Bibbulmun Track, Kalamunda to Albany - Trails WA Bibbulmun Track - Facebook It traverses the Darling Range and has inspired reflections about the state of the Western Australian environment by William J. The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. 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. 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. Right now Im hiking the Via Dinarica trail through the Balkans, beautiful!! This well blazed trail travels through many national parks and state forests with various terrain that ranges from dense forest to beautiful coastland. 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. The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. The Bibbulmun Track can be tough so, go on take a walk on the wild side! Ive lived in Western Australia all my life, but it wasnt until I walked the Bibbulmun that I really appreciated what a rich and incredibly diverse landscape were blessed with. If youre an experienced long-distance hiker, you could aim to finish in as little as a month. I ate out in town more than I had originally planned, and so a few of my homemade meals were repacked for the next section. 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. 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). 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. If youre walking upwards of 20 kilometres a day for weeks at a time, its a battle to keep weight on. Bibbulmun Planner then met with a track veteran, "Wrong Way Jim" (eeeeekkk) at the Bibbulmun Track Foundation (BTF) to hone it further. You will need to take some sort of shelter, both for safety reasons (getting caught out inbetween the huts) and just because sometimes the huts do get full. Bibbulmun Track Full Route | Map, Guide - Western Australia, Australia Pictured here is an impressive Heath Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi). Bibbulmun Track (WA) ~ The Long Way's Better Water is available from tanks at each of the 48 campsites along the. 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. But why? a long weekend) its best to take a tent with you. The best word to describe it is pleasant. 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. 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. 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. Everybodys body is different, so do some training hikes to work out any physical issues you might have, and how to manage them. Where were the best opportunities to send parcels, such as to my accomodation spots or visitors centres? 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. In August of 2018 after 2.5 years of planning I started my thru-hike of the 1005km Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia. 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. 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. You can add to this if you like, but remember you will have to carry whatever you take! 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!). 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 . The following list is what I take on multi-day hikes on the Bibbulmun Track. Still buying from towns did provide some good flexibility. Walking the Bibbulmun Track Maps and Guidebooks Its a good idea to split your food into two parcels and bury them in different places to reduce the chances of losing everything. Winter conditions (June to August) are not for the faint hearted, particularly further south where temperatures are lower and rainfall higher. Each hut can accommodate between eight and 15 people (depending on the design) sleeping on wooden boards. Slower Hiking 12/9/22 Slower Hiking 12/9/22. The Track was radically realigned (retaining less than 10% of the old route) and extended to Albany. Nowadays, I use an ultraviolet wand which doesnt affect the taste of the water. For gear reviews, I often rely on Outdoor Gear Lab. Your email address will not be published. Ive got a Wilderness Equipment Discovery 1 (medium), but I bought it in 1998 so things will have moved on since then! The first thing I needed to decide about was when to start the journey. 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? Once youve bought or borrowed everything necessary to hike the Bibbulmun Track, the next thing is to plan your walk. Ive decided to walk the Bibbulmun Track! Unfortunately, Ive been nursing a small injury in my hip so our grand plans for training has gone out of the window, but we are now walking to and from work whenever possible, as well as planning longer walks in the Peaks and near London as well as the Lakes in the coming weeks to build up our strength and endurance. 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. Theres all kinds out there, Best thing I have ever done. Read More. Is there anything else less essential you can leave out of your pack? It may not have the most spectacular scenery for most of it, but it somehow wins the heart of everyone that hikes it for the pleasant experience. Pingerup Plains, the swamps comprising days . 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. There are plenty of great online resources with more info on long-distance hiking. I was really happy to be a trail angel for one of your re-supply days. The solitude and peace on this trail is incredibly unique for one so near civilization. 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. 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! The other participants spoke of travelling to exotic places or going on extravagant cruises. Im quite an experienced hiker, and find your blog post very usefull. Reflections from the reality & how it all worked out. In 1913 timber mills were established in Pemberton to supply half a million sleepers for the Trans-Australian Railway line. What my heart chose surprised even me. I was happy to eat different mueslis, snacks and lunch meals by the end of the hike. The Bibbulmun's Wagyl or Rainbow Serpent blaze. It is situated in a valley surrounded by karri forests, so its history is inextricably linked to forestry and logging. Bibbulmun Track - Walkingtwobytwo Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! I waited for my turn, not knowing which of the places on my bucket list to choose. The track is one of the world's longest walking trails stretching from Perth to Albany. You can get some pretty light self-inflating mats so Id explore that option if you plan on hiking regularly. Dont know why I packed them), and not enough dried fruit & nut snacks. View topic - Bibbulmun Track - Tips and Gear List - Bushwalk 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. In Pemberton purchase two days worth of food to reach Northcliffe. Visitors can go four-wheel driving or mountain biking or fish for trout and marron. This would create the best variation and flexibility, encouraging me to explore the track towns and purchase local foods, while still predominately enjoying the same meals I would eat at home everyday!! Pembertons first settler was Edward Brockman, the son of Perths first mayor, who moved to the area in 1861 to breed horses. Your email address will not be published. 