Either plan to supplement your meals with town-bought supplies, or make sure you cook up a decent range of dishes. The distance calculator is designed to help you plan your walk. The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. 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. Since I started using this I havent had a blister. Ridiculously crazy and amazing adventures for trail runners. Hey Ben! The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. 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. One of my favourite places to escape to is a little town called Pemberton, 335 kilometres south of Perth. Donnelly River Village only had a simple general store. Thanks Andrew for such detailed notes. Required fields are marked *. (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. Answering these questions helped me map out how manybreakfast, lunches, dinners & snacks I would need across the hike, & where they would potentially come from along the way. Do you keep your phone on you? Many campsites also have a fireplace, but between October and May fires are banned or restricted. Life on the Bibbulmun is pretty simple: You wake up each day, walk as far as you can, camp, and repeat. Trekking The Bibbulmun Track End to End - Planning. Your email address will not be published. Lines in his book A long walk in the Australian bush.. Is there anything else less essential you can leave out of your pack? Hi Anna, As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. 10 kg each. In August of 2018 after 2.5 years of planning I started my thru-hike of the 1005km Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia. 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. In 1913 timber mills were established in Pemberton to supply half a million sleepers for the Trans-Australian Railway line. 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. In Pemberton purchase two days worth of food to reach Northcliffe. BT Day 35: Mt Dale to Helena 918.6km (29.3km) June 21, 2021. 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. Pingerup Plains, the swamps comprising days . Right now Im hiking the Via Dinarica trail through the Balkans, beautiful!! Celebrate our 25th year with an adventure! 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. It doesnt do much to help the toe nail situation though! I really wouldnt change much. However, although I couldnt live in a country town full time, I enjoy getting out of the city and spending time in the country. At the end of the month, we'll be able to track which format and duration were most effective for us. 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. I am so glad I dehydrated a lot of my own food. Not a fussy eater at all, just after the basic hiker foods. The Track was radically realigned (retaining less than 10% of the old route) and extended to Albany. Im trying to cut down on as much weight as possible. 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. If you want to get the most out of your Bibbulmun Track walk, use it as an opportunity to explore the South Coast of Western Australia . 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 Bibbulmun Track, south Western Australia. I hope to do this one day soon. Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! Testing out the Sawyer Filter in a murky Peak District stream. 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. Theres all kinds out there, Best thing I have ever done. The Bibbulmun Track passes a wide range of experiences, from a gentle stroll to enjoy the peace and beauty of the natural environment, to an epic eight week adventure camping out at the 49 campsites and enjoying the hospitality of nine communities along the way. 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 following list is what I take on multi-day hikes on the Bibbulmun Track. 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). . Once we reach Albany, its a long six hour bus back to Perth and then onwards. Read More. The Bibb connects the outskirts of Perth on the west coast with the town of Albany on the south coast. Know that most who hike this track choose to hike hut to hut in almost double the time that I chose to do this track, and enjoy a relaxed experience of not having to hike full days. Choose a section of the Track for a day of amazing scenery or challenging walks or, if you're game, tackle the whole Track. 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. Make a note of where youve buried the food in your journal because youll be desperate for it when you eventually get there! The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. Bibbulmun Track Trip highlights Trek the spectacular South West Australian Coast and enjoy the incredible coastal scenery Enjoy the serenity of the many secluded beaches along the way Immerse yourself amongst the colourful wildflowers in spring Walk beneath the huge turbines of the Albany wind-farm Glad to have stumbled upon your blog! 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. How many days of food could I carry at a time? 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. 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. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. 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. 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. You can add to this if you like, but remember you will have to carry whatever you take! The route is well mapped, way-marked and maintained. 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. The Bibbulmun Track can be tough so, go on take a walk on the wild side! This includes how to get there, highlights, interesting places, weather forecasts, Track conditions, the Track towns and photos. I vividly remember the day I committed to walk the Bibbulmun Track. This is intended as a guide for the absolute beginner. Very jealous, Ill add it to my ever-growing bucket list. was to work out what to take with me. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a website or blog at WordPress.com, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). This creates a logistical nightmare. I speak from experience many times Ive wearily had to retrace my steps to look for a waugal. It may be a restricted road or a closed quarantined road within a Disease Risk Area where vehicles are not permitted. Also, the campsites, which are located between 10 and 20 kilometres apart, are closer together near Perth, which is useful for end to end walkers to ease themselves into condition. 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 Bibbulmun Track FB Group page was started by David Baird in mid 2009. 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. 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. At the end of the weekend we felt tired yet recharged by our brief break in the country. It will probably be very uncomfortable sleeping on the ground but you might be able to cope for two nights. Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. Thankyou in advance! I packed too many teabags and sugary lollies (things I never would normally eat! By Ben Dickinson. Many other hikers swear by this method, but feet are very personal things! Definitely not perfect but I was trying! As a traveller from eastern side of Australia doing this hike in pieces wasn't an option. 1000km. Slower Hiking 12/9/22 Slower Hiking 12/9/22. 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. 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. A range of tasty Back Country Cuisine meals are available in select stores along the Track. This well blazed trail travels through many national parks and state forests with various terrain that ranges from dense forest to beautiful coastland. In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. 