If youre walking upwards of 20 kilometres a day for weeks at a time, its a battle to keep weight on. It also helped me to better understand my bodys abilities, and made me realise how much more I could be doing with my life! My basic gear, not including food and water, weighed about 13 kilograms (see the list at the end of this blog). They generally only have one brand of everything though, and fresh items are often very limited. ! 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). 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. Theres all kinds out there, Best thing I have ever done. . You may be able to ship a resupply to the cafe, called the Three Ways Road House. As I mentioned in the last blog, there are 48 campsites on the Bibbulmun Track. It won't be gourmet dining, but it will do the job. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. 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. 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). Sugars and fats might be your enemy in the real world, but theyre your friend on the trail. In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. Bushwalking is a natural tonic, providing a balance between enjoyable, low impact physical activity and a wellbeing workout. Many other hikers swear by this method, but feet are very personal things! If youre an experienced long-distance hiker, you could aim to finish in as little as a month. 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!) 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. Those that walk every step of the way can be registered as end-to-enders. From Perth, there are a couple of public buses that will take us straight to the Northern Terminus of the Bibbulmun Track in Kalamunda. You will know the right one when it comes along! 55 days on the wallaby -- the Bibbulmun Track 55 days on the wallaby - an unauthorized guide to the Bibbulmun Track (Text by Ian McAuley, photographs by Helen McAuley) In October and November 2008, three of us walked the 966 km length of the Bibbulmun Track, from Albany to Perth. Traditional camping equipment is rarely suitable for hikers, so youll need to buy equipment thats designed for hiking. If you want to experience the geological features, biodiversity and scenic beauty of this long-distance walking trail, the Section-by-Section guide on the excellent Bibbulmun Track Foundation website is a great place to start. If some of the forums are anything to go by, people have hiked the APT and PCT - much longer trails than we are planning for - with as little as 5 kg base-packs (the weight of your bag before any food or drink is added). Water is available from tanks at each of the 48 campsites along the. Ill call them and ask and add something to the blog about that section, it probably warrants a mention. Answering these questions helped me map out how manybreakfast, lunches, dinners & snacks I would need across the hike, & where they would potentially come from along the way. 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. Thanks for the feedback, really chuffed you liked it! There are plenty of great online resources with more info on long-distance hiking. 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. Have booked to complete it later this year. If youre only walking a section of the Track, planning a walk can be trickier as vehicular access points and public transport are limited. She made a road trip the week before she left and dropped off her own supplies. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Banksia Burrow is a place to build and grow together. For advice specific to the Bibbulmun, the Bibbulmun Track Hikers Facebook group is a useful resource. 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. 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!! Many campsites also have a fireplace, but between October and May fires are banned or restricted. The Bibbulmun Track passes through many different environments; we saw an astonishing 85 different orchid species and hybrids. I think the more packs i try the more i go crazy. 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. It is a great community of enthusiastic Bibb Track hikers, supporters and the Bibbulmun Track Foundation. A great option to have when the rain hits. Today, Pemberton has a population of just over a thousand people. Fast forward Finishing the Front Corrugated Iron. Just read your article, brilliant! It is roughly 1000 kilometers in length. 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. Make a note of where youve buried the food in your journal because youll be desperate for it when you eventually get there! For gear reviews, I often rely on Outdoor Gear Lab. One thru-hike at a time. This creates a logistical nightmare. If you ever come this way let me know so I can return the favour Its a good idea to split your food into two parcels and bury them in different places to reduce the chances of losing everything. I used a pyramid tarp which gave me good all round protection although next time I would choose something with a smaller footprint. For a thru-hike or multi-day section hike youll need: The key difference between hiking equipment and regular camping equipment is its size and weight. Follow the bright yellow waugyl through towering forests, over creeks and rivers, along wild beaches and up and over some impressive granite features. I am so glad I dehydrated a lot of my own food. The calculator works in both north and south directions. Hello Andrew. Get insights together with secure sharing in real-time and from any device. Youll need more if you walk when the water supply is less reliable. Im hooked on my fitbit for tracking my hikes but they run out of juice so quickly thanks man! 