Youll be carrying your whole life on your back, so youll need to make sure you have the right equipment and supplies to make it work. It traverses the Darling Range and has inspired reflections about the state of the Western Australian environment by William J. There are buses from all the main track towns to Perth or Albany in case we get injured and need to bail. 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. Some of this trusty kit does however weigh a hell of a lot more than some of the ultralight stuff on the market. The Bibbulmun Track can be tough so, go on take a walk on the wild side! How do you keep it charged, do you have a solar charger of some sort? 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!) I put together a list of distances from the details on the Bibbulmun Website today and a rough guide on how long I would potentially take, it's roughly based off your times but I've added a few extra days to sections as I won't be doing it as fast as you did. Spring is really recommended to see all the blooming flowers. It will probably be very uncomfortable sleeping on the ground but you might be able to cope for two nights. Some hikers drink straight out of the tanks without treating the water, but I wouldnt take the risk. For advice specific to the Bibbulmun, the Bibbulmun Track Hikers Facebook group is a useful resource. A fully-stocked ultralight backpack using mainly gear from decent overseas manufacturers will cost somewhere between 2000-3500AUD. 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. It is important to keep an eye out for these waugals, as you can easily stray off track if youre daydreaming. Pemberton to Walpole The section from Pemberton to Walpole is exciting. If youre an experienced long-distance hiker, you could aim to finish in as little as a month. ), while still leaving opportunities to add to my lunch & snack supplies. The track goes through every resupply town, which is also rare to find. The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. This creates a logistical nightmare. 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. 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. Which towns were I planning to have rest days? 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. How big were the towns and what were their supermarkets/food stores/cooperatives like for resupplying? Next time I would dehydrate even more of my own food, specifically dinners if time allowed (they just worked out so well! This is useful for working out how much food you will need for each section and for arranging to meet other people. The first thing I needed to decide about was when to start the journey. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. ! I take a Sony A6000 camera, which I have attached to my backpack with a Peak Designs capture clip. For example: Kalamunda to Dwellingup was approximately 11 nights, which was too far to carry food the whole way. Pick one itinerary or join several together to customise your Bibbulmun Track holiday adventure. Once we reach Albany, its a long six hour bus back to Perth and then onwards. The following list is what I take on multi-day hikes on the Bibbulmun Track. 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. Glad to have stumbled upon your blog! It is a great community of enthusiastic Bibb Track hikers, supporters and the Bibbulmun Track Foundation. There are a number of things to consider before setting out on the Track. I think the more packs i try the more i go crazy. 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. I vividly remember the day I committed to walk the Bibbulmun Track. 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. 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. If youre picky about what you eat or you have specific dietary requirements, you can make dried meals with a dehydrator and vacuum sealer, and ship them to yourself along the way. It was the perfect opportunity for me to wind down from the more rugged and draining hikes of the previous few months. The Bibbulmun Track often has temporary diversions and permanent realignments for various reasons, which can extend the distance to be walked on any day. Thanks for your comment. Its a good idea to split your food into two parcels and bury them in different places to reduce the chances of losing everything. You get to experience the famous (or infamous!) I aimed to start my hike in late September and to walk north to south. Also, the campsites, which are located between 10 and 20 kilometres apart, are closer together near Perth, which is useful for end to end walkers to ease themselves into condition. The health food shop in Denmark had great supplies. Solar chargers arent up to the job, especially on the Bibb where theres so much tree cover. 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. The Bibbulmun Track is one of Australia's famous long distance bush walking trails. Thanks Andrew for such detailed notes. 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. Keep up to date on our projects, our supporters, opportunities for involvement and more. We wont be reaching anywhere near that kind of weight but does make sense to keep it down to the bare minimum with a combination of our existing kit and, where affordable or where it makes sense, new, super lightweight bits and pieces. Matt. 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. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2013. 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. 