It is situated in a valley surrounded by karri forests, so its history is inextricably linked to forestry and logging. 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. Collie Donnelly River Village: Purchase all of my food from the Collie supermarkets & Balingup shops to reach Donnelly River Village. Id read an article about the newly aligned Bibbulmun Track that would be opening later in the year, but hadnt thought much more about it. If youre walking the whole Track in one go, transport is not an issue you can catch a bus from Perth to the northern terminus of the Track in Kalamunda, and get a bus back from Albany when you arrive at the southern terminus a month or two later (or vice versa if youre walking from south to north). I was happy to eat different mueslis, snacks and lunch meals by the end of the hike. Today there is still a timber mill in Pemberton, surrounded by old mill cottages, but tourism is also important for the towns survival. Walking the Bibbulmun has been one of the best things Ive ever done not only because it whipped me into shape after years of being overweight, but because it gave me an appreciation for adventure and the natural world. Sugars and fats might be your enemy in the real world, but theyre your friend on the trail. There are plenty of great online resources with more info on long-distance hiking. As I mentioned in the last blog, there are 48 campsites on the Bibbulmun Track. I have since found a fabulous tape called fixumol, which I put on my heels and toes at the start of a hike as a preventative measure and add more of as hot-spots begin to develop. You can get some pretty light self-inflating mats so Id explore that option if you plan on hiking regularly. So I thought it might be helpful to share in a little more detail some of the things I considered when organising food for the trip. Cate. Slower Hiking 12/9/22 Slower Hiking 12/9/22. Some hikers drink straight out of the tanks without treating the water, but I wouldnt take the risk. Ridiculously crazy and amazing adventures for trail runners. I waited for my turn, not knowing which of the places on my bucket list to choose. I vividly remember the day I committed to walk the Bibbulmun Track. The Bibbulmun Track is a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. Blisters are a big problem for many hikers, so its worth experimenting with different shoe and sock combinations to see what works for you. a long weekend) its best to take a tent with you. Im just getting the blog off the ground so its good to hear somebody is finding it useful. Take a walk on the wild side walking the Bibbulmun Track, Follow Local Travel Tips on WordPress.com. The Bibbulmun Track passes through many different environments; we saw an astonishing 85 different orchid species and hybrids. There are a number of things to consider before setting out on the Track. In the 1920s, free land was offered to group settlers to establish a dairy industry. South Australia, Western Australia & Northern Territory, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHfaBZT Q&index=15, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc sp=sharing. However, we went there last weekend to hike on the Bibbulmun Track a 963km walking trail that stretches from Kalamunda in the eastern suburbs of Perth to Albany on the south coast of Western Australia. 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 many days of food could I carry at a time? Your email address will not be published. Download the app on Wi-Fi and then open the Bibbulmun Track and make sure you have downloaded the maps for offline use. Its designed to help decide which part of the 1000 km Track youd like to walk and to give you all the planning information you need. Leave No Trace is all about promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor travel and recreation through education, research and partnerships. 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. Feel free to comment below for advice, or suggested additions to this guide. Pick one itinerary or join several together to customise your Bibbulmun Track holiday adventure. If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. Of course, equally valid pursuits enjoyed by many visitors are eating, drinking and relaxing in nature! The Bibbulmun Track Foundation hires out dehydrators to Western Australian locals for a fortnight. Luckily, the huts along the way collect rainwater, so well always have a supply of drinking water once we have purified it. Thank you so much for the quick reply! Then bury it. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2014. Tank water is often yellowish from the tannins in the leaves that get stuck in the shelter gutters, but is still perfectly safe to drink once treated. Make a note of where youve buried the food in your journal because youll be desperate for it when you eventually get there! The Bibbulmun Track, south Western Australia. 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. Spring and autumn are the most popular times to walk the track, but winter is my favourite because I love seeing all the creeks and rivers in full flow. Deciding what equipment you need for a Bibbulmun Track walk doesn't have to be a daunting process. However, even if you walk regularly, its surprising how much difference carrying a heavy backpack makes. Shane Johnstone, who set out to break a record of WA's Bibbulmun Track, has finished the gruelling run well ahead of schedule.. 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. Although walking is a relatively safe pastime, there are hazards associated with the bush. 