The Bibbulmun Track runs from Perth to Albany, 1000 km and takes about six weeks to thru hike. Doing it sandals should surely count for more than a regular end-to-end. 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. Again, thank you and happy hiking! If youre only walking a section of the Track, planning a walk can be trickier as vehicular access points and public transport are limited. Spring (September to November) is the best time to walk the Bibbulmun Track. These pages provide youth group leaders with the necessary tools to plan, lead and complete a successful expedition on the Bibbulmun Track. Im quite an experienced hiker, and find your blog post very usefull. Next time I would dehydrate even more of my own food, specifically dinners if time allowed (they just worked out so well! The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. You can add to this if you like, but remember you will have to carry whatever you take! The Bibbulmun's Wagyl or Rainbow Serpent blaze. Many Different Landforms. 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. This is a very rewarding and quite remote expeditionary hike. While cooking and dehydrating meals took extra time & energy, this allowed me to enjoy meals that were more delicious, full of veggies & legumes, lighter & cheaper than many supermarket options. There are three-sided shelters with picnic tables, rainwater tanks, as well as dunnies with toilet bowls and sometimes even toilet paper. The website also carries excellent suggestions for itineraries ranging from two to six days, with each itinerary including suggestions for day-walks on the Track, as well as sights and attractions to visit. 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. Thanks for your comment. Bibbulmun track record smashed in gruelling 'run, crawl and scramble' I created a spreadsheet which recorded, for each date, the starting and finishing points and the number of kilometres between them. a long weekend) its best to take a tent with you. The Bibbulmun Track often has temporary diversions and permanent realignments for various reasons, which can extend the distance to be walked on any day. The Bibbulmun Track can be tough so, go on take a walk on the wild side! Trekking the Bibbulmun Track End to End - Snowys Blog Cheers! 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. We like to track how the item was listed at the time of the sale. The track is officially measured as 1003 kilometres long, divided into 58 sections, each ending in either a town or a campsite. 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. Ridiculously crazy and amazing adventures for trail runners. 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. Either plan to supplement your meals with town-bought supplies, or make sure you cook up a decent range of dishes. Celebrate our 25th year with an adventure! A combination approach really worked well for me. They have very straight trunks that dont separate into branches until high up near the tops of the trees so they were in great demand for railway sleepers. 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!) If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. Megan, I find this very good sharing, especially on the resupply considerations that included supporting local businesses. It also helped me to better understand my bodys abilities, and made me realise how much more I could be doing with my life! Make a note of where youve buried the food in your journal because youll be desperate for it when you eventually get there! Take a walk on the wild side walking the Bibbulmun Track, Follow Local Travel Tips on WordPress.com. 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. 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. Hi Anna, I tried to allow at least one rest day in each town to stock up on supplies, do my washing, shower, eat and, most importantly, rest. The local food shop in Balingup had closed down. Pingback: Dreaming of the Next Adventure Introducing the Bibbulmun Track Lifeone big adventure, Your email address will not be published. Use Google Sheets to create and edit online spreadsheets. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . After all, hiking is only walking for a long time. Read More. 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 a number of things to consider before setting out on the Track. Nowadays, I use an ultraviolet wand which doesnt affect the taste of the water. Its a good idea to split your food into two parcels and bury them in different places to reduce the chances of losing everything. It may be a restricted road or a closed quarantined road within a Disease Risk Area where vehicles are not permitted. Winter conditions (June to August) are not for the faint hearted, particularly further south where temperatures are lower and rainfall higher. Summer is not recommended as Western Australia has extremely hot dry summers, making it a high-risk fire season. Testing out the Sawyer Filter in a murky Peak District stream. Luckily, the huts along the way collect rainwater, so well always have a supply of drinking water once we have purified it. It is roughly 1000 kilometers in length. In the 1920s, free land was offered to group settlers to establish a dairy industry. Food for Thru-hiking the Bibbulmun Track Full-day walks average about 16 km. The most important item on any hike is a pair of comfortable, well worn-in boots. Bushwalking is a natural tonic, providing a balance between enjoyable, low impact physical activity and a wellbeing workout. was to work out what to take with me. So far, our base packs come to approx. My resupply plan was developed with the the goals of eating delicious, plant-based, package free, local and organic foods as much as possible. Today there is still a timber mill in Pemberton, surrounded by old mill cottages, but tourism is also important for the towns survival. 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 Track is popular with locals, interstate and overseas visitors alike. 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. If you take this option, be warned you WILL get sick of the food you make yourself, so be prepared to improvise. Im just worried about how rocky the sleeping areas are etc. 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. If youre inspired to try, heres (some of) the info youll need to make it happen. Therefore, we will put "30 day fixed", "7 day auction", etc in this column. Each hut can accommodate between eight and 15 people (depending on the design) sleeping on wooden boards. It was at a travel writing workshop with Susan Storm in early 1998. 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. 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. 