(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). 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. Use Google Sheets to create and edit online spreadsheets. It doesnt do much to help the toe nail situation though! Im all about lists & planning for a hike. Youll need more if you walk when the water supply is less reliable. Due to its size, the Track is divided into nine sections. The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world's great long distance walk trails, stretching 1000 kilometres from Kalamunda in the Perth hills, to the historic town of Albany on the south coast. Northcliffe Walpole: Pack everything (except breakfast), dehydrating my own food & post to Northcliffe Visitors Centre to reach Walpole. This Bibbulmun Track FB Group page was started by David Baird in mid 2009. Looking at starting mid September, I hope thats a good time. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2013. Every piece of kit I own has been weighed and weighed up for its usefulness vs. weight. Walking through the massive karri trees as they stretch high above you like a natural cathedral is awe inspiring, and we were lucky enough to see emus and kangaroos, the two native animals on the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. Good luck! 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. 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 . It allowed me to work out how many meals to dehydrate, pack and post, or alternatively buy in town.. 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. 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. Its become an obsession. Winter conditions (June to August) are not for the faint hearted, particularly further south where temperatures are lower and rainfall higher. 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. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . Bibbulmun Planner then met with a track veteran, "Wrong Way Jim" (eeeeekkk) at the Bibbulmun Track Foundation (BTF) to hone it further. The next thing I needed to do in preparation for hiking the Bibbulmun Track (see my previous blog for the background to this crazy idea!) I am hiking only a section of the Bibbulmum (two nights) during July (not the best time, Im sure) but I was wondering if you think I really need a sleeping mat? Bibbulmun Track Planning - Spreadsheets and an obsession with - Blogger These pages are bursting with information to help you have a safe and pleasant journey. View topic - Bibbulmun Track Questions/Answers - Bushwalk Once we reach Albany, its a long six hour bus back to Perth and then onwards. Experiencing the Bibbulmun Track - WA Parks Foundation Many campsites also have a fireplace, but between October and May fires are banned or restricted. 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. This is useful for working out how much food you will need for each section and for arranging to meet other people. Megan, I find this very good sharing, especially on the resupply considerations that included supporting local businesses. Still buying from towns did provide some good flexibility. But why? 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. We are flying to Perth from London on Qantas new direct flights. How many days of food could I carry at a time? You get to experience the famous (or infamous!) It traverses the Darling Range and has inspired reflections about the state of the Western Australian environment by William J. 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. As you become more experienced you will get better at knowing what gear works for you. I found these answers by completing some research on the Bibbulmun Track website, Facebook, Google maps, and asking people who had previously hiked the track. Buying food along the way also allowed me to get meals that I wanted to eat at the time, instead of having to make those choices months in advance. Many of these groupies were British ex-servicemen who had returned from WWI to find there were no jobs for them. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. The track is one of the world's longest walking trails stretching from Perth to Albany. In the 1920s, free land was offered to group settlers to establish a dairy industry. 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? If youre inspired to try, heres (some of) the info youll need to make it happen. The track was first proposed in 1972 by Geoff Schafer, a member of the Perth Bushwalking Club. 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!). was to work out what to take with me. 1000km. But once my heart had spoken, I felt I had to follow through. Ive only done Bibbulmun day hikes as of yet. Tank water should be treated, either with a filter, a UV lamp or some chemical treatment method. Unfortunately, in the 1930s they found themselves out of work again when the Great Depression hit and many families had to leave their properties. Australia: Bibbulmun Track - Doing Miles Walpole Denmark: Purchase all food in Walpole supermarket to reach Denmark, Denmark Albany: Purchase all food in Denmark shops/supermarket to reach Albany. 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. 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. Full-day walks average about 16 km. Im quite an experienced hiker, and find your blog post very usefull. 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. More to come, I'm sure. 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. The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. At the end of the weekend we felt tired yet recharged by our brief break in the country. Open the map and click on a hut and then there is a button to download photos - so do that on Wi-Fi too. In the past, Ive hiked with a mix of homemade meals and supplies bought in towns. 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! 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. As I mentioned in the last blog, there are 48 campsites on the Bibbulmun Track. Keep up to date on our projects, our supporters, opportunities for involvement and more. 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. South Australia, Western Australia & Northern Territory, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHfaBZT Q&index=15, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc sp=sharing. The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. Short and sweet, to the point, just what I needed. Bibbulmun Track - Albany to Denmark - Australian Walking Holidays Therefore, if my boots fit well at the heels, my second toes end up getting battered on hikes and eventually, the nails turn black and drop off. Distance Calculator | Bibbulmun Track It will come in very useful when I finally get to do my own E2E. 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. Donnelly River Village Northcliffe: Pack everything dehydrating my own food & post to DRV accomodation to reach Pemberton. Ill call them and ask and add something to the blog about that section, it probably warrants a mention. A checklist is great way to start. 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. 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. Awesome write up thank you! 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. 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. 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. The Bibbulmun Track is a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. The current incarnation of the Bibbulmun Track was opened to the public in September 1998. 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!! Each hut can accommodate between eight and 15 people (depending on the design) sleeping on wooden boards. The Bibbulmun Track is one of Australia's famous long distance bush walking trails. In 1913 timber mills were established in Pemberton to supply half a million sleepers for the Trans-Australian Railway line. was to work out what to take with me. Water is available from tanks at each of the 48 campsites along the. For example: Kalamunda to Dwellingup was approximately 11 nights, which was too far to carry food the whole way. The Bibbulmun Track runs from Perth to Albany, 1000 km and takes about six weeks to thru hike. Proud of your achievement. The health food shop in Denmark had great supplies. 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. My kneecaps tend to rub against their track if I allow my IT band to get too tight, so I make a point of stretching it and rolling it out whenever I get the chance. Bibbulmun Track Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! This creates a logistical nightmare. I want to buy food as I go like you suggested, support the communities along the way, always choose that option. 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.