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. Donnelly River Village Northcliffe: Pack everything dehydrating my own food & post to DRV accomodation to reach Pemberton. The track is officially measured as 1003 kilometres long, divided into 58 sections, each ending in either a town or a campsite. What pack did you use for this hike? Although I had grown up in the hiking mecca of Derbyshire in the UK, Id never done a multi-day hike and didnt even own a pair of hiking boots. However, although I couldnt live in a country town full time, I enjoy getting out of the city and spending time in the country. Doing it sandals should surely count for more than a regular end-to-end. 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. Rain and flooding can be a problem that time of year, but its generally nothing that cant be overcome with good rain gear and a positive attitude. Hi Ben, I did end to end over 10 years ago, agree with most of what you wrote but for your info, I passed a bloke wearing Dunlop volleys, an american wearing Teva sandals and socks and an Israeli carry a bag of rice. I was thinking I could toughen up for two nights, but would love to hear from someone who has already walked it as I dont want to regret not bringing a mat when I cant get to sleep. Right now Im hiking the Via Dinarica trail through the Balkans, beautiful!! It was the perfect opportunity for me to wind down from the more rugged and draining hikes of the previous few months. This includes how to get there, highlights, interesting places, weather forecasts, Track conditions, the Track towns and photos. Me most of all that article had obviously made a bigger impression on me than Id imagined. Once youve bought or borrowed everything necessary to hike the Bibbulmun Track, the next thing is to plan your walk. Well be talking & typing all things #tinyhouse #hiking #permaculture #gardening #bushwalking #simpleliving #organic #wastefree #reading. Many Different Landforms. 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. You need to be a special type of person to live in them and I admire people who thrive in these conditions I know I couldnt. While cooking and dehydrating meals took extra time & energy, this allowed me to enjoy meals that were more delicious, full of veggies & legumes, lighter & cheaper than many supermarket options. It was another early settler who arrived a year later, Pemberton Walcott, who gave the town its name. 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. Walkers should always check the current Track conditions before embarking on a walk. I was really happy to be a trail angel for one of your re-supply days. 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. 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. Travel from Perth Airport to Fremantle for $4.50, Take a walk on the wild side walking the Bibbulmun Track, What to take on a multi-day Bibbulmun Track hike, Follow Local Travel Tips on WordPress.com. However, walking with too heavy a pack will also be uncomfortable. I packed too many teabags and sugary lollies (things I never would normally eat! I really wouldnt change much. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. 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. 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. 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 first thing I needed to decide about was when to start the journey. BT Day 33: Nerang to Monadnocks 855.9km (25km) June 19, 2021. Dont know why I packed them), and not enough dried fruit & nut snacks. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. Many people undertake this journey as a section hike, doing pieces of it over a period of months and even years. 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. In the past, Ive hiked with a mix of homemade meals and supplies bought in towns. It may be a restricted road or a closed quarantined road within a Disease Risk Area where vehicles are not permitted. Very jealous, Ill add it to my ever-growing bucket list. I hope to do this one day soon. 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!! It doesnt do much to help the toe nail situation though! What a contradiction! Again, thank you and happy hiking! Make a note of where youve buried the food in your journal because youll be desperate for it when you eventually get there! Looking at starting mid September, I hope thats a good time. My niece is currently on the track and has pre-planned food drops along the way. 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. It was quite a process! I might end up with a couple of 40km+ days I think but the majority should be around 30km. The health food shop in Denmark had great supplies. 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! Pick one itinerary or join several together to customise your Bibbulmun Track holiday adventure. Its important to ensure your pack fits comfortably and has a good hip belt to keep the weight on your hips rather than on your shoulders. The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. Awesome write up thank you! Despite and abnormally rainy experience, it was quite the relaxing hike. As a rough guide, there should be five waugals per kilometre in forest areas, and two per kilometre in more open areas. 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. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. Pembertons first settler was Edward Brockman, the son of Perths first mayor, who moved to the area in 1861 to breed horses. Somewhere in the world: So many! While on the contrary I bought packets of sugary lollies straight from the huge supermarket at home and packed them in my food parcels. Is there anything else less essential you can leave out of your pack? Everybodys body is different, so do some training hikes to work out any physical issues you might have, and how to manage them. Hey Ben! 