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. The Bibbulmun Track takes hikers through the Karri trees of the southern forests | credit: Bibbulmun Track Foundation. Due to its size, the Track is divided into nine sections. There certainly are! The track was first proposed in 1972 by Geoff Schafer, a member of the Perth Bushwalking Club. Unfortunately, in the 1930s they found themselves out of work again when the Great Depression hit and many families had to leave their properties. A combination approach really worked well for me. If you are not sure then please contact us. We have been planning in earnest for a few weeks now and we have been using a huge excel spreadsheet to help us battle the logistics one step at a time. The Bibbulmun Track walk would technically take more than two months to finish at an average walking pace. Each of the towns on the Bibbulmun has at least a mini supermarket, but the range is often limited and the prices are high. Some of this trusty kit does however weigh a hell of a lot more than some of the ultralight stuff on the market. The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. If youre not walking alone and have two cars at your disposal, a good strategy is to park a car at each end of the section. Im okay with sleeping on a hard surface (we are sleeping in a tent) but would you definitely recommend bringing one? How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. Celebrate our 25th year with an adventure! The calculator works in both north and south directions. If youre walking upwards of 20 kilometres a day for weeks at a time, its a battle to keep weight on. 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. 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. It's designed to help decide which part of the 1000 km Track you'd like to walk and to give you all the planning information you need. Looking at starting mid September, I hope thats a good time. 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!) 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. Pictured here is an impressive Heath Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi). Nowadays, I use an ultraviolet wand which doesnt affect the taste of the water. There is also a natural outdoor pool, but it wasnt warm enough for that when we were there. Walkers should always check the current Track conditions before embarking on a walk. The Track was radically realigned (retaining less than 10% of the old route) and extended to Albany. Maps, other guides and information on diversions can be found on the Bibbulmun Track Foundation website. The route is clearly marked out, with signs all along and huts every 10-20 km for hikers to sleep in (well be bringing a tent as a backup). It was at a travel writing workshop with Susan Storm in early 1998. These pages are bursting with information to help you have a safe and pleasant journey. The Bibbulmun Track is a walking trail that stretches from Kalamunda, on the outer reaches of Perth, to the south coast harbour town of Albany. The towns Tourist/Information centers and some petrol stations have stored supplies for her. This isnt a problem on the outward journey, but on the way back it may be difficult to predict what time (or even what day) youll reach a town on foot. But why? If youve got a decent budget, Id recommend looking at equipment made by speciality manufacturers in the US like Zpacks, Enlightened Equipment, ULA and others (detailed gear reviews coming soon!). 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. 4WD campers have the luxury of an engine with a few hundred horsepower to lug all their gear around, while hikers only have their own two legs. Posted on July 8, 2018 This creates a logistical nightmare. I took water purification tablets on my first hike, but the treated water tasted so foul I couldnt drink it! 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. There are also taxi services and tour operators who can help you to co-ordinate your walk, and some B&Bs near the Track offer drop-off and pick-up services. The local food shop in Balingup had closed down. 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! Where were the best opportunities to send parcels, such as to my accomodation spots or visitors centres? Therefore, we will put "30 day fixed", "7 day auction", etc in this column. 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? The majority of this comes from the big four: pack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and tent - most of which we already had and are heavier than we might like. Able to buy peanut butter, tortilla flatbread and instant pasta meals like those kind of things? 10 kg each. Hello Andrew. More to come, I'm sure. You will know the right one when it comes along! 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. Full-day walks average about 16 km. Pingerup Plains, the swamps comprising days . It may not have the most spectacular scenery for most of it, but it somehow wins the heart of everyone that hikes it for the pleasant experience. With a couple of exceptions (like the excellent Tier Gear, Wild Earth and Paddy Pallin), the Australian industry seems to have decided its simply not going to even try and keep up with technological advancements that are making it into the mainstream of the global hiking community. In Pemberton purchase two days worth of food to reach Northcliffe. The stores arent that basic, you should be able to get all those items you mentioned. It will come in very useful when I finally get to do my own E2E. For example: Kalamunda to Dwellingup was approximately 11 nights, which was too far to carry food the whole way. Hi we are considering heading over to WA from SA in September to experience a section of the Bibbulmun Track, imagining that the border will be open by then. There is no charge for accommodation and it cant be pre-booked, so if youre hiking for a long time or overnighting during a busy period (e.g. Information for bushwalkers from bushwalkers, by Empacitator Wed 22 Jan, 2014 12:20 am, by Empacitator Fri 24 Jan, 2014 10:58 am, by