The $270,000 structure was designed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in consultation with the Bibbulmun Track Foundation and has been constructed using fire resistant products such as rammed earth and steel. After some months now of planning and preparing the walk is almost upon me. 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. Erika Lori sets a new record on the 1,000km Bibbulmun Track. The Group page. And if youre tired enough youll fall sleep! A range of tasty Back Country Cuisine meals are available in select stores along the Track. The only place you might need to plan ahead is the Kalamunda to Dwellingup section, where the only resupply point is the North Bannister Road House. 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. Next time I would dehydrate even more of my own food, specifically dinners if time allowed (they just worked out so well! 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 Bibb connects the outskirts of Perth on the west coast with the town of Albany on the south coast. Download the app on Wi-Fi and then open the Bibbulmun Track and make sure you have downloaded the maps for offline use. Many other hikers swear by this method, but feet are very personal things! The Bibbulmun Track is one of the longest continuously marked trails in Australia, stretching 963 kilometres from Kalamunda, 20 kilometres east of Perth, to Albany on the southern coast of Western Australia. 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. Visitors can go four-wheel driving or mountain biking or fish for trout and marron. I have opted for. Pembertons first settler was Edward Brockman, the son of Perths first mayor, who moved to the area in 1861 to breed horses. It will come in very useful when I finally get to do my own E2E. If you ever got foot pain while walking, its worth going to a podiatrist to get your feet assessed. 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. 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 . Water is available from tanks at each of the 48 campsites along the. 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. With tips on how to create your ideal. 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. 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. Nowadays, I use an ultraviolet wand which doesnt affect the taste of the water. BT Day 35: Mt Dale to Helena 918.6km (29.3km) June 21, 2021. BT Day 33: Nerang to Monadnocks 855.9km (25km) June 19, 2021. It is managed by government agencies, and has a foundation. 10 kg each. Charting my travels around the world, one adventure at a time. 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. Hi! Pemberton to Walpole The section from Pemberton to Walpole is exciting. 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. 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. I was happy to eat different mueslis, snacks and lunch meals by the end of the hike. 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 Perth ultra-endurance runner crossed the finish line at Kalamunda this afternoon, completing the 1000km journey in 11 days, seven hours and eight minutes. My niece is currently on the track and has pre-planned food drops along the way. Well be sending a second pair of each ahead to one of the Track towns in case they are so worn we need to replace them (gulp!). Winter conditions (June to August) are not for the faint hearted, particularly further south where temperatures are lower and rainfall higher. Blisters are a big problem for many hikers, so its worth experimenting with different shoe and sock combinations to see what works for you. 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. Walpole Denmark: Purchase all food in Walpole supermarket to reach Denmark, Denmark Albany: Purchase all food in Denmark shops/supermarket to reach Albany. The Bibbulmun Track is one of the longest continuously marked trails in Australia, stretching 963 kilometres from Kalamunda, 20 kilometres east of Perth, to Albany on the southern coast of Western Australia. Your email address will not be published. If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. 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. I might end up with a couple of 40km+ days I think but the majority should be around 30km. Thank you so much for the quick reply! Metal rungs were hammered into the tree trunks to form a spiral ladder leading up to a look out in the canopy of the tree. Feel free to comment below for advice, or suggested additions to this guide. In this section you will find a brief description of the towns that lie on, or adjacent to, the Track. 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. Im trying to cut down on as much weight as possible. This includes how to get there, highlights, interesting places, weather forecasts, Track conditions, the Track towns and photos. Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. But how basic are these village stores? 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. Good luck! 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. 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. was to work out what to take with me. 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. A checklist is great way to start. Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. Your email address will not be published. Ever since I got them, my arch pain has been a non-issue. Revitalisation of John Forrest National Park. Fast forward Finishing the Front Corrugated Iron. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a website or blog at WordPress.com, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). But its still an awesome pack with a really strong hip strap. Required fields are marked *. 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!! Once youve bought or borrowed everything necessary to hike the Bibbulmun Track, the next thing is to plan your walk. Country towns in Western Australia are spread out throughout this massive state; small pockets of civilisation with miles of bush in between them. 