring” a little off the ridge before picking up where the trail starts to become more defined at the rocky section around 1200m. The trail definition improves as you descend further. Towards the bottom, someone had spray-painted yellow markers on the trees to guide you into the campsite.
Viking Saddle to South Viking: 3:15 hrs vs 4 hrs
South Viking Wonnangatta: 3:20 hrs vs 3:20 hrs (2021)
4. Wonnangatta River to Carpark
The river crossing was straightforward as the water level was down a bit on last time. Some cairns mark an entry into the smaller tributary crossing. We crossed and then scrambled up only to find a well-formed track. So the real crossing is probably 30m further along the track. We managed to beat all but two 4WD on Zeka Spur Track, so it pays to leave early otherwise, you are choking on dust. It was also a lot cooler than 2021 which helped with the climb
We decided to walk past the first set of ribbons that mark the start of the trail off Zeka Spur Track and go to where the GPX track shows the actual start. There is a cairn and also some ribbon here. The extra elevation gain was worth it.
Coming across the top, there is a lot of timber down. We could occasionally pick up a pad/or the remnants of the 4WD track.
Wonnangatta to Zeka Spur Turnoff: 2.5 hrs vs 3.5 hrs (2021)
Zeka Spur Turnoff to Carpark: 3.5 hrs vs 4 hrs (2021)
One of the best hikes in Victoria for my money.
Cheers
Nigel
Pics including some video of the watering points
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BrPfvFTyDXzAs5vk7
1. Trail Head to Mt Speculation
Water at Macalister Springs was flowing well. A few patches of snow on the southern slopes of Howitt. The track was in good condition and quite fast through the Mt Buggery section. The rope is still in place on the first scramble on Mt Speculation. Camp Creek flowing well.
Time: 6 hrs vs 8 hrs (2021)
2. Mt Speculation to Viking Saddle
A prominent pad for the first part of the descent of Spec. Not sure but the scrub seemed thinner than last time. The GPX track leads to a gully, which is the track for the remainder of the descent onto the 4WD track above Catherine Saddle. Some excellent work was done clearing the track over the back of Mt Despair. You fly through this section now. We walked out to The Razor. Head up past the Cairn and bias left (west) to get to the top of the ridge, this way, you can avoid some of the more scrubby gullies and sets you up for the path of least resistance along the ridge.
The final section of the track between The Razor and Viking Saddle has been transformed. This used to be a commando course of fallen trees that have now been removed. The spring at Viking Saddle was flowing, but you needed a piece of bark to get a decent flow for filling bottles, etc. See the pics and video above
Mt Spec to The Razor: 3.5 hrs vs 5.5 hrs inc lunch on the way (2021)
The Razor: 1 hr vs 1 hr (2021)
The Razor to Viking Saddle: 1 hr vs 2 hrs (2021)
3. Viking Saddle to Wonnangatta River
The track up to the Viking is well-formed and doesn’t seem to have degraded. The rope seems in good condition at the climb at the top of the Viking ascent. A few cairns to guide you from the pack drop point below The Viking out to South Viking. From South Viking, we followed the cairns along the ridge. Lots of trees down as you start scrub bashing. It’s always a bit of a compromise between sticking to the GPX track and working your way around the fallen trees. We ended up “constant contouring” a little off the ridge before picking up where the trail starts to become more defined at the rocky section around 1200m. The trail definition improves as you descend further. Towards the bottom, someone had spray-painted yellow markers on the trees to guide you into the campsite.
Viking Saddle to South Viking: 3:15 hrs vs 4 hrs
South Viking Wonnangatta: 3:20 hrs vs 3:20 hrs (2021)
4. Wonnangatta River to Carpark
The river crossing was straightforward as the water level was down a bit on last time. Some cairns mark an entry into the smaller tributary crossing. We crossed and then scrambled up only to find a well-formed track. So the real crossing is probably 30m further along the track. We managed to beat all but two 4WD on Zeka Spur Track, so it pays to leave early otherwise, you are choking on dust. It was also a lot cooler than 2021 which helped with the climb
We decided to walk past the first set of ribbons that mark the start of the trail off Zeka Spur Track and go to where the GPX track shows the actual start. There is a cairn and also some ribbon here. The extra elevation gain was worth it.
Coming across the top, there is a lot of timber down. We could occasionally pick up a pad/or the remnants of the 4WD track.
Wonnangatta to Zeka Spur Turnoff: 2.5 hrs vs 3.5 hrs (2021)
Zeka Spur Turnoff to Carpark: 3.5 hrs vs 4 hrs (2021)
One of the best hikes in Victoria for my money.
Cheers
Nigel
