You will know the right one when it comes along! South Australia, Western Australia & Northern Territory, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHfaBZT Q&index=15, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc sp=sharing. You can get some pretty light self-inflating mats so Id explore that option if you plan on hiking regularly. If you are not sure then please contact us. At the end of the month, we'll be able to track which format and duration were most effective for us. I have a question about the resupply in towns.. if you dont mind. We are flying to Perth from London on Qantas new direct flights. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . On an excel spreadsheet I mapped out my entire walk highlighting where I was planning to stay each night, how many days I would be on the track, how many nights I would be in each town to provide an overall understanding of where I would be for each day and for each meal. That way the cooler areas in the south would be warming up, but were unlikely to be too hot, by the time I got there. Use Google Sheets to create and edit online spreadsheets. The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world's great long distance walk trails, stretching 1000 kilometres from Kalamunda in the Perth hills, to the historic town of Albany on the south coast. Food can add considerably to the weight of one's backpack, significantly affecting the level of enjoyment experienced on the walk. However, walking with too heavy a pack will also be uncomfortable. The Bibbulmun Track Foundation hires out dehydrators to Western Australian locals for a fortnight. Water is available from tanks at each of the 48 campsites along the. 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. There are buses from all the main track towns to Perth or Albany in case we get injured and need to bail. It doesnt do much to help the toe nail situation though! That said, its totally doable to do a thru-hike solely on town-bought supplies if you dont mind paying a little extra and youre not a fussy eater. How many days of food could I carry at a time? Im hooked on my fitbit for tracking my hikes but they run out of juice so quickly thanks man! The best word to describe it is pleasant. 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!). Get insights together with secure sharing in real-time and from any device. Dwellingup Collie: Pack everything (except breakfast), dehydrating my own food & post to Dwellingup accomodation to reach Collie. Walpole Denmark: Purchase all food in Walpole supermarket to reach Denmark, Denmark Albany: Purchase all food in Denmark shops/supermarket to reach Albany. They have very straight trunks that dont separate into branches until high up near the tops of the trees so they were in great demand for railway sleepers. Thanks Ben. Mmm, difficult question! After all, hiking is only walking for a long time. Western Australias famous Bibbulmun Track extending from Kalamunda in the Perth hills to Albany on the south coast has much to offer in that regard and the best seasons to walk it are Winter and Spring. 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. This would create the best variation and flexibility, encouraging me to explore the track towns and purchase local foods, while still predominately enjoying the same meals I would eat at home everyday!! In this section you will find a brief description of the towns that lie on, or adjacent to, the Track. Ill call them and ask and add something to the blog about that section, it probably warrants a mention. While I had mapped out many of the places to shop along the way, where I planned to buy certain items, sometimes that didnt work out. Doing the whole bib is a dream of mine, but for now day trips will have to suffice! The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. Embrace it, and figure out what works for you. (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Thanks for your comment. Of course, equally valid pursuits enjoyed by many visitors are eating, drinking and relaxing in nature! The Bibbulmun Track passes through some remote areas of Western Australia, so once youre on the Track you need to know how to stay on it. Therefore, if my boots fit well at the heels, my second toes end up getting battered on hikes and eventually, the nails turn black and drop off. Anyone with an average level of fitness should be able to complete an end-to-end, so long as they actively manage their body and dont injure themselves. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. Bushwalking is a natural tonic, providing a balance between enjoyable, low impact physical activity and a wellbeing workout. Western Australia, AU Distance 992.8 km Vertical Gain 17,500 m The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world's great long distance walk trails, stretching 1000km from Kalamunda in the Perth Hills, to Albany on the south coast, winding through the heart of the scenic South West of Western Australia. Feel free to comment below for advice, or suggested additions to this guide. People also record their experiences in these registers so, as well as being a safety precaution, they are a useful source of Track intelligence about such things as: missing markers; the condition of the Track; the state of the water supply at the next campsite; big hills en route; flora and fauna to look out for; or the school party that took over the campsite the day before. If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. The other participants spoke of travelling to exotic places or going on extravagant cruises. Bibbulmun Planner then met with a track veteran, "Wrong Way Jim" (eeeeekkk) at the Bibbulmun Track Foundation (BTF) to hone it further. Youll need more if you walk when the water supply is less reliable. It should be noted that access points shown with a green car on the official maps and guidebooks, are not included as they involve walking various distances along trails or forestry tracks to access the Bibbulmun Track. Northcliffe Walpole: Pack everything (except breakfast), dehydrating my own food & post to Northcliffe Visitors Centre to reach Walpole. Oct 10, 2021 28 Dislike Share Dori's Hiking Adventures 2.03K subscribers This video is for everyone that is planning to hike the Bibbulmun Track. The Bibbulmun Track is a long-distance walk trail in Western Australia.. The Bibbulmun Track passes through many different environments; we saw an astonishing 85 different orchid species and hybrids. Somewhere in the world: If that makes your eyes water, its possible to put together a reasonably lightweight backpacking kit with gear from Paddy Pallin, Wild Earth and a few other retailers for less than 2000AUD. When buying a backpack, try on as many packs as you can before making a decision, and ask the shop assistant to add weight to them and adjust the straps to fit your body so you can assess how the pack distributes the weight. In 1913 timber mills were established in Pemberton to supply half a million sleepers for the Trans-Australian Railway line. In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. North to South - South to North: Water is available from tanks at each of the 48 campsites along the. However, you don't need to finish it in one go, with 49 campsites along the track. Im okay with sleeping on a hard surface (we are sleeping in a tent) but would you definitely recommend bringing