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. 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. I took water purification tablets on my first hike, but the treated water tasted so foul I couldnt drink it! At the end of the weekend we felt tired yet recharged by our brief break in the country. Theres all kinds out there, Best thing I have ever done. If youre only walking a section of the Track, planning a walk can be trickier as vehicular access points and public transport are limited. They generally only have one brand of everything though, and fresh items are often very limited. 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. One thru-hike at a time. You can add to this if you like, but remember you will have to carry whatever you take! This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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!) In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. My resupply plan was developed with the the goals of eating delicious, plant-based, package free, local and organic foods as much as possible. If youre of average fitness, you could expect to finish the Bibbulmun in somewhere between 40 and 65 days, depending on your pace and how many rest days you take in towns. Collie Donnelly River Village: Purchase all of my food from the Collie supermarkets & Balingup shops to reach Donnelly River Village. In the 1920s, free land was offered to group settlers to establish a dairy industry. I vividly remember the day I committed to walk the Bibbulmun Track. Testing out the Sawyer Filter in a murky Peak District stream. Innovative lightweight backpacking and travel gear for your next adventure. Im okay with sleeping on a hard surface (we are sleeping in a tent) but would you definitely recommend bringing one? This Bibbulmun Track FB Group page was started by David Baird in mid 2009. If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. How many days of food could I carry at a time? 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. Bibbulmun Planner then met with a track veteran, "Wrong Way Jim" (eeeeekkk) at the Bibbulmun Track Foundation (BTF) to hone it further. 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!). SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. Youll need more if you walk when the water supply is less reliable. There are great opportunities for fit walkers to challenge themselves, on at least two of the days we walk around 25 km. Our current plan involves only restocking at the towns, although we are also exploring the option of calling upon the Tracks Trail Angels to drop off food on some of the longer, 7+ day stints to reduce our pack weights. This saved me a lot of stress wondering whether I was on the right track in the absence of waugals. During the workshop, Susan asked everyone to talk about what their dream trip would be. 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 . The Track was radically realigned (retaining less than 10% of the old route) and extended to Albany. There was a cooperative in Pemberton I didnt know about! 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. As a rough guide, there should be five waugals per kilometre in forest areas, and two per kilometre in more open areas. Thanks for all the information about the Bibbulman Track. The most important item on any hike is a pair of comfortable, well worn-in boots. Im passionate about the Bibb, and am forever encouraging others to give it a go. 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. The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. I have a question about the resupply in towns.. if you dont mind. 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. Each of the towns on the Bibbulmun has at least a mini supermarket, but the range is often limited and the prices are high. 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. Im hooked on my fitbit for tracking my hikes but they run out of juice so quickly thanks man! The current incarnation of the Bibbulmun Track was opened to the public in September 1998. Im quite an experienced hiker, and find your blog post very usefull. 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. 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 health food shop in Denmark had great supplies. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. The following list is what I take on multi-day hikes on the Bibbulmun Track. 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. It was originally envisaged by keen bushwalker Geoff Schafer, in 1972. It traverses the Darling Range and has inspired reflections about the state of the Western Australian environment by William J. Since I started using this I havent had a blister. 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. 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. Able to buy peanut butter, tortilla flatbread and instant pasta meals like those kind of things? 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. I have done many day walks, 2 overnight walks and one 4 day/3 night walk on the Bibb. What pack did you use for this hike? This well blazed trail travels through many national parks and state forests with various terrain that ranges from dense forest to beautiful coastland. 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. The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. Posted on July 8, 2018 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. It was another early settler who arrived a year later, Pemberton Walcott, who gave the town its name. This creates a logistical nightmare. BT Day 36: Helena to Kalamunda 947.3km (28.7km) June 22, 2021. Although walking is a relatively safe pastime, there are hazards associated with the bush. Shane Johnstone, who set out to break a record of WA's Bibbulmun Track, has finished the gruelling run well ahead of schedule.. 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. It would have taken way to long and once I start something I'm driven to . 