Spring is really recommended to see all the blooming flowers. 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. Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. 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. You should have a separate inventory spreadsheet where you record how much the item cost you to . It was the perfect opportunity for me to wind down from the more rugged and draining hikes of the previous few months. Of course this is all a bit subjective but if there is a lot of unstable rocky ground or long, steep walks uphill then I might be in trouble, Thanks for your quick reply, Andrew. Able to buy peanut butter, tortilla flatbread and instant pasta meals like those kind of things? 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. If youre only walking a section of the Track, planning a walk can be trickier as vehicular access points and public transport are limited. Leave No Trace is all about promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor travel and recreation through education, research and partnerships. 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. Like anything, this can vary enormously in price and quality. During the workshop, Susan asked everyone to talk about what their dream trip would be. Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! 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. We are flying to Perth from London on Qantas new direct flights. Suggest you make a post on one of the Bib track sites on facebook as lots of experts there. 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. However, although I couldnt live in a country town full time, I enjoy getting out of the city and spending time in the country. In the 1920s, free land was offered to group settlers to establish a dairy industry. Nowadays, I use an ultraviolet wand which doesnt affect the taste of the water. 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. Australian Hiker | Bibbulmun Track WA (1005 km) 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. Estimated length: 1000 kilometres / 621 miles. Again, thank you and happy hiking! Youll need more if you walk when the water supply is less reliable. Me most of all that article had obviously made a bigger impression on me than Id imagined. It was originally envisaged by keen bushwalker Geoff Schafer, in 1972. I have a question about the resupply in towns.. if you dont mind. The solitude and peace on this trail is incredibly unique for one so near civilization. In August of 2018 after 2.5 years of planning I started my thru-hike of the 1005km Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia. Unless something goes wrong, all your water will come from the tanks at campsites or taps in towns. Bibbulmun track record smashed in gruelling 'run, crawl and scramble' Since I started using this I havent had a blister. North to South - South to North: The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. 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. 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. The name comes from the Bibbulmun, or Noongar people, Indigenous Australians . As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. Despite and abnormally rainy experience, it was quite the relaxing hike. This is a very rewarding and quite remote expeditionary hike. Testing out the Sawyer Filter in a murky Peak District stream. 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. A range of tasty Back Country Cuisine meals are available in select stores along the Track. Karri sleepers from Pemberton were also used in the early development of the London Underground and other railway lines in the UK. In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. Spring (September to November) is the best time to walk the Bibbulmun Track. The Bibbulmun Track walk would technically take more than two months to finish at an average walking pace. 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. A checklist is great way to start. I highly recommend it! One thru-hike at a time. Bibbulmun Track Full Route | Map, Guide - Western Australia, Australia Download the app on Wi-Fi and then open the Bibbulmun Track and make sure you have downloaded the maps for offline use. 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. It is named 'Bibbulmun' after a group of . Flood traps family of five who hike to safety after days isolated at Unfortunately, in the 1930s they found themselves out of work again when the Great Depression hit and many families had to leave their properties. There are plenty of great online resources with more info on long-distance hiking. The stores arent that basic, you should be able to get all those items you mentioned. Im in the market to buy a new one but there is so much out there! The Bibbulmun Trackis a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. 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. Whether you love plants, animals, nature or just walking in beautiful landscapes, the Bibbulmun Track has something for you. 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 only had a simple general store. 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. After some months now of planning and preparing the walk is almost upon me. Each of the towns on the Bibbulmun has at least a mini supermarket, but the range is often limited and the prices are high. By Ben Dickinson. My basic gear, not including food and water, weighed about 13 kilograms (see the list at the end of this blog). Collie Donnelly River Village: Purchase all of my food from the Collie supermarkets & Balingup shops to reach Donnelly River Village. 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. 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. Thanks for your comment. 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. The Bibbulmun Track can be tough so, go on take a walk on the wild side! The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. I packed too many teabags and sugary lollies (things I never would normally eat! Those that walk every step of the way can be registered as end-to-enders. 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. 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. Luckily, the huts along the way collect rainwater, so well always have a supply of drinking water once we have purified it. 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. Sharing the journey. 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. Many of these groupies were British ex-servicemen who had returned from WWI to find there were no jobs for them. The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. Looking at starting mid September, I hope thats a good time. It is roughly 1000 kilometers in length. 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. 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. 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. 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. Near Perth, the campsites are closer together, allowing most hikers to walk two sections in a day known as double hutting. Information for bushwalkers from bushwalkers. I love that people do that just for the love of helping. If you are not sure then please contact us. Well be talking & typing all things #tinyhouse #hiking #permaculture #gardening #bushwalking #simpleliving #organic #wastefree #reading. I speak from experience many times Ive wearily had to retrace my steps to look for a waugal. 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. Your email address will not be published. I waited for my turn, not knowing which of the places on my bucket list to choose. 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. Walpole Denmark: Purchase all food in Walpole supermarket to reach Denmark, Denmark Albany: Purchase all food in Denmark shops/supermarket to reach Albany. May 4th 2016 It is the night before (it actually isn't but I am now writing this all in retrospect) and I am so very excited. Thankyou in advance! If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. 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. . 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. I was really happy to be a trail angel for one of your re-supply days. Dwellingup Collie: Pack everything (except breakfast), dehydrating my own food & post to Dwellingup accomodation to reach Collie. Distance Calculator | Bibbulmun Track Nick. Many campsites also have a fireplace, but between October and May fires are banned or restricted. 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. The facilities are world class compared to most long-distance trails around the world. Sugars and fats might be your enemy in the real world, but theyre your friend on the trail. As were planning on doing the entire 1,000 km in 45 days, well need to skip some of the huts and plan carefully so we can resupply and rest where possible. 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. 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. With a couple of exceptions (like the excellent Tier Gear, Wild Earth and Paddy Pallin), the Australian industry seems to have decided its simply not going to even try and keep up with technological advancements that are making it into the mainstream of the global hiking community. Ridiculously crazy and amazing adventures for trail runners. 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. 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!). Bibbulmun Planner then met with a track veteran, "Wrong Way Jim" (eeeeekkk) at the Bibbulmun Track Foundation (BTF) to hone it further. There is also a natural outdoor pool, but it wasnt warm enough for that when we were there. They generally only have one brand of everything though, and fresh items are often very limited. Reflections from the reality & how it all worked out. Im all about lists & planning for a hike. 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. The calculator works in both north and south directions. Thanks for all the information about the Bibbulman 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. Have booked to complete it later this year. 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. In May this year, Tim and I will be flying to Western Australia to take on our biggest challenge yet; well be hiking the Bibbulmun track, 1,000 km through the remote Australian wilderness. 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. Bibbulmun Track | Overview - the-life-of-py