Food can add considerably to the weight of one's backpack, significantly affecting the level of enjoyment experienced on the walk. Matt. Lines in his book A long walk in the Australian bush.. It allowed me to work out how many meals to dehydrate, pack and post, or alternatively buy in town.. 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. 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. Next time I would dehydrate even more of my own food, specifically dinners if time allowed (they just worked out so well! It was quite a process!! 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? The track goes through every resupply town, which is also rare to find. Youll need more if you walk when the water supply is less reliable. Im just getting the blog off the ground so its good to hear somebody is finding it useful. 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. What my heart chose surprised even me. 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. Your email address will not be published. If that makes your eyes water, its possible to put together a reasonably lightweight backpacking kit with gear from Paddy Pallin, Wild Earth and a few other retailers for less than 2000AUD. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. Life on the Bibbulmun is pretty simple: You wake up each day, walk as far as you can, camp, and repeat. Able to buy peanut butter, tortilla flatbread and instant pasta meals like those kind of things? Your email address will not be published. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. I will definitely have to crack down on what I bring in order of importance. 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). There are also taxi services and tour operators who can help you to co-ordinate your walk, and some B&Bs near the Track offer drop-off and pick-up services. The Bibbulmun Track is a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. Thanks for your comment. Despite and abnormally rainy experience, it was quite the relaxing hike. The Bibbulmun is on my list of possibilities. Sounds as though it might be possible..Rosie, > miso soup (Ajishima freeze-dried miso with fungi, South Australia, Western Australia & Northern Territory, https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sawyer-Sque :rk:2:pf:0, https://www.facebook.com/andrew.richman 1913222176, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ edit#gid=0, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ 1858826788, https://www.facebook.com/andrew.richman 1659377176. 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). In August of 2018 after 2.5 years of planning I started my thru-hike of the 1005km Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia. 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. My resupply plan was developed with the the goals of eating delicious, plant-based, package free, local and organic foods as much as possible. Make a note of where youve buried the food in your journal because youll be desperate for it when you eventually get there! 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. The most important item on any hike is a pair of comfortable, well worn-in boots. Dont know why I packed them), and not enough dried fruit & nut snacks. It is roughly 1000 kilometers in length. 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!). The Bibbulmun Track often has temporary diversions and permanent realignments for various reasons, which can extend the distance to be walked on any day. Notes for Potential Hikers of the Bibbulmun Track Introduction. 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' Some hikers drink straight out of the tanks without treating the water, but I wouldnt take the risk. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2014. Sugars and fats might be your enemy in the real world, but theyre your friend on the trail. The Bibbulmun's Wagyl or Rainbow Serpent blaze. If you ever got foot pain while walking, its worth going to a podiatrist to get your feet assessed. The Bibbulmun Track is a walking trail that stretches from Kalamunda, on the outer reaches of Perth, to the south coast harbour town of Albany. The 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. Unless something goes wrong, all your water will come from the tanks at campsites or taps in towns. Your email address will not be published. I have since found a fabulous tape called fixumol, which I put on my heels and toes at the start of a hike as a preventative measure and add more of as hot-spots begin to develop. It was at a travel writing workshop with Susan Storm in early 1998. Leave No Trace is all about promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor travel and recreation through education, research and partnerships. Read More. BT Day 36: Helena to Kalamunda 947.3km (28.7km) June 22, 2021. Its become an obsession. He was also a pretty good breeder himself, fathering nine children! However, you don't need to finish it in one go, with 49 campsites along the track. It may be a restricted road or a closed quarantined road within a Disease Risk Area where vehicles are not permitted. Good luck! 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. As a rough guide, there should be five waugals per kilometre in forest areas, and two per kilometre in more open areas. How do you keep it charged, do you have a solar charger of some sort? 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 Bibbulmun Track is generally well graded and relatively easy to negotiate. If you take this option, be warned you WILL get sick of the food you make yourself, so be prepared to improvise. Blisters are a big problem for many hikers, so its worth experimenting with different shoe and sock combinations to see what works for you. 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. The best word to describe it is pleasant. Like anything, this can vary enormously in price and quality. Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. 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. In the 1920s, free land was offered to group settlers to establish a dairy industry. 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. 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. There are buses from all the main track towns to Perth or Albany in case we get injured and need to bail. 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. However, even if you walk regularly, its surprising how much difference carrying a heavy backpack makes. I also occasionally use my phone. If youre attempting an end-to-end for the first time, youll inevitably develop your own way of living on the track that will probably vary a little from the directions in this guide. These pages provide youth group leaders with the necessary tools to plan, lead and complete a successful expedition on the Bibbulmun Track. On long walks, maps are essential and a compass comes in handy. Then bury it. For example: Kalamunda to Dwellingup was approximately 11 nights, which was too far to carry food the whole way. Walkers should always check the current Track conditions before embarking on a walk. Im just worried about how rocky the sleeping areas are etc. Today, Pemberton has a population of just over a thousand people. These pages provide youth group leaders with the necessary tools to plan, lead and complete a successful expedition on the Bibbulmun Track. Proud of your achievement. I created a spreadsheet which recorded, for each date, the starting and finishing points and the number of kilometres between them. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. Megan, I find this very good sharing, especially on the resupply considerations that included supporting local businesses. Looking at starting mid September, I hope thats a good time. Very jealous, Ill add it to my ever-growing bucket list. For advice specific to the Bibbulmun, the Bibbulmun Track Hikers Facebook group is a useful resource. Erika Lori sets a new record on the 1,000km Bibbulmun Track. These pages are bursting with information to help you have a safe and pleasant journey. It traverses the Darling Range and has inspired reflections about the state of the Western Australian environment by William J. Full-day walks average about 16 km. 1000km. 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 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. Of course, equally valid pursuits enjoyed by many visitors are eating, drinking and relaxing in nature! Shane Johnstone, who set out to break a record of WA's Bibbulmun Track, has finished the gruelling run well ahead of schedule.. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Banksia Burrow is a place to build and grow together. 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. 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. The Bibbulmun Track runs from Perth to Albany, 1000 km and takes about six weeks to thru hike. 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. Thank you so much for the quick reply! 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. This includes how to get there, highlights, interesting places, weather forecasts, Track conditions, the Track towns and photos. 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. Im in the market to buy a new one but there is so much out there! It doesnt do much to help the toe nail situation though! 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). 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. Feel free to comment below for advice, or suggested additions to this guide. 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. The other participants spoke of travelling to exotic places or going on extravagant cruises. If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. 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. You can get some pretty light self-inflating mats so Id explore that option if you plan on hiking regularly. The stores arent that basic, you should be able to get all those items you mentioned. 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. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. The current incarnation of the Bibbulmun Track was opened to the public in September 1998. Just read your article, brilliant! 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. There are plenty of great online resources with more info on long-distance hiking. Theres all kinds out there, Best thing I have ever done. Have booked to complete it later this year. My niece is currently on the track and has pre-planned food drops along the way. I love that people do that just for the love of helping. This was just so I could purchase my muesli there in bulk & support their local business. But its still an awesome pack with a really strong hip strap. 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. I have a question about the resupply in towns.. if you dont mind. There was a cooperative in Pemberton I didnt know about! Winter conditions (June to August) are not for the faint hearted, particularly further south where temperatures are lower and rainfall higher. There are about 50 open sided shelters along the track, most a very easy day's walk . 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. What about tracking navigation? 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. There are a number of things to consider before setting out on the Track. The Bibbulmun Track is a walking trail located in Western Australia running over 1000km between Kalamunda in the north and Albany in the south. Overview Stretching just over 1000 kilometres from Kalamunda in the Perth Hills to Albany, the Bibbulmun Track is Western Australia's longest walking trail, falling just behind South Australia's Heysen Trail as the longest walking-oriented trail in the country (the impressively long 5330 km Bicentennial National Trail is not designed with walkers in mind). Pemberton to Walpole The section from Pemberton to Walpole is exciting. Everybodys body is different, so do some training hikes to work out any physical issues you might have, and how to manage them. The WA Parks Foundation is running two prize draws online throughout March to encourage membership to help support the Foundations, Dark Sky Festival celebrates total solar eclipse, The Dark Sky Festival from 19 to 21 April will take place in the Shires of Ashburton, Carnarvon and Exmouth, Signing up to protect endangered black cockatoos, Murdoch University is working closely with Main Roads Western Australia on projects to minimise the impact of motorists and road. This is intended as a guide for the absolute beginner. 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. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . If youre walking upwards of 20 kilometres a day for weeks at a time, its a battle to keep weight on. was to work out what to take with me. To walk the whole track is an adventure in contrasts, where the reward for your hard work is to see the world change before you at the speed of a human being. Charting my travels around the world, one adventure at a time. While on the contrary I bought packets of sugary lollies straight from the huge supermarket at home and packed them in my food parcels. If youre an experienced hiker you probably wont find much here for you, but hey you dont know what you dont know! Deciding what equipment you need for a Bibbulmun Track walk doesn't have to be a daunting process. If you are not sure then please contact us. Glad you found my post useful. They cost nearly $700 and dont look like much, but theyre probably the best money Ive ever spent on hiking gear. I have done many day walks, 2 overnight walks and one 4 day/3 night walk on the Bibb. 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. Mmm, difficult question! It is situated in a valley surrounded by karri forests, so its history is inextricably linked to forestry and logging. The track is officially measured as 1003 kilometres long, divided into 58 sections, each ending in either a town or a campsite. You can add to this if you like, but remember you will have to carry whatever you take! 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. 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. Still buying from towns did provide some good flexibility. How many days of food could I carry at a time? I hope to do this one day soon. 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. Which towns were I planning to have rest days? Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. 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. How big were the towns and what were their supermarkets/food stores/cooperatives like for resupplying? Somewhere in the world: Cheers! Please read my food goals for a deeper understanding on some of these food choices, and the food menus for details of my daily diet. Each campsite has a three-sided shelter, a water tank, a drop toilet and picnic tables. 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. It doesnt do much to help the toe nail situation though! The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. I waited for my turn, not knowing which of the places on my bucket list to choose. If youre inspired to try, heres (some of) the info youll need to make it happen. It is important to keep an eye out for these waugals, as you can easily stray off track if youre daydreaming. 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. Ill call them and ask and add something to the blog about that section, it probably warrants a mention. Sharing the journey. Every piece of kit I own has been weighed and weighed up for its usefulness vs. weight. An Australian owned one-stop-shop for outdoor and adventure equipment! This creates a logistical nightmare.
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