The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. The Bibbulmun Track runs from Perth to Albany, 1000 km and takes about six weeks to thru hike. Right now Im hiking the Via Dinarica trail through the Balkans, beautiful!! Sending packages to yourself does make a bit of guess work. Many people undertake this journey as a section hike, doing pieces of it over a period of months and even years. I want to buy food as I go like you suggested, support the communities along the way, always choose that option. It will probably be very uncomfortable sleeping on the ground but you might be able to cope for two nights. 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. These pages provide youth group leaders with the necessary tools to plan, lead and complete a successful expedition on the Bibbulmun Track. The $270,000 structure was designed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in consultation with the Bibbulmun Track Foundation and has been constructed using fire resistant products such as rammed earth and steel. Scroll down for a Map of the Bibbulmun Track through Denmark WA. It was at a travel writing workshop with Susan Storm in early 1998. Which towns were I planning to have rest days? If youre on a tight budget, its still possible to put together a kit with gear from AliExpress and sale items watch this space for gear reviews on how to make that happen! Good luck! 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. Bibbulmun Track Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! Im passionate about the Bibb, and am forever encouraging others to give it a go. Walpole Denmark: Purchase all food in Walpole supermarket to reach Denmark, Denmark Albany: Purchase all food in Denmark shops/supermarket to reach Albany. . The most important item on any hike is a pair of comfortable, well worn-in boots. 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. 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 . Unless something goes wrong, all your water will come from the tanks at campsites or taps in towns. Walking the Bibbulmun takes some preparation, but its something that anyone of average fitness and mobility should be able to achieve. If you are not sure then please contact us. As much as I tried I still arrived in Northcliffe on a Sunday, which is the one day the cooperative is closed! The best word to describe it is pleasant. How do you keep it charged, do you have a solar charger of some sort? But once my heart had spoken, I felt I had to follow through. 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. Youll need more if you walk when the water supply is less reliable. There is also a natural outdoor pool, but it wasnt warm enough for that when we were there. Im hooked on my fitbit for tracking my hikes but they run out of juice so quickly thanks man! Pingback: Dreaming of the Next Adventure Introducing the Bibbulmun Track Lifeone big adventure, Your email address will not be published. Hello Andrew. In the 1920s, free land was offered to group settlers to establish a dairy industry. If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. Just read your article, brilliant! 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. Nick. 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. Tank water should be treated, either with a filter, a UV lamp or some chemical treatment method. In August of 2018 after 2.5 years of planning I started my thru-hike of the 1005km Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia. The Bibbulmun Track is a long-distance walk trail in Western Australia.. 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. 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. 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. The Bibbulmun Track is a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. It is a great community of enthusiastic Bibb Track hikers, supporters and the Bibbulmun Track Foundation. I really wouldnt change much. During the workshop, Susan asked everyone to talk about what their dream trip would be. But be warned, this is not a stroll in the park. Take a walk on the wild side walking the Bibbulmun Track, Follow Local Travel Tips on WordPress.com. It's designed to help decide which part of the 1000 km Track you'd like to walk and to give you all the planning information you need. For example, I discovered from the registers that the Track markers on the Monadnocks (a series of exposed rocky hills) were piles of rocks instead of the usual waugals. It doesnt do much to help the toe nail situation though! Pingerup Plains, the swamps comprising days . Is there anything else less essential you can leave out of your pack? 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. 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). A checklist is great way to start. ! Top-line results of the planning so far: 8 resupply towns + two possible food drops, Having been brought up hiking in the bogs of Dartmoor, the Peak Districts moorlands and the soggy Scottish Highlands, Ive always owned hardcore walking boots, with hard soles and waterproof casings. 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!). 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. 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. 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. It doesnt do much to help the toe nail situation though! I vividly remember the day I committed to walk the Bibbulmun Track. Estimated length: 1000 kilometres / 621 miles. 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. Donnelly River Village Northcliffe: Pack everything dehydrating my own food & post to DRV accomodation to reach Pemberton. Pemberton to Walpole The section from Pemberton to Walpole is exciting. These notes will help to make your Bibbulmun Track experience safer and more enjoyable. 