She made a road trip the week before she left and dropped off her own supplies. To walk the whole track is an adventure in contrasts, where the reward for your hard work is to see the world change before you at the speed of a human being. Although well be walking in Australias winter and rain is a distinct possibility, weve opted for lightweight trail shoes which will offer the tread we need without the weight and (hopefully) the blisters and pressure points on the feet. The Bibbulmun's Wagyl or Rainbow Serpent blaze. At this time the wild flowers (including orchids) are out, temperatures are moderate, and the streams and water tanks are likely to have plenty of water in them. It was originally envisaged by keen bushwalker Geoff Schafer, in 1972. In the end I came away with the resupply plan: Kalamunda Sullivans Rock: Pack everything, dehydrating my own food & carrying from the start to reach Sullivans Rock, Sullivans Rock Dwellingup: Pack everything, dehydrating my own food & organise a trail angel to drop off near Sullivans Rock to reach Dwellingup. For example, I discovered from the registers that the Track markers on the Monadnocks (a series of exposed rocky hills) were piles of rocks instead of the usual waugals. The next thing I needed to do in preparation for hiking the Bibbulmun Track (see my previous blog for the background to this crazy idea!) Maps, other guides and information on diversions can be found on the Bibbulmun Track Foundation website. I tried to find a balance between: The ethical conundrum of what to buy & where, was so big in my head that I tried to change my itinerary to make sure I reached Northcliffe on a day that the food cooperative was open. Near Perth, the campsites are closer together, allowing most hikers to walk two sections in a day known as double hutting. Tank water should be treated, either with a filter, a UV lamp or some chemical treatment method. You will know the right one when it comes along! Youll need more if you walk when the water supply is less reliable. More information can be found in an accommodation and services guide for walkers published by the Friends of the Bibbulmun Track. Its a good idea to split your food into two parcels and bury them in different places to reduce the chances of losing everything. This Bibbulmun Track FB Group page was started by David Baird in mid 2009. The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. The Bibbulmun Trackis a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. I want to walk the Bibbulmun Track, I said confidently when my turn came. You should always use this calculator in conjunction with the Bibbulmun Track maps and guidebooks as whilst the distances are a good guide, they are rounded to the nearest 100 metres. I was happy to eat different mueslis, snacks and lunch meals by the end of the hike. Know that most who hike this track choose to hike hut to hut in almost double the time that I chose to do this track, and enjoy a relaxed experience of not having to hike full days. Hello Andrew. Megan, I find this very good sharing, especially on the resupply considerations that included supporting local businesses. This occurs on the first stretch (on a north to south hike) between Kalamunda and Dwellingup and involves walking for at least 10 days with no opportunities to resupply. This series will show you what it's like to thru-hike the 1002 km (623 mile) Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia, including the terrain, life in camp, the b. Full-day walks average about 16 km. Charting my travels around the world, one adventure at a time. Definitely not perfect but I was trying! Unless something goes wrong, all your water will come from the tanks at campsites or taps in towns. The Group page. . It traverses the Darling Range and has inspired reflections about the state of the Western Australian environment by William J. My kneecaps tend to rub against their track if I allow my IT band to get too tight, so I make a point of stretching it and rolling it out whenever I get the chance. In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. It also helped me to better understand my bodys abilities, and made me realise how much more I could be doing with my life! I want to buy food as I go like you suggested, support the communities along the way, always choose that option. Information for bushwalkers from bushwalkers. It also provides schools with the resources to participate in the WACE endorsed end-to-end program and students to attain the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. It won't be gourmet dining, but it will do the job. Most hikers take several months to cover WA's famous 1,000km Bibbulmun Track, but Perth school teacher Jono Ride managed to do it in just over two weeks, despite not setting out to break records. The following list is what I take on multi-day hikes on the Bibbulmun Track. More to come, I'm sure. Good luck choosing one! For me, that meant getting a pair of custom orthotics from my podiatrist after experiencing some serious arch pain on multi-day hikes in the Darling Range. The Bibbulmun Track Foundation hires out dehydrators to Western Australian locals for a fortnight. Required fields are marked *. How much food you need to take will depend on your metabolism, how long you are walking for, and which section of the track you are doing. The solitude and peace on this trail is incredibly unique for one so near civilization. Nowadays, I use an ultraviolet wand which doesnt affect the taste of the water. This well blazed trail travels through many national parks and state forests with various terrain that ranges from dense forest to beautiful coastland. Hey Ben! Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. I have done many day walks, 2 overnight walks and one 4 day/3 night walk on the Bibb. Location/temp range/specific trip description: Seems roughly 0 to 30 degrees C (32-86 degrees F), I'm not very sure though. Then bury it. I tried to allow at least one rest day in each town to stock up on supplies, do my washing, shower, eat and, most importantly, rest. The Bibbulmun Track passes through many different environments; we saw an astonishing 85 different orchid species and hybrids. Today, Pemberton has a population of just over a thousand people. Doing the whole bib is a dream of mine, but for now day trips will have to suffice! It was at a travel writing workshop with Susan Storm in early 1998. Your email address will not be published. During the summer months (December to February) very hot weather, low water supplies, and abundant flies can make long walks very uncomfortable and even dangerous. The Bibbulmun Track is a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. The other participants spoke of travelling to exotic places or going on extravagant cruises. Home Trip Planner Distance Calculator. Summer is not recommended as Western Australia has extremely hot dry summers, making it a high-risk fire season. If youre only walking a section of the Track, planning a walk can be trickier as vehicular access points and public transport are limited. I am hiking only a section of the Bibbulmum (two nights) during July (not the best time, Im sure) but I was wondering if you think I really need a sleeping mat? Awesome write up thank you! a long weekend) its best to take a tent with you. But be warned, this is not a stroll in the park. Over 1000km, the walk traverses red ironstone gravel in the Darling Range, elevated granite domes with vast views, coastal cliffs of jagged limestone, peaty swamp plains, gorges with cascading . Most hotels, hostels and post offices along the track will happily hold resupply packages for you, just be sure to call in advance before you send them. Whether you want to walk for a couple of hours or a couple of months, the Bibbulmun Track provides the means to get away from it all and to experience the peace and beauty of south-west Australia. Dwellingup Collie: Pack everything (except breakfast), dehydrating my own food & post to Dwellingup accomodation to reach Collie. In May this year, Tim and I will be flying to Western Australia to take on our biggest challenge yet; well be hiking the Bibbulmun track, 1,000 km through the remote Australian wilderness. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2014. On my first attempt at hiking the Bibbulmun Track end to end, I was thwarted by very nasty blisters, caused by my boots being slightly too loose and rubbing on my heels. At the end of the weekend we felt tired yet recharged by our brief break in the country. These pages are bursting with information to help you have a safe and pleasant journey. My resupply plan was developed with the the goals of eating delicious, plant-based, package free, local and organic foods as much as possible. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. South Australia, Western Australia & Northern Territory, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHfaBZT Q&index=15, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc sp=sharing. Weve bought a Sawyer Squeeze Filter - apparently it gets rid of 99.9% of bacteria and only weighs 85 grams (I did say weight was now the only thing I think about!). After some months now of planning and preparing the walk is almost upon me. Visitors can go four-wheel driving or mountain biking or fish for trout and marron. Where were the best opportunities to send parcels, such as to my accomodation spots or visitors centres? With that decided, training should have been next on the list, but I was pretty fit so figured I didnt need to do much of that. If youre on a tight budget, its still possible to put together a kit with gear from AliExpress and sale items watch this space for gear reviews on how to make that happen! 1000km. The most important item on any hike is a pair of comfortable, well worn-in boots. Blisters are a big problem for many hikers, so its worth experimenting with different shoe and sock combinations to see what works for you. This well blazed trail travels through many national parks and state forests with various terrain that ranges from dense forest to beautiful coastland. It was quite a process!! There's a chance of no water, with many days the temperatures up in the high 30's, and some days reaching 40C and beyond. To help you get started on overnight walks the Foundation also has a range of items for hire. It doesnt do much to help the toe nail situation though! The towns Tourist/Information centers and some petrol stations have stored supplies for her. Ive only done Bibbulmun day hikes as of yet. Im quite an experienced hiker, and find your blog post very usefull. A practice walk of three or more days should give a good indication of how much food you need, otherwise allow about one kilogram of food per day. Solar chargers arent up to the job, especially on the Bibb where theres so much tree cover. My niece is currently on the track and has pre-planned food drops along the way. Its become an obsession. There are many businesses and organisations along the entire length of the Track that offer goods and services to help you get the most out of your walk, whether it be for a few hours or an epic end-to-end journey. Your email address will not be published. It underwent many changes over the next two decades until, in 1993, work began to turn the Bibbulmun Track into one of the worlds great long distance walks, modelled on the Appalachian Trail in the USA. In this section you will find a brief description of the towns that lie on, or adjacent to, the Track. It is important to keep an eye out for these waugals, as you can easily stray off track if youre daydreaming. Lines in his book A long walk in the Australian bush.. It is managed by government agencies, and has a foundation. Karri sleepers from Pemberton were also used in the early development of the London Underground and other railway lines in the UK. There are buses from all the main track towns to Perth or Albany in case we get injured and need to bail. Here are the main points we are currently looking at: If left to my own devices I would happily stick with the full contingent of hiking kit I currently own - including a sleeping bag dating back well over 15 years and a hiking pack purchased for my Bronze D of E. In my mind, if its not broken, why replace it? You should always use this calculator in conjunction with the Bibbulmun Track maps and guidebooks as whilst the distances are a good guide, they are rounded to the nearest 100 metres. The karri tree is one of the tallest species in the world, reaching heights of ninety metres, and some of the tallest karri trees in the area were used as fire lookouts from the 1930s to the 1960s. Slower Hiking 12/9/22 Slower Hiking 12/9/22. cooking at home with bulk foods & predominately organic or local vegetables that were purchased from independent stores but would then travel to Western Australia, buying food in these small towns from local businesses that sell ethical products to support their local food economy, understanding I would be shopping from supermarkets and purchasing standard food, sold in packaging both here at home & in Western Australia. Hi Sue, I got an injury before then. Pingerup Plains, the swamps comprising days . After all, hiking is only walking for a long time. The Bibbulmun Track passes a wide range of experiences, from a gentle stroll to enjoy the peace and beauty of the natural environment, to an epic eight week adventure camping out at the 49 campsites and enjoying the hospitality of nine communities along the way. Download the app on Wi-Fi and then open the Bibbulmun Track and make sure you have downloaded the maps for offline use. Ive lived in Western Australia all my life, but it wasnt until I walked the Bibbulmun that I really appreciated what a rich and incredibly diverse landscape were blessed with. One thru-hike at a time. I also maintain a rigorous stretching routine when Im on multi-day hikes, to keep my legs from seizing up and to protect my knees. It will come in very useful when I finally get to do my own E2E. If you are doing more than a day walk on the Track, you will need to take a lot of equipment: sleeping gear, cooking equipment and food, a change of clothing, basic toiletries, a first aid kit and maybe a tent. Id actually recommend this option for an end-to-end, because it supports the communities that host you and it saves you from agonising over a nutrition plan before your hike. Im passionate about the Bibb, and am forever encouraging others to give it a go.
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