bibbulmun track spreadsheet bibbulmun track spreadsheet

If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. Let's see how we go! WA Parks Foundation Chair the Hon Kerry Sanderson AC CVO with Board Director Eva Skira AM hiking on the Bibbulmun Track. I decided to see what my heart picked for me when the time came. We are flying to Perth from London on Qantas new direct flights. What pack did you use for this hike? If youre an experienced long-distance hiker, you could aim to finish in as little as a month. 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. However, walking with too heavy a pack will also be uncomfortable. 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. 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. Each hut can accommodate between eight and 15 people (depending on the design) sleeping on wooden boards. One of my favourite places to escape to is a little town called Pemberton, 335 kilometres south of Perth. Pemberton to Walpole The section from Pemberton to Walpole is exciting. Scroll down for a Map of the Bibbulmun Track through Denmark WA. It would have taken way to long and once I start something I'm driven to . Looking at starting mid September, I hope thats a good time. Thanks Andrew for such detailed notes. The Bibbulmun's Wagyl or Rainbow Serpent blaze. 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. Pictured here is an impressive Heath Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi). So many! It can get extremely hot in WA between December and February, and the risk of bush fire is too great. Cheers, Andrew. How many days of food could I carry at a time? If you ever come this way let me know so I can return the favour The Track is popular with locals, interstate and overseas visitors alike. They cost nearly $700 and dont look like much, but theyre probably the best money Ive ever spent on hiking gear. It is situated in a valley surrounded by karri forests, so its history is inextricably linked to forestry and logging. The current incarnation of the Bibbulmun Track was opened to the public in September 1998. The Group page. These notes will help to make your Bibbulmun Track experience safer and more enjoyable. 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. The most important item on any hike is a pair of comfortable, well worn-in boots. In the past, Ive hiked with a mix of homemade meals and supplies bought in towns. One of many shelters with covered tables and water tanks. It is a great community of enthusiastic Bibb Track hikers, supporters and the Bibbulmun Track Foundation. May 27, 2020 thebanksiaburrow 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. 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!). 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. I have done many day walks, 2 overnight walks and one 4 day/3 night walk on the Bibb. There are about 50 open sided shelters along the track, most a very easy day's walk . Still buying from towns did provide some good flexibility. There are three-sided shelters with picnic tables, rainwater tanks, as well as dunnies with toilet bowls and sometimes even toilet paper. 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. Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. Your email address will not be published. It allowed me to work out how many meals to dehydrate, pack and post, or alternatively buy in town.. It is important to keep an eye out for these waugals, as you can easily stray off track if youre daydreaming. Ive got a Wilderness Equipment Discovery 1 (medium), but I bought it in 1998 so things will have moved on since then! 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. I am planning a walk from Pemberton to Northcliffe in September. The Bibbulmun Track stretches 1,000 km from Kalamunda in Perth to Albany in the south-west. It was at a travel writing workshop with Susan Storm in early 1998. Please read my food goals for a deeper understanding on some of these food choices, and the food menus for details of my daily diet. The following list is what I take on multi-day hikes on the Bibbulmun Track. This includes how to get there, highlights, interesting places, weather forecasts, Track conditions, the Track towns and photos. Your email address will not be published. After all, hiking is only walking for a long time. Pingerup Plains, the swamps comprising days . Feel free to comment below for advice, or suggested additions to this guide. Revitalisation of John Forrest National Park. 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. Pembertons first settler was Edward Brockman, the son of Perths first mayor, who moved to the area in 1861 to breed horses. Have booked to complete it later this year. To walk the whole track is an adventure in contrasts, where the reward for your hard work is to see the world change before you at the speed of a human being. I have opted for. 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. 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. Notes for Potential Hikers of the Bibbulmun Track Introduction. My resupply plan was developed with the the goals of eating delicious, plant-based, package free, local and organic foods as much as possible. You can get some pretty light self-inflating mats so Id explore that option if you plan on hiking regularly. On an excel spreadsheet I mapped out my entire walk highlighting where I was planning to stay each night, how many days I would be on the track, how many nights I would be in each town to provide an overall understanding of where I would be for each day and for each meal. 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. The first thing I needed to decide about was when to start the journey. 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. my partner and I are planning to do the Bibbulmun Track starting ~14th of September (we're arriving 10th of September in Perth from Europe) and we're looking for some advice. Hi Emma, Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. But how basic are these village stores? Doing the whole bib is a dream of mine, but for now day trips will have to suffice! Ridiculously crazy and amazing adventures for trail runners. Just read your article, brilliant! Most of the sections are somewhere between 20 and 25 kilometres long, or about a full days walk for the average hiker. If you take this option, be warned you WILL get sick of the food you make yourself, so be prepared to improvise. 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. ), while still leaving opportunities to add to my lunch & snack supplies. Blisters are a big problem for many hikers, so its worth experimenting with different shoe and sock combinations to see what works for you. 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. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . 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. (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. Solar chargers arent up to the job, especially on the Bibb where theres so much tree cover. Youll need more if you walk when the water supply is less reliable. 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. The Bibbulmun Track walk would technically take more than two months to finish at an average walking pace. Of course, equally valid pursuits enjoyed by many visitors are eating, drinking and relaxing in nature! 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. 4WD campers have the luxury of an engine with a few hundred horsepower to lug all their gear around, while hikers only have their own two legs. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. 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. Location/temp range/specific trip description: Seems roughly 0 to 30 degrees C (32-86 degrees F), I'm not very sure though. However, even if you walk regularly, its surprising how much difference carrying a heavy backpack makes. Embrace it, and figure out what works for you. 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. The distance calculator is designed to help you plan your walk. . Sugars and fats might be your enemy in the real world, but theyre your friend on the trail. As a rough guide, there should be five waugals per kilometre in forest areas, and two per kilometre in more open areas. 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. The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. Innovative lightweight backpacking and travel gear for your next adventure. If youre inspired to try, heres (some of) the info youll need to make it happen. 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. For advice specific to the Bibbulmun, the Bibbulmun Track Hikers Facebook group is a useful resource. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2014. Awesome write up thank you! Winter conditions (June to August) are not for the faint hearted, particularly further south where temperatures are lower and rainfall higher. However, although I couldnt live in a country town full time, I enjoy getting out of the city and spending time in the country. 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. It was originally envisaged by keen bushwalker Geoff Schafer, in 1972. Your email address will not be published. Some things Im curious about: if you dont mind answering: What do you bring to take photos? Short and sweet, to the point, just what I needed. Ill call them and ask and add something to the blog about that section, it probably warrants a mention. 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). For example: Kalamunda to Dwellingup was approximately 11 nights, which was too far to carry food the whole way. 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. The other participants spoke of travelling to exotic places or going on extravagant cruises. I am so glad I dehydrated a lot of my own food. It was quite a process! The Bibbulmun Track takes hikers through the Karri trees of the southern forests | credit: Bibbulmun Track Foundation. Pick one itinerary or join several together to customise your Bibbulmun Track holiday adventure. Megan, I find this very good sharing, especially on the resupply considerations that included supporting local businesses. Thanks Kelly! Since I started using this I havent had a blister. 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. The track is one of the world's longest walking trails stretching from Perth to 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. Everybodys body is different, so do some training hikes to work out any physical issues you might have, and how to manage them. 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. The Bibbulmun Trackis a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. 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 *.