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. Photos featured on this site are courtesy of Tourism WA, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Doug Coughran, Colin Ingram, Peter Nicholas, L-A Shibish and Nature Play WA. Like anything, this can vary enormously in price and quality. 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. 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. I packed too many teabags and sugary lollies (things I never would normally eat! 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. Cooking for two, I prepared and dehydrated batches of 8-12 serves (4-6 days) of 11 different dishes, once or twice a week during our preparation time rather than all at once at the end, so the task wasn't too overwhelming. Most of the towns on the Bibbulmun Track are serviced by buses, but they are infrequent and may need to be booked in advance. 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. As a traveller from eastern side of Australia doing this hike in pieces wasn't an option. Personally, I would take one. Information for bushwalkers from bushwalkers. 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. If youre picky about what you eat or you have specific dietary requirements, you can make dried meals with a dehydrator and vacuum sealer, and ship them to yourself along the way. It is important to keep an eye out for these waugals, as you can easily stray off track if youre daydreaming. Id read an article about the newly aligned Bibbulmun Track that would be opening later in the year, but hadnt thought much more about it. It will come in very useful when I finally get to do my own E2E. I am planning a walk from Pemberton to Northcliffe in September. Thankyou in advance! 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 think the more packs i try the more i go crazy. The local food shop in Balingup had closed down. Thanks Ben. Everybodys body is different, so do some training hikes to work out any physical issues you might have, and how to manage them. 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. Thanks Andrew for such detailed notes. Sugars and fats might be your enemy in the real world, but theyre your friend on the trail. Then bury it. BT Day 34: Monadnocks to Mt Dale 889.5km (33.3km) June 21, 2021. 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. Once youve bought or borrowed everything necessary to hike the Bibbulmun Track, the next thing is to plan your walk. It underwent many changes over the next two decades until, in 1993, work began to turn the Bibbulmun Track into one of the worlds great long distance walks, modelled on the Appalachian Trail in the USA. From Perth, there are a couple of public buses that will take us straight to the Northern Terminus of the Bibbulmun Track in Kalamunda. A range of tasty Back Country Cuisine meals are available in select stores along the Track. Luckily, the huts along the way collect rainwater, so well always have a supply of drinking water once we have purified it. Megan, I find this very good sharing, especially on the resupply considerations that included supporting local businesses. Revitalisation of John Forrest National Park. 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. I highly recommend it! For advice specific to the Bibbulmun, the Bibbulmun Track Hikers Facebook group is a useful resource. I also maintain a rigorous stretching routine when Im on multi-day hikes, to keep my legs from seizing up and to protect my knees. Good luck choosing one! 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. After some months now of planning and preparing the walk is almost upon me. Best time to hike the Bibbulmun track is between April and October. 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. 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. This Bibbulmun Track FB Group page was started by David Baird in mid 2009. Bibbulmun hikes: Harvey-Quindanning Road to Harris Dam, Dreaming of the Next Adventure Introducing the Bibbulmun Track Lifeone big adventure, Tent (for emergencies, and in case the shelter is full), Compass (some say optional, but I always take one in case I get lost), A personal locator beacon (PLB not optional for any responsible hiker), Dishwashing cloth (I can get by without detergent, but you may prefer it), Trowel (for digging holes for #2 between campsites), Water containers for at least three litres, Some method of water treatment (filter, UV lamp, chemical), Trekking poles (optional, I swear by them), Breakfasts (pre-made oat sachets are a good option here), Lunch (generally cold food that doesnt need too much preparation), Dinner (dehydrated meals are popular for dinner). They generally only have one brand of everything though, and fresh items are often very limited. As you become more experienced you will get better at knowing what gear works for you. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. Required fields are marked *. 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). Im okay with sleeping on a hard surface (we are sleeping in a tent) but would you definitely recommend bringing one? Traditional camping equipment is rarely suitable for hikers, so youll need to buy equipment thats designed for hiking. It was originally envisaged by keen bushwalker Geoff Schafer, in 1972. March 27, 2018 Bibbulmun Track Planning - Spreadsheets and an obsession with weight In May this year, Tim and I will be flying to Western Australia to take on our biggest challenge yet; we'll be hiking the Bibbulmun track, 1,000 km through the remote Australian wilderness. It is named 'Bibbulmun' after a group of . Theres all kinds out there, Best thing I have ever done. Looking at starting mid September, I hope thats a good time. On long walks, maps are essential and a compass comes in handy. Buying food along the way also allowed me to get meals that I wanted to eat at the time, instead of having to make those choices months in advance. If youre walking upwards of 20 kilometres a day for weeks at a time, its a battle to keep weight on. 