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 all about lists & planning for a hike. Short and sweet, to the point, just what I needed. 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. Very jealous, Ill add it to my ever-growing bucket list. In the 1920s, free land was offered to group settlers to establish a dairy industry. 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. It is roughly 1000 kilometers in length. 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 is a walking trail that stretches from Kalamunda, on the outer reaches of Perth, to the south coast harbour town of Albany. Either plan to supplement your meals with town-bought supplies, or make sure you cook up a decent range of dishes. 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. Some things Im curious about: if you dont mind answering: What do you bring to take photos? I took water purification tablets on my first hike, but the treated water tasted so foul I couldnt drink it! 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. Make a note of where youve buried the food in your journal because youll be desperate for it when you eventually get there! 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. The Bibbulmun Track is a walking trail located in Western Australia running over 1000km between Kalamunda in the north and Albany in the south. 1000km. Unless you can talk friends into bringing supplies to you, which could be difficult to coordinate, youll need to do a food drop before you go. Walkers should always check the current Track conditions before embarking on a walk. 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. Northcliffe Walpole: Pack everything (except breakfast), dehydrating my own food & post to Northcliffe Visitors Centre to reach Walpole. 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. Should just bite the bullet and get 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. The calculator works in both north and south directions. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. If you are not sure then please contact us. The local food shop in Balingup had closed down. 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). As a traveller from eastern side of Australia doing this hike in pieces wasn't an option. Of course this is all a bit subjective but if there is a lot of unstable rocky ground or long, steep walks uphill then I might be in trouble, Thanks for your quick reply, Andrew. Most of the sections are somewhere between 20 and 25 kilometres long, or about a full days walk for the average hiker. Walpole Denmark: Purchase all food in Walpole supermarket to reach Denmark, Denmark Albany: Purchase all food in Denmark shops/supermarket to reach Albany. 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 . One of my favourite places to escape to is a little town called Pemberton, 335 kilometres south of Perth. Unfortunately, in the 1930s they found themselves out of work again when the Great Depression hit and many families had to leave their properties. The following list is what I take on multi-day hikes on the Bibbulmun Track. The other participants spoke of travelling to exotic places or going on extravagant cruises. The Bibbulmun Track, south Western Australia. However, although I couldnt live in a country town full time, I enjoy getting out of the city and spending time in the country. Everyone looked stunned. Visitors can go four-wheel driving or mountain biking or fish for trout and marron. Erika Lori sets a new record on the 1,000km Bibbulmun Track. What my heart chose surprised even me. There are three-sided shelters with picnic tables, rainwater tanks, as well as dunnies with toilet bowls and sometimes even toilet paper. 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. 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? On my last 16-day section hike from Northcliffe to Albany, I lost 5 kilos and that was with a calorie-rich diet, while stuffing my face in each of the towns I visited. Choose a section of the Track for a day of amazing scenery or challenging walks or, if you're game, tackle the whole Track. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. 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. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. This was just so I could purchase my muesli there in bulk & support their local business. There was a cooperative in Pemberton I didnt know about! Im okay with sleeping on a hard surface (we are sleeping in a tent) but would you definitely recommend bringing one? Right now Im hiking the Via Dinarica trail through the Balkans, beautiful!! Innovative lightweight backpacking and travel gear for your next adventure. 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! These notes will help to make your Bibbulmun Track experience safer and more enjoyable. Karri sleepers from Pemberton were also used in the early development of the London Underground and other railway lines in the UK. Youll need more if you walk when the water supply is less reliable. Celebrate our 25th year with an adventure! Download the app on Wi-Fi and then open the Bibbulmun Track and make sure you have downloaded the maps for offline use. Donnelly River Village Northcliffe: Pack everything dehydrating my own food & post to DRV accomodation to reach Pemberton. These pages provide youth group leaders with the necessary tools to plan, lead and complete a successful expedition on the Bibbulmun Track. Embrace it, and figure out what works for you. Pingerup Plains, the swamps comprising days . Luckily, the huts along the way collect rainwater, so well always have a supply of drinking water once we have purified it. So many! 