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. My resupply plan was developed with the the goals of eating delicious, plant-based, package free, local and organic foods as much as possible. Somewhere in the world: These notes will help to make your Bibbulmun Track experience safer and more enjoyable. The Bibbulmun Track stretches 1,000 km from Kalamunda in Perth to Albany in the south-west. 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. 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. Thats literally just a petrol station with very basic, expensive options, although it does have an attached cafe so you can have at least one decent hot meal. 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. There are great opportunities for fit walkers to challenge themselves, on at least two of the days we walk around 25 km. The stores arent that basic, you should be able to get all those items you mentioned. This is a very rewarding and quite remote expeditionary hike. Travel from Perth Airport to Fremantle for $4.50, Take a walk on the wild side walking the Bibbulmun Track, What to take on a multi-day Bibbulmun Track hike, Follow Local Travel Tips on WordPress.com. After some months now of planning and preparing the walk is almost upon me. ), while still leaving opportunities to add to my lunch & snack supplies. I might end up with a couple of 40km+ days I think but the majority should be around 30km. Get insights together with secure sharing in real-time and from any device. Bibbulmun Planner then met with a track veteran, "Wrong Way Jim" (eeeeekkk) at the Bibbulmun Track Foundation (BTF) to hone it further. Required fields are marked *. 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. Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. These pages are bursting with information to help you have a safe and pleasant journey. More information can be found in an accommodation and services guide for walkers published by the Friends of the Bibbulmun Track. 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. Nowadays, I use an ultraviolet wand which doesnt affect the taste of the water. 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. 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. Suggest you make a post on one of the Bib track sites on facebook as lots of experts there. 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. 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. One thru-hike at a time. Some hikers drink straight out of the tanks without treating the water, but I wouldnt take the risk. 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 . 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. It can get extremely hot in WA between December and February, and the risk of bush fire is too great. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our natural and cultural heritage. Cate. Northcliffe Walpole: Pack everything (except breakfast), dehydrating my own food & post to Northcliffe Visitors Centre to reach Walpole. Thanks for the reply. 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. I take a Sony A6000 camera, which I have attached to my backpack with a Peak Designs capture clip. 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. 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. I think the more packs i try the more i go crazy. On long walks, maps are essential and a compass comes in handy. 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. This creates a logistical nightmare. 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. 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. 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 . This saved me a lot of stress wondering whether I was on the right track in the absence of waugals. Walpole Denmark: Purchase all food in Walpole supermarket to reach Denmark, Denmark Albany: Purchase all food in Denmark shops/supermarket to reach Albany. Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. We are flying to Perth from London on Qantas new direct flights. Therefore, we will put "30 day fixed", "7 day auction", etc in this column. 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. Let's see how we go! I just googled the Via Dinarica and it looks amazing! 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. Walkers should always check the current Track conditions before embarking on a walk. Bushwalking is a natural tonic, providing a balance between enjoyable, low impact physical activity and a wellbeing workout. Thanks Ben. The Bibbulmun Track takes hikers through the Karri trees of the southern forests | credit: Bibbulmun Track Foundation. Full-day walks average about 16 km. Bibbulmun Track Video December 29, 2021. The track goes through every resupply town, which is also rare to find. The Bibbulmun Track Foundation hires out dehydrators to Western Australian locals for a fortnight. Luckily, the huts along the way collect rainwater, so well always have a supply of drinking water once we have purified it. Water is available from tanks at each of the 48 campsites along the. The Bibbulmun Track passes through many different environments; we saw an astonishing 85 different orchid species and hybrids. Your email address will not be published. There are plenty of great online resources with more info on long-distance hiking. 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. Today, Pemberton has a population of just over a thousand people. Cheers, Andrew. It is a great community of enthusiastic Bibb Track hikers, supporters and the Bibbulmun Track Foundation. Erika Lori sets a new record on the 1,000km Bibbulmun Track. I decided to see what my heart picked for me when the time came. It was at a travel writing workshop with Susan Storm in early 1998. 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!) Collie was a bigger town with a large supermarket. The Bibbulmun Track is a walking trail located in Western Australia running over 1000km between Kalamunda in the north and Albany in the south. It was quite a process! Able to buy peanut butter, tortilla flatbread and instant pasta meals like those kind of things? Doing it sandals should surely count for more than a regular end-to-end. I was happy to eat different mueslis, snacks and lunch meals by the end of the hike. 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. Restocking food has been one of the biggest dilemmas for my hikes. 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). 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. 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. 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. I have done many day walks, 2 overnight walks and one 4 day/3 night walk on the Bibb. The first thing I needed to decide about was when to start the journey. Each hut can accommodate between eight and 15 people (depending on the design) sleeping on wooden boards. I currently have a fracture of my fifth metatarsal which will heal by then but I am wondering about the steepness of the terrain, especially near the Gloucester tree, and also the unevenness of the ground. 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. If youre walking upwards of 20 kilometres a day for weeks at a time, its a battle to keep weight on. Premier Partner of the Foundation and the Bibbulmun Track maintenance volunteer program. How do you keep it charged, do you have a solar charger of some sort? Unfortunately, in the 1930s they found themselves out of work again when the Great Depression hit and many families had to leave their properties. The calculator works in both north and south directions. Ill call them and ask and add something to the blog about that section, it probably warrants a mention. Near Perth, the campsites are closer together, allowing most hikers to walk two sections in a day known as double hutting.