Read More. 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. 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. Some hikers drink straight out of the tanks without treating the water, but I wouldnt take the risk. Do you keep your phone on you? 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. Its become an obsession. Many campsites also have a fireplace, but between October and May fires are banned or restricted. 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. One of many shelters with covered tables and water tanks. Like anything, this can vary enormously in price and quality. I took water purification tablets on my first hike, but the treated water tasted so foul I couldnt drink it! 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. 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. Sharing the journey. The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. Thankyou in advance! 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. There are about 50 open sided shelters along the track, most a very easy day's walk . I take a Sony A6000 camera, which I have attached to my backpack with a Peak Designs capture clip. Your email address will not be published. I have a question about the resupply in towns.. if you dont mind. Although walking is a relatively safe pastime, there are hazards associated with the bush. Ridiculously crazy and amazing adventures for trail runners. 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. Thank you so much for the quick reply! Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! However, walking with too heavy a pack will also be uncomfortable. The Bibbulmun Track is a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. 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 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. Once youve bought or borrowed everything necessary to hike the Bibbulmun Track, the next thing is to plan your walk. as we pass through the eight track towns along the route, but other than that will be camping out in the specially designated campsites for Thru-hikers with only the snakes for company. The only bad time to walk the Bibbulmun is summer. More to come, I'm sure. This was just so I could purchase my muesli there in bulk & support their local business. Just read your article, brilliant! 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. My basic gear, not including food and water, weighed about 13 kilograms (see the list at the end of this blog). Pictured here is an impressive Heath Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi). 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. 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. 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. Walkers should always check the current Track conditions before embarking on a walk. Winter conditions (June to August) are not for the faint hearted, particularly further south where temperatures are lower and rainfall higher. 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. Required fields are marked *. I highly recommend it! These pages provide youth group leaders with the necessary tools to plan, lead and complete a successful expedition on the Bibbulmun Track. 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 track was first proposed in 1972 by Geoff Schafer, a member of the Perth Bushwalking Club. So many! Still buying from towns did provide some good flexibility. Most of the sections are somewhere between 20 and 25 kilometres long, or about a full days walk for the average hiker. Short and sweet, to the point, just what I needed. 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. The first version of the Track (from Kalamunda to Northcliffe) was marked in 1974, and named after a distinct Aboriginal language group, who inhabited some of the areas the Track passes through. Spring (September to November) is the best time to walk the Bibbulmun Track. 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 ate out in town more than I had originally planned, and so a few of my homemade meals were repacked for the next section. The Bibbulmun Track takes hikers through the Karri trees of the southern forests | credit: Bibbulmun Track Foundation. The Bibbulmun Track passes through Pemberton and we did two walks, totalling 7 hours. 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. The facilities are world class compared to most long-distance trails around the world. More information can be found in an accommodation and services guide for walkers published by the Friends of the Bibbulmun Track. The calculator works in both north and south directions. They generally only have one brand of everything though, and fresh items are often very limited. Your email address will not be published. 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. Glad you found my post useful. Required fields are marked *. The Bibbulmun Track is a walking trail located in Western Australia running over 1000km between Kalamunda in the north and Albany in the south. Due to its size, the Track is divided into nine sections. There are many free shelters and towns along the way, so this trail is welcomed to many whether they be end-to-enders, weekenders, or day hikers. This saved me a lot of stress wondering whether I was on the right track in the absence of waugals. The Track was radically realigned (retaining less than 10% of the old route) and extended to Albany. Hi Anna, 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!). If you are not sure then please contact us. Hi Emma, Best time to hike the Bibbulmun track is between April and October. During the workshop, Susan asked everyone to talk about what their dream trip would be. Estimated length: 1000 kilometres / 621 miles. Revitalisation of John Forrest National Park. Get insights together with secure sharing in real-time and from any device. I waited for my turn, not knowing which of the places on my bucket list to choose. 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!). 10 kg each. Proud of your achievement. The Track is popular with locals, interstate and overseas visitors alike. Celebrate our 25th year with an adventure! Everyone looked stunned. 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. People also record their experiences in these registers so, as well as being a safety precaution, they are a useful source of Track intelligence about such things as: missing markers; the condition of the Track; the state of the water supply at the next campsite; big hills en route; flora and fauna to look out for; or the school party that took over the campsite the day before. A range of tasty Back Country Cuisine meals are available in select stores along the Track. You should have a separate inventory spreadsheet where you record how much the item cost you to . Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. 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. Where were the best opportunities to send parcels, such as to my accomodation spots or visitors centres? 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. 