Your email address will not be published. Looking at starting mid September, I hope thats a good time. The solitude and peace on this trail is incredibly unique for one so near civilization. Right now Im hiking the Via Dinarica trail through the Balkans, beautiful!! Glad to have stumbled upon your blog! As you become more experienced you will get better at knowing what gear works for you. Im all about lists & planning for a hike. Walkers should always check the current Track conditions before embarking on a walk. Therefore, we will put "30 day fixed", "7 day auction", etc in this column. Today, Pemberton has a population of just over a thousand people. Testing out the Sawyer Filter in a murky Peak District stream. 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. It is managed by government agencies, and has a foundation. Due to its size, the Track is divided into nine sections. 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. If youre walking upwards of 20 kilometres a day for weeks at a time, its a battle to keep weight on. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2014. 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. 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. Hi Emma, 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. Where were the best opportunities to send parcels, such as to my accomodation spots or visitors centres? The only bad time to walk the Bibbulmun is summer. 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. Bibbulmun Track - Slower Hiking Im hooked on my fitbit for tracking my hikes but they run out of juice so quickly thanks man! Near Perth, the campsites are closer together, allowing most hikers to walk two sections in a day known as double hutting. Many of these groupies were British ex-servicemen who had returned from WWI to find there were no jobs for them. Bibbulmun Track in Denmark WA - Denmark, Western Australia As much as I tried I still arrived in Northcliffe on a Sunday, which is the one day the cooperative is closed! 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 WAs powerful southern coast. Im passionate about the Bibb, and am forever encouraging others to give it a go. 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. Theres all kinds out there, Best thing I have ever done. 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. Today there is still a timber mill in Pemberton, surrounded by old mill cottages, but tourism is also important for the towns survival. 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. Unfortunately, in the 1930s they found themselves out of work again when the Great Depression hit and many families had to leave their properties. Bushwalking is a natural tonic, providing a balance between enjoyable, low impact physical activity and a wellbeing workout. Every piece of kit I own has been weighed and weighed up for its usefulness vs. weight. Maps, other guides and information on diversions can be found on the Bibbulmun Track Foundation website. Estimated length: 1000 kilometres / 621 miles. Information for bushwalkers from bushwalkers. Bibbulmun Track, Kalamunda to Albany - Trails WA In 1913 timber mills were established in Pemberton to supply half a million sleepers for the Trans-Australian Railway line. ), while still leaving opportunities to add to my lunch & snack supplies. But for the purposes of a non-picky hiker, theyre perfectly adequate. Once we reach Albany, its a long six hour bus back to Perth and then onwards. Ridiculously crazy and amazing adventures for trail runners. Id actually recommend this option for an end-to-end, because it supports the communities that host you and it saves you from agonising over a nutrition plan before your hike. 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. Bibbulmun Track Trip Planner | Bibbulmun Track Donnelly River Village only had a simple general store. Hello Andrew. 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. Walking the Bibbulmun takes some preparation, but its something that anyone of average fitness and mobility should be able to achieve. I was really happy to be a trail angel for one of your re-supply days. Get insights together with secure sharing in real-time and from any device. Good luck choosing one! There are great opportunities for fit walkers to challenge themselves, on at least two of the days we walk around 25 km. Leave No Trace is all about promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor travel and recreation through education, research and partnerships. 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. It is roughly 1000 kilometers in length. The Bibbulmun Track passes through Pemberton and we did two walks, totalling 7 hours. Which towns were I planning to have rest days? The Bibbulmun Track takes hikers through the Karri trees of the southern forests | credit: Bibbulmun Track Foundation. My resupply plan was developed with the the goals of eating delicious, plant-based, package free, local and organic foods as much as possible. 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. Bibbulmun Track | 9 Section Bibbulmun Track Itinerary, WA Although walking is a relatively safe pastime, there are hazards associated with the bush. Trekking the Bibbulmun Track End to End - Snowys Blog 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. I will definitely have to crack down on what I bring in order of importance. Trekking The Bibbulmun Track End to End - Planning. In the 1920s, free land was offered to group settlers to establish a dairy industry. The name comes from the Bibbulmun, or Noongar people, Indigenous Australians . 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. 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. 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. Shane Johnstone, who set out to break a record of WA's Bibbulmun Track, has finished the gruelling run well ahead of schedule.. The most well-known is the Gloucester Tree, which is located only a couple of kilometres out of Pemberton.Despite not being very confident about heights, I climbed the Gloucester Tree once in the late 1980s so do not feel the need to climb it again. I decided to see what my heart picked for me when the time came. 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 next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. The facilities are world class compared to most long-distance trails around the world. Im just worried about how rocky the sleeping areas are etc. 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. 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. For advice specific to the Bibbulmun, the Bibbulmun Track Hikers Facebook group is a useful resource. What a contradiction! In Pemberton purchase two days worth of food to reach Northcliffe. Bibbulmun guide | Going Solo Well be talking & typing all things #tinyhouse #hiking #permaculture #gardening #bushwalking #simpleliving #organic #wastefree #reading. The track is one of the world's longest walking trails stretching from Perth to Albany. Winter conditions (June to August) are not for the faint hearted, particularly further south where temperatures are lower and rainfall higher. 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. The most important item on any hike is a pair of comfortable, well worn-in boots. A great option to have when the rain hits. 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. BT Day 34: Monadnocks to Mt Dale 889.5km (33.3km) June 21, 2021. I also occasionally use my phone. Somewhere in the world: BT Day 33: Nerang to Monadnocks 855.9km (25km) June 19, 2021. Water is available from tanks at each of the 48 campsites along the. Cheers! As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. It will probably be very uncomfortable sleeping on the ground but you might be able to cope for two nights. So many! Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. View topic - Bibbulmun Track Questions/Answers - Bushwalk Thats it. 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. (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Hi we are considering heading over to WA from SA in September to experience a section of the Bibbulmun Track, imagining that the border will be open by then. 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. 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. 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.