one? In my humble opinion, the Australian outdoor gear industry is still stuck in the 1980s, when heavy packs were a source of pride and durability was the biggest concern. as we pass through the eight track towns along the route, but other than that will be camping out in the specially designated campsites for Thru-hikers with only the snakes for company. Thanks Andrew for such detailed notes. Able to buy peanut butter, tortilla flatbread and instant pasta meals like those kind of things? I have met a lot of people with the same foot conformation so, if this applies to you, you may need to choose between sore toes or blisters on your heels. It was at a travel writing workshop with Susan Storm in early 1998. Nick. Donnelly River Village only had a simple general store. was to work out what to take with me. The most well-known is the Gloucester Tree, which is located only a couple of kilometres out of Pemberton.Despite not being very confident about heights, I climbed the Gloucester Tree once in the late 1980s so do not feel the need to climb it again. Youll want to make sure you get plenty of calories about 4000-6000 a day is recommended for long-distance hikers. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Thanks for the reply. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Travel from Perth Airport to Fremantle for $4.50, What to take on a multi-day Bibbulmun Track hike. If youre attempting an end-to-end for the first time, youll inevitably develop your own way of living on the track that will probably vary a little from the directions in this guide. Luckily, the huts along the way collect rainwater, so well always have a supply of drinking water once we have purified it. Notes for Potential Hikers of the Bibbulmun Track Introduction. It doesnt do much to help the toe nail situation though! At the end of the weekend we felt tired yet recharged by our brief break in the country. 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. Once youve bought or borrowed everything necessary to hike the Bibbulmun Track, the next thing is to plan your walk. You may be able to ship a resupply to the cafe, called the Three Ways Road House. The Pingerup Plains between Northcliffe and Mandalay Beach are usually inundated in late winter and spring, but many hikers believe its worth a few days of wading to see their magnificent wildflowers in full bloom. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. Blisters are a big problem for many hikers, so its worth experimenting with different shoe and sock combinations to see what works for you. The Bibbulmun Track is generally well graded and relatively easy to negotiate. I really wouldnt change much. If you have a car, you can drive to an accessible place on the Track, walk to a certain point then retrace your steps back to the car. Ive only done Bibbulmun day hikes as of yet. Hello Andrew. Fast forward Finishing the Front Corrugated Iron. But once my heart had spoken, I felt I had to follow through. Deciding what equipment you need for a Bibbulmun Track walk doesn't have to be a daunting process. It will probably be very uncomfortable sleeping on the ground but you might be able to cope for two nights. Autumn (March to May) is another good time weather-wise, though water supplies will be low if you set off early in the season before the rain. Thats it. Summer is not recommended as Western Australia has extremely hot dry summers, making it a high-risk fire season. Celebrate our 25th year with an adventure! In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. You can add to this if you like, but remember you will have to carry whatever you take! If you can't find what you're after, please contact us. There are a number of things to consider before setting out on the Track. A combination approach really worked well for me. Spring is really recommended to see all the blooming flowers. Most of the towns on the Bibbulmun Track are serviced by buses, but they are infrequent and may need to be booked in advance. As a rough guide, there should be five waugals per kilometre in forest areas, and two per kilometre in more open areas. This creates a logistical nightmare. Im trying to cut down on as much weight as possible. But why? Over its (roughly) 1000-kilometer length, the Bibbulmun winds its way through dense native forests, passes through a handful of sleepy country towns, climbs up and down ranges with magnificent views, and traverses the white, sandy beaches of WA's powerful southern coast. This well blazed trail travels through many national parks and state forests with various terrain that ranges from dense forest to beautiful coastland. Still buying from towns did provide some good flexibility. 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. The Archer family became trapped in their remote cabin when floodwaters rapidly rose last month After three days they hiked out, with three young children, including a baby, to their neighbour's place They are now rebuilding and say they look forward to moving back to their 'rainforest homestead' 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. The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world's great long distance walk trails, stretching nearly 1000kms from Kalamunda (Perth Hills) to Albany (South Coast) through the heart of the scenic South West of Western Australian town of Denmark, Western Australia. Whether you are thinking about planning your first ever walk on the Track or wondering which section to walk next, the Trip Planner pages will assist you regardless of your level of experience. The Bibbulmun Track can be tough so, go on take a walk on the wild side! Western Australia generally doesnt experience snow or extreme cold, although it can get a little chilly at nights and in the early mornings, so warm clothes and sleeping gear are a must. 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. Im quite an experienced hiker, and find your blog post very usefull. Visitors can go four-wheel driving or mountain biking or fish for trout and marron. Walkers should always check the current Track conditions before embarking on a walk. Despite and abnormally rainy experience, it was quite the relaxing hike. Collie was a bigger town with a large supermarket. Everyone looked stunned. It may be several weeks before you arrive there on foot, so make sure your food parcel is water- and vermin-proof by packing the food in plastic bags, inside plastic boxes, inside another large plastic bag. Looking at starting mid September, I hope thats a good time. Like anything, this can vary enormously in price and quality. The Bibbulmun Trackis a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. As I mentioned in the last blog, there are 48 campsites on the Bibbulmun Track. 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. Shane Johnstone, who set out to break a record of WA's Bibbulmun Track, has finished the gruelling run well ahead of schedule.. It may be several weeks before you arrive there on foot, so make sure your food parcel is water- and vermin-proof by packing the food in plastic bags, inside plastic boxes, inside another large plastic bag. I aimed to start my hike in late September and to walk north to south. Ive never had a single blister since I started wearing Injinji toe socks as a liner, underneath thicker wool socks (in my case, Darn Toughs). 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