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. This well blazed trail travels through many national parks and state forests with various terrain that ranges from dense forest to beautiful coastland. We are flying to Perth from London on Qantas new direct flights. Definitely not perfect but I was trying! Luckily, the huts along the way collect rainwater, so well always have a supply of drinking water once we have purified it. As much as I tried I still arrived in Northcliffe on a Sunday, which is the one day the cooperative is closed! Unfortunately, in the 1930s they found themselves out of work again when the Great Depression hit and many families had to leave their properties. In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. For gear reviews, I often rely on Outdoor Gear Lab. Then bury it. But how basic are these village stores? Its a good idea to split your food into two parcels and bury them in different places to reduce the chances of losing everything. cooking at home with bulk foods & predominately organic or local vegetables that were purchased from independent stores but would then travel to Western Australia, buying food in these small towns from local businesses that sell ethical products to support their local food economy, understanding I would be shopping from supermarkets and purchasing standard food, sold in packaging both here at home & in Western Australia. 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. She made a road trip the week before she left and dropped off her own supplies. Bibbulmun Track Video December 29, 2021. Slower Hiking 12/9/22 Slower Hiking 12/9/22. 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. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . Bibbulmun Track Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! There are three-sided shelters with picnic tables, rainwater tanks, as well as dunnies with toilet bowls and sometimes even toilet paper. Glad to have stumbled upon your blog! The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. The shelters with the water supplies are 10 km apart in the first few days out of Perth, average 18 km over the rest of the track until they go back to 10-12 km apart as you come into Albany. Water is available from tanks at each of the 48 campsites along the. For advice specific to the Bibbulmun, the Bibbulmun Track Hikers Facebook group is a useful resource. 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. Again, thank you and happy hiking! It can get extremely hot in WA between December and February, and the risk of bush fire is too great. In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. Mmm, difficult question! Everybodys body is different, so do some training hikes to work out any physical issues you might have, and how to manage them. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2013. Sugars and fats might be your enemy in the real world, but theyre your friend on the trail. The stores arent that basic, you should be able to get all those items you mentioned. 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. Hey Ben! I was happy to eat different mueslis, snacks and lunch meals by the end of the hike. The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. Karri sleepers from Pemberton were also used in the early development of the London Underground and other railway lines in the UK. Collie Donnelly River Village: Purchase all of my food from the Collie supermarkets & Balingup shops to reach Donnelly River Village. Not a fussy eater at all, just after the basic hiker foods. Make a note of where youve buried the food in your journal because youll be desperate for it when you eventually get there! Lines in his book A long walk in the Australian bush.. 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. Very jealous, Ill add it to my ever-growing bucket list. That way the cooler areas in the south would be warming up, but were unlikely to be too hot, by the time I got there. Thats it. The towns Tourist/Information centers and some petrol stations have stored supplies for her. If youre only walking a section of the Track, planning a walk can be trickier as vehicular access points and public transport are limited. Many people undertake this journey as a section hike, doing pieces of it over a period of months and even years. Overall my resupply plan worked out better than I could have imagined along the track. The best word to describe it is pleasant. 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 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. 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. 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. Life on the Bibbulmun is pretty simple: You wake up each day, walk as far as you can, camp, and repeat. 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. It underwent many changes over the next two decades until, in 1993, work began to turn the Bibbulmun Track into one of the worlds great long distance walks, modelled on the Appalachian Trail in the USA. It won't be gourmet dining, but it will do the job. It was at a travel writing workshop with Susan Storm in early 1998. Near Perth, the campsites are closer together, allowing most hikers to walk two sections in a day known as double hutting. Many other hikers swear by this method, but feet are very personal things! Some things Im curious about: if you dont mind answering: What do you bring to take photos? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. 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 route is well mapped, way-marked and maintained. It was the perfect opportunity for me to wind down from the more rugged and draining hikes of the previous few months. If youre walking alone, make sure someone knows your itinerary and sign the registers found in each hut. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. From Perth, there are a couple of public buses that will take us straight to the Northern Terminus of the Bibbulmun Track in Kalamunda. 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. Erika Lori sets a new record on the 1,000km Bibbulmun Track. Im just getting the blog off the ground so its good to hear somebody is finding it useful. (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 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. A checklist is great way to start. 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 most important item on any hike is a pair of comfortable, well worn-in boots. 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. 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. Water is available from tanks at each of the 48 campsites along the. There are great opportunities for fit walkers to challenge themselves, on at least two of the days we walk around 25 km. 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. This creates a logistical nightmare. 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. 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! Preparing the right kind of food for an overnight or extended walk on the Bibbulmun Track is one of the most important considerations walkers need to make. I speak from experience many times Ive wearily had to retrace my steps to look for a waugal. Despite and abnormally rainy experience, it was quite the relaxing hike. Thanks Ben. Innovative lightweight backpacking and travel gear for your next adventure. It was another early settler who arrived a year later, Pemberton Walcott, who gave the town its name. 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. You will know the right one when it comes along! How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. Matt. Should just bite the bullet and get one! Each hut can accommodate between eight and 15 people (depending on the design) sleeping on wooden boards. Well be talking & typing all things #tinyhouse #hiking #permaculture #gardening #bushwalking #simpleliving #organic #wastefree #reading.