InspirationOutdoors Mon 27 Jan, 2014 1:33 pm, Return to South Australia, Western Australia & Northern Territory, Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests. Track so, if you walk in the spring when water is plentiful and temperatures are not too high, you could get away with carrying about two litres of water. Should just bite the bullet and get one! ! Most of the towns on the Bibbulmun Track are serviced by buses, but they are infrequent and may need to be booked in advance. The Bibbulmun Track, Western Australia Ranging from inland planes to beaches, limestone ranges to damp gullies, the 965-kilometre Bibbulmun Track, spanning from Perth to Albany, is one of Australia's great walks. He was also a pretty good breeder himself, fathering nine children! Food can add considerably to the weight of one's backpack, significantly affecting the level of enjoyment experienced on the walk. Pembertons first settler was Edward Brockman, the son of Perths first mayor, who moved to the area in 1861 to breed horses. A checklist is great way to start. Ill call them and ask and add something to the blog about that section, it probably warrants a mention. 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. 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. Starting from just outside of Perth, it will take approximately 45 days to hike through the towering forests, quiet farmland and wild beaches until we reach Albany. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. 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. Innovative lightweight backpacking and travel gear for your next adventure. 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. Hi Emma, The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. Life on the Bibbulmun is pretty simple: You wake up each day, walk as far as you can, camp, and repeat. I have since found a fabulous tape called fixumol, which I put on my heels and toes at the start of a hike as a preventative measure and add more of as hot-spots begin to develop. 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. With tips on how to create your ideal. Awesome write up thank you! The facilities are world class compared to most long-distance trails around the world. Choose a section of the Track for a day of amazing scenery or challenging walks or, if you're game, tackle the whole Track. I have a question about the resupply in towns.. if you dont mind. One of my favourite places to escape to is a little town called Pemberton, 335 kilometres south of Perth. Right now Im hiking the Via Dinarica trail through the Balkans, beautiful!! Ive got a Wilderness Equipment Discovery 1 (medium), but I bought it in 1998 so things will have moved on since then! Since I started using this I havent had a blister. It may be a restricted road or a closed quarantined road within a Disease Risk Area where vehicles are not permitted. Hi Anna, The track is officially measured as 1003 kilometres long, divided into 58 sections, each ending in either a town or a campsite. 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. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! Bibbulmun Track Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. 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. Megan, I find this very good sharing, especially on the resupply considerations that included supporting local businesses. Premier Partner of the Foundation and the Bibbulmun Track maintenance volunteer program. Since I started using this I havent had a blister. How big were the towns and what were their supermarkets/food stores/cooperatives like for resupplying? These pages provide youth group leaders with the necessary tools to plan, lead and complete a successful expedition on the Bibbulmun Track. One of many shelters with covered tables and water tanks. 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. A "horrifying" attack on Perth's world-famous Bibbulmun Track has left two hikers in hospital after one was allegedly run down by a car before both were allegedly set upon by the driver wielding a . They generally only have one brand of everything though, and fresh items are often very limited. If you ever got foot pain while walking, its worth going to a podiatrist to get your feet assessed. 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. Well be talking & typing all things #tinyhouse #hiking #permaculture #gardening #bushwalking #simpleliving #organic #wastefree #reading. My basic gear, not including food and water, weighed about 13 kilograms (see the list at the end of this blog). I have done many day walks, 2 overnight walks and one 4 day/3 night walk on the Bibb. For gear reviews, I often rely on Outdoor Gear Lab. May 27, 2020 thebanksiaburrow Over the last couple of weeks before I left for the Bibbulmun Track, I was up until midnight planning my itinerary, counting sections, cooking up curries, dehydrating meals, weighing portions & allocating food for each day. Im hooked on my fitbit for tracking my hikes but they run out of juice so quickly thanks man! Thanks Ben. Thanks for your comment. So far, our base packs come to approx. I hope to do this one day soon. Mmm, difficult question! Doing it sandals should surely count for more than a regular end-to-end. Get insights together with secure sharing in real-time and from any device. We like to track how the item was listed at the time of the sale. Proud of your achievement. I found these answers by completing some research on the Bibbulmun Track website, Facebook, Google maps, and asking people who had previously hiked the track. Northcliffe had a great food cooperative selling bulk and local food that I wanted to support. 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. It was quite a process!! 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.
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