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. 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. There are about 50 open sided shelters along the track, most a very easy day's walk . 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. 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. There is also a natural outdoor pool, but it wasnt warm enough for that when we were there. The best word to describe it is pleasant. 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. 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. Those that walk every step of the way can be registered as end-to-enders. Deciding what equipment you need for a Bibbulmun Track walk doesn't have to be a daunting process. It was the perfect opportunity for me to wind down from the more rugged and draining hikes of the previous few months. Near Perth, the campsites are closer together, allowing most hikers to walk two sections in a day known as double hutting. It is situated in Western Australia starting in the beautiful suburban town of Kalamunda and stretches 1000 km's south down to the historical coastal town of Albany. 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. Megan, I find this very good sharing, especially on the resupply considerations that included supporting local businesses. Is there anything else less essential you can leave out of your pack? Choose a section of the Track for a day of amazing scenery or challenging walks or, if you're game, tackle the whole Track. Life on the Bibbulmun is pretty simple: You wake up each day, walk as far as you can, camp, and repeat. 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. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. The most important item on any hike is a pair of comfortable, well worn-in boots. Some hikers drink straight out of the tanks without treating the water, but I wouldnt take the risk. This was just so I could purchase my muesli there in bulk & support their local business. I speak from experience many times Ive wearily had to retrace my steps to look for a waugal. Nick. 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. There are buses from all the main track towns to Perth or Albany in case we get injured and need to bail. 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. 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 just worried about how rocky the sleeping areas are etc. The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. The other participants spoke of travelling to exotic places or going on extravagant cruises. 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. 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. From Perth, there are a couple of public buses that will take us straight to the Northern Terminus of the Bibbulmun Track in Kalamunda. 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). 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. Estimated length: 1000 kilometres / 621 miles. To help you get started on overnight walks the Foundation also has a range of items for hire. More to come, I'm sure. It will probably be very uncomfortable sleeping on the ground but you might be able to cope for two nights. This is a very rewarding and quite remote expeditionary hike. BT Day 34: Monadnocks to Mt Dale 889.5km (33.3km) June 21, 2021. The Bibbulmun Track runs from Perth to Albany, 1000 km and takes about six weeks to thru hike. 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. Then bury it. Each hut can accommodate between eight and 15 people (depending on the design) sleeping on wooden boards. a long weekend) its best to take a tent with you. 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. Embrace it, and figure out what works for you. Each campsite has a three-sided shelter, a water tank, a drop toilet and picnic tables. 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. 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' 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). After all, hiking is only walking for a long time. 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. While on the contrary I bought packets of sugary lollies straight from the huge supermarket at home and packed them in my food parcels. Im in the market to buy a new one but there is so much out there! The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. 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. If youre walking alone, make sure someone knows your itinerary and sign the registers found in each hut. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . This is useful for working out how much food you will need for each section and for arranging to meet other people. Therefore, we will put "30 day fixed", "7 day auction", etc in this column. Well be talking & typing all things #tinyhouse #hiking #permaculture #gardening #bushwalking #simpleliving #organic #wastefree #reading. 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. my partner and I are planning to do the Bibbulmun Track starting ~14th of September (we're arriving 10th of September in Perth from Europe) and we're looking for some advice. He was also a pretty good breeder himself, fathering nine children! Ive got a Wilderness Equipment Discovery 1 (medium), but I bought it in 1998 so things will have moved on since then! Maps, other guides and information on diversions can be found on the Bibbulmun Track Foundation website. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2014. Track Angels are locals that support hikers on the track - whether they be end to enders like us, or just doing sections of it - with food drops, accommodation, advice and lifts. 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). Cate. She made a road trip the week before she left and dropped off her own supplies. 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. Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. 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. 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.
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