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. But for the purposes of a non-picky hiker, theyre perfectly adequate. Distinctive yellow triangles displaying a waugal symbol (a rainbow serpent spirit-being from the Aboriginal Dreaming) are nailed to trees along the way to mark the Track. In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. But how basic are these village stores? This creates a logistical nightmare. Testing out the Sawyer Filter in a murky Peak District stream. Home Trip Planner Distance Calculator. a long weekend) its best to take a tent with you. 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. The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. It was a useful meeting in that he gave some good key advice on certain sections and we spoke at length about the inlet crossings to be factored in. If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. So far, our base packs come to approx. 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. We have included all campsites, towns, recreation sites and legal vehicle access points as shown by the red car on the Bibbulmun Track maps and guidebooks. I really wouldnt change much. To help you get started on overnight walks the Foundation also has a range of items for hire. Top-line results of the planning so far: 8 resupply towns + two possible food drops, Having been brought up hiking in the bogs of Dartmoor, the Peak Districts moorlands and the soggy Scottish Highlands, Ive always owned hardcore walking boots, with hard soles and waterproof casings. 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 next thing I needed to do in preparation for hiking the Bibbulmun Track (see my previous blog for the background to this crazy idea!) Ive got a Wilderness Equipment Discovery 1 (medium), but I bought it in 1998 so things will have moved on since then! She made a road trip the week before she left and dropped off her own supplies. The route is well mapped, way-marked and maintained. If you can't find what you're after, please contact us. It doesnt do much to help the toe nail situation though! 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. Theres all kinds out there, Best thing I have ever done. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Banksia Burrow is a place to build and grow together. Bushwalking is a natural tonic, providing a balance between enjoyable, low impact physical activity and a wellbeing workout. Walking the Bibbulmun takes some preparation, but its something that anyone of average fitness and mobility should be able to achieve. The website also carries excellent suggestions for itineraries ranging from two to six days, with each itinerary including suggestions for day-walks on the Track, as well as sights and attractions to visit. If you ever got foot pain while walking, its worth going to a podiatrist to get your feet assessed. Glad you found my post useful. Country towns in Western Australia are spread out throughout this massive state; small pockets of civilisation with miles of bush in between them. I packed too many teabags and sugary lollies (things I never would normally eat! The Bibbulmun Track stretches 1,000 km from Kalamunda in Perth to Albany in the south-west. Im passionate about the Bibb, and am forever encouraging others to give it a go. Well be weighing out all our food and making decisions on menus based on the weight/calorie ratio ( and cost will have a small impact on decision-making), to ensure were carrying the most calorie efficient food. It won't be gourmet dining, but it will do the job. Somewhere in the world: At the end of the month, we'll be able to track which format and duration were most effective for us. 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. The rest includes a teeny, tiny cooker and gas canister, down jacket, one change of clothes, basic hygiene kit, first aid kit and basic electronics. My basic gear, not including food and water, weighed about 13 kilograms (see the list at the end of this blog). The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . The track was first proposed in 1972 by Geoff Schafer, a member of the Perth Bushwalking Club. Cate. However, you don't need to finish it in one go, with 49 campsites along the track. Posted on July 8, 2018 Thanks for the feedback, really chuffed you liked it! Thanks for all the information about the Bibbulman Track. was to work out what to take with me. It allowed me to work out how many meals to dehydrate, pack and post, or alternatively buy in town.. Donnelly River Village only had a simple general store. This includes how to get there, highlights, interesting places, weather forecasts, Track conditions, the Track towns and photos. It is named 'Bibbulmun' after a group of . The Bibbs campsites are far better than those on the famous Appalachian Trail, but not quite as lavish as those in Tasmania or New Zealand. BT Day 36: Helena to Kalamunda 947.3km (28.7km) June 22, 2021. It also helped me to better understand my bodys abilities, and made me realise how much more I could be doing with my life! 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. There are about 50 open sided shelters along the track, most a very easy day's walk . Each of the towns on the Bibbulmun has at least a mini supermarket, but the range is often limited and the prices are high. Let's see how we go!
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