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. In 1913 timber mills were established in Pemberton to supply half a million sleepers for the Trans-Australian Railway line. I was really happy to be a trail angel for one of your re-supply days. Me most of all that article had obviously made a bigger impression on me than Id imagined. At the end of the weekend we felt tired yet recharged by our brief break in the country. 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. They generally only have one brand of everything though, and fresh items are often very limited. This creates a logistical nightmare. Posted on July 8, 2018 The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . The following list is what I take on multi-day hikes on the Bibbulmun Track. 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 . 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. 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. Bibbulmun Track - Facebook 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). However, although I couldnt live in a country town full time, I enjoy getting out of the city and spending time in the country. The Bibbulmun Track is a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. 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 . Pick one itinerary or join several together to customise your Bibbulmun Track holiday adventure. Many other hikers swear by this method, but feet are very personal things! Some of this trusty kit does however weigh a hell of a lot more than some of the ultralight stuff on the market. It was another early settler who arrived a year later, Pemberton Walcott, who gave the town its name. Right now Im hiking the Via Dinarica trail through the Balkans, beautiful!! This includes how to get there, highlights, interesting places, weather forecasts, Track conditions, the Track towns and photos. Cate. Once youve bought or borrowed everything necessary to hike the Bibbulmun Track, the next thing is to plan your walk. Its a good idea to split your food into two parcels and bury them in different places to reduce the chances of losing everything. Bibbulmun Track Western Australia 1000km - Simply Trekking 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. 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. It was the perfect opportunity for me to wind down from the more rugged and draining hikes of the previous few months. Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. I have done many day walks, 2 overnight walks and one 4 day/3 night walk on the Bibb. Bibbulmun Track (WA, Australia) | Fastest Known Time With tips on how to create your ideal. Northcliffe Walpole: Pack everything (except breakfast), dehydrating my own food & post to Northcliffe Visitors Centre to reach Walpole. Im hooked on my fitbit for tracking my hikes but they run out of juice so quickly thanks man! I hope to do this one day soon. Premier Partner of the Foundation and the Bibbulmun Track maintenance volunteer program. A great option to have when the rain hits. How many days of food could I carry at a time? 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. Trekking The Bibbulmun Track End to End - Planning. Food can add considerably to the weight of one's backpack, significantly affecting the level of enjoyment experienced on the walk. 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. Although well be walking in Australias winter and rain is a distinct possibility, weve opted for lightweight trail shoes which will offer the tread we need without the weight and (hopefully) the blisters and pressure points on the feet. There was a cooperative in Pemberton I didnt know about! 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 Bibbulmun Track passes through many different environments; we saw an astonishing 85 different orchid species and hybrids. 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. Bibbulmun Track - Walkingtwobytwo 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. Hello Andrew. 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? For advice specific to the Bibbulmun, the Bibbulmun Track Hikers Facebook group is a useful resource. 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? Still buying from towns did provide some good flexibility. 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. Required fields are marked *. Celebrate our 25th year with an adventure! Starting from just outside of Perth, it will take approximately 45 days to hike through the towering forests, quiet farmland and wild beaches until we reach Albany. Matt. It won't be gourmet dining, but it will do the job. 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). 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. Innovative lightweight backpacking and travel gear for your next adventure. 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. Notes for Potential Hikers of the Bibbulmun Track Introduction. 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. 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. Its become an obsession. View topic - Bibbulmun Track Questions/Answers - Bushwalk The Bibbulmun Track walk would technically take more than two months to finish at an average walking pace. 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. Due to its size, the Track is divided into nine sections. Mmm, difficult question! There are eight towns along the way, where well be able to buy supplies, but other than that, well be relying on what we carry to keep us going. Sharing the journey. 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). Besides a 5,000-litre rain water tank, each campsite has a sturdy three-sided timber hut with a tin roof, a bush toilet, tent sites, and a picnic table. Since I started using this I havent had a blister. 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. 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. 10 kg each. Bibbulmun Track (WA) ~ The Long Way's Better 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 not sure then please contact us. Glad to have stumbled upon your blog! Gill Goes Trekking The Bibbulmun Track End to End - Planning Choose a section of the Track for a day of amazing scenery or challenging walks or, if you're game, tackle the whole Track. Overall my resupply plan worked out better than I could have imagined along the track. Most of the sections are somewhere between 20 and 25 kilometres long, or about a full days walk for the average hiker. As a rough guide, there should be five waugals per kilometre in forest areas, and two per kilometre in more open areas. Do you keep your phone on you? Ive decided to walk the Bibbulmun Track! BIB2016 | Walking With Wired This isnt a problem on the outward journey, but on the way back it may be difficult to predict what time (or even what day) youll reach a town on foot. 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. Bibbulmun Track - Group Guided Day Walks 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.

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