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. Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. 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. It allowed me to work out how many meals to dehydrate, pack and post, or alternatively buy in town.. (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). The most important item on any hike is a pair of comfortable, well worn-in boots. BT Day 36: Helena to Kalamunda 947.3km (28.7km) June 22, 2021. Youll want to make sure you get plenty of calories about 4000-6000 a day is recommended for long-distance hikers. The Bibbulmun Track walk would technically take more than two months to finish at an average walking pace. The Bibbulmun Track is a walking trail located in Western Australia running over 1000km between Kalamunda in the north and Albany in the south. You will need to take some sort of shelter, both for safety reasons (getting caught out inbetween the huts) and just because sometimes the huts do get full. Blisters are a big problem for many hikers, so its worth experimenting with different shoe and sock combinations to see what works for you. Photos featured on this site are courtesy of Tourism WA, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Doug Coughran, Colin Ingram, Peter Nicholas, L-A Shibish and Nature Play WA. These pages provide youth group leaders with the necessary tools to plan, lead and complete a successful expedition on the Bibbulmun Track. Download the app on Wi-Fi and then open the Bibbulmun Track and make sure you have downloaded the maps for offline use. Where were the best opportunities to send parcels, such as to my accomodation spots or visitors centres? I decided to see what my heart picked for me when the time came. Charting my travels around the world, one adventure at a time. Cheers, Andrew. Im all about lists & planning for a hike. Whether you love plants, animals, nature or just walking in beautiful landscapes, the Bibbulmun Track has something for you. Unfortunately, Ive been nursing a small injury in my hip so our grand plans for training has gone out of the window, but we are now walking to and from work whenever possible, as well as planning longer walks in the Peaks and near London as well as the Lakes in the coming weeks to build up our strength and endurance. In this section you will find a brief description of the towns that lie on, or adjacent to, the Track. 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. Although walking is a relatively safe pastime, there are hazards associated with the bush. If youre inspired to try, heres (some of) the info youll need to make it happen. Donnelly River Village only had a simple general store. If you take this option, be warned you WILL get sick of the food you make yourself, so be prepared to improvise. We are flying to Perth from London on Qantas new direct flights. 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. 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. 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 WAs powerful southern coast. 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. You can add to this if you like, but remember you will have to carry whatever you take! Bibbulmun Planner then met with a track veteran, "Wrong Way Jim" (eeeeekkk) at the Bibbulmun Track Foundation (BTF) to hone it further. The track is one of the world's longest walking trails stretching from Perth to Albany. 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. Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. A checklist is great way to start. The Bibbulmun Track is a long-distance walk trail in Western Australia.. Pictured here is an impressive Heath Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi). We like to track how the item was listed at the time of the sale. Deciding what equipment you need for a Bibbulmun Track walk doesn't have to be a daunting process. 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. For example: Kalamunda to Dwellingup was approximately 11 nights, which was too far to carry food the whole way. Premier Partner of the Foundation and the Bibbulmun Track maintenance volunteer program. How many days of food could I carry at a time? My resupply plan was developed with the the goals of eating delicious, plant-based, package free, local and organic foods as much as possible. 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. This creates a logistical nightmare. 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. Do you keep your phone on you? 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. Since I started using this I havent had a blister. 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. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our natural and cultural heritage. As much as I tried I still arrived in Northcliffe on a Sunday, which is the one day the cooperative is closed! Thankyou in advance! Some hikers drink straight out of the tanks without treating the water, but I wouldnt take the risk. Thanks for all the information about the Bibbulman Track. Estimated length: 1000 kilometres / 621 miles. This is intended as a guide for the absolute beginner. ), while still leaving opportunities to add to my lunch & snack supplies. 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. One of my favourite places to escape to is a little town called Pemberton, 335 kilometres south of Perth.

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