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!) 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. Ive only done Bibbulmun day hikes as of yet. The most important item on any hike is a pair of comfortable, well worn-in boots. Keep up to date on our projects, our supporters, opportunities for involvement and more. Location/temp range/specific trip description: Seems roughly 0 to 30 degrees C (32-86 degrees F), I'm not very sure though. Cate. What about tracking navigation? (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). At the end of the month, we'll be able to track which format and duration were most effective for us. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Banksia Burrow is a place to build and grow together. 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. Spring (September to November) is the best time to walk the Bibbulmun Track. Its a good idea to split your food into two parcels and bury them in different places to reduce the chances of losing everything. 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. 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. Information for bushwalkers from bushwalkers, by Empacitator Wed 22 Jan, 2014 12:20 am, by Empacitator Fri 24 Jan, 2014 10:58 am, by InspirationOutdoors Mon 27 Jan, 2014 1:33 pm, Return to South Australia, Western Australia & Northern Territory, Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests. The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. Hey Ben! 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. Notes for Potential Hikers of the Bibbulmun Track Introduction. I created a spreadsheet which recorded, for each date, the starting and finishing points and the number of kilometres between them. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Thanks for the reply. Northcliffe Walpole: Pack everything (except breakfast), dehydrating my own food & post to Northcliffe Visitors Centre to reach Walpole. 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. 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. 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. Nowadays, I use an ultraviolet wand which doesnt affect the taste of the water. It allowed me to work out how many meals to dehydrate, pack and post, or alternatively buy in town.. 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. 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. 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. There are many businesses and organisations along the entire length of the Track that offer goods and services to help you get the most out of your walk, whether it be for a few hours or an epic end-to-end journey. Many campsites also have a fireplace, but between October and May fires are banned or restricted. Im trying to cut down on as much weight as possible. Reflections from the reality & how it all worked out. If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. 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. Have booked to complete it later this year. Anyone with an average level of fitness should be able to complete an end-to-end, so long as they actively manage their body and dont injure themselves. It was quite a process! If you can't find what you're after, please contact us. Hi Sue, I got an injury before then. Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. I tried to find a balance between: The ethical conundrum of what to buy & where, was so big in my head that I tried to change my itinerary to make sure I reached Northcliffe on a day that the food cooperative was open. For example: Kalamunda to Dwellingup was approximately 11 nights, which was too far to carry food the whole way. The towns Tourist/Information centers and some petrol stations have stored supplies for her. 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). Plus purchasing a small amount of meals from the supermarket did still switch up my diet. 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. Visitors can go four-wheel driving or mountain biking or fish for trout and marron. Not a fussy eater at all, just after the basic hiker foods. Today there is still a timber mill in Pemberton, surrounded by old mill cottages, but tourism is also important for the towns survival. What pack did you use for this hike? But how basic are these village stores? Your email address will not be published. Short and sweet, to the point, just what I needed. But for the purposes of a non-picky hiker, theyre perfectly adequate. Do you keep your phone on you? 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. If youre only walking a section of the Track, planning a walk can be trickier as vehicular access points and public transport are limited. I just googled the Via Dinarica and it looks amazing! 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. I charge both from a portable battery pack, which usually lasts me between towns. My resupply plan was developed with the the goals of eating delicious, plant-based, package free, local and organic foods as much as possible. Celebrate our 25th year with an adventure! I speak from experience many times Ive wearily had to retrace my steps to look for a waugal. Most hikers take several months to cover WA's famous 1,000km Bibbulmun Track, but Perth school teacher Jono Ride managed to do it in just over two weeks, despite not setting out to break records. 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. Some of this trusty kit does however weigh a hell of a lot more than some of the ultralight stuff on the market. Many other hikers swear by this method, but feet are very personal things! Despite and abnormally rainy experience, it was quite the relaxing hike. Glad to have stumbled upon your blog! The Bibbulmun Track often has temporary diversions and permanent realignments for various reasons, which can extend the distance to be walked on any day.