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. I used a pyramid tarp which gave me good all round protection although next time I would choose something with a smaller footprint. If youre walking alone, make sure someone knows your itinerary and sign the registers found in each hut. 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. I aimed to start my hike in late September and to walk north to south. If youre only walking a section of the Track, planning a walk can be trickier as vehicular access points and public transport are limited. 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. 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. Make a note of where youve buried the food in your journal because youll be desperate for it when you eventually get there! Since I started using this I havent had a blister. Ever since I got them, my arch pain has been a non-issue. Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. 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. 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. Whether you are thinking about planning your first ever walk on the Track or wondering which section to walk next, the Trip Planner pages will assist you regardless of your level of experience. Those that walk every step of the way can be registered as end-to-enders. 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). I packed too many teabags and sugary lollies (things I never would normally eat! To help you get started on overnight walks the Foundation also has a range of items for hire. There's a chance of no water, with many days the temperatures up in the high 30's, and some days reaching 40C and beyond. The Bibbulmun Track is generally well graded and relatively easy to negotiate. Most of the towns on the Bibbulmun Track are serviced by buses, but they are infrequent and may need to be booked in advance. 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). Restocking food has been one of the biggest dilemmas for my hikes. Bibbulmun Track Planning Guide | How To Create Your Ideal Hiking Ridiculously crazy and amazing adventures for trail runners. 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. Walpole Denmark: Purchase all food in Walpole supermarket to reach Denmark, Denmark Albany: Purchase all food in Denmark shops/supermarket to reach Albany. One thru-hike at a time. 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. We will be able to top up our food supplies (and replace our worn out shoes!) Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. Today, Pemberton has a population of just over a thousand people. 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. 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. It is a great community of enthusiastic Bibb Track hikers, supporters and the Bibbulmun Track Foundation. I take a Sony A6000 camera, which I have attached to my backpack with a Peak Designs capture clip. It doesnt do much to help the toe nail situation though! The Bibbulmun is on my list of possibilities. (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). This Bibbulmun Track FB Group page was started by David Baird in mid 2009. I want to walk the Bibbulmun Track, I said confidently when my turn came. If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. Solar chargers arent up to the job, especially on the Bibb where theres so much tree cover. Blisters are a big problem for many hikers, so its worth experimenting with different shoe and sock combinations to see what works for you. Your email address will not be published. Estimated length: 1000 kilometres / 621 miles. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2013. Australian Hiker | Bibbulmun Track WA (1005 km) 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. You should have a separate inventory spreadsheet where you record how much the item cost you to . 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. Unfortunately, in the 1930s they found themselves out of work again when the Great Depression hit and many families had to leave their properties. Im all about lists & planning for a hike. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . Download the app on Wi-Fi and then open the Bibbulmun Track and make sure you have downloaded the maps for offline use. Many Different Landforms. The stores arent that basic, you should be able to get all those items you mentioned. 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. My resupply plan was developed with the the goals of eating delicious, plant-based, package free, local and organic foods as much as possible. It was the perfect opportunity for me to wind down from the more rugged and draining hikes of the previous few months. I have done many day walks, 2 overnight walks and one 4 day/3 night walk on the Bibb. 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. Everyone looked stunned. was to work out what to take with me. This includes how to get there, highlights, interesting places, weather forecasts, Track conditions, the Track towns and photos. Thanks Ben. 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. Hey Ben! The Track is popular with locals, interstate and overseas visitors alike. Thanks for the reply. Not a fussy eater at all, just after the basic hiker foods. Premier Partner of the Foundation and the Bibbulmun Track maintenance volunteer program. There certainly are! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Travel from Perth Airport to Fremantle for $4.50, What to take on a multi-day Bibbulmun Track hike. Somewhere in the world: The route is well mapped, way-marked and maintained. Im just worried about how rocky the sleeping areas are etc. The Bibbulmun Track stretches 1,000 km from Kalamunda in Perth to Albany in the south-west. It is important to keep an eye out for these waugals, as you can easily stray off track if youre daydreaming. The following list is what I take on multi-day hikes on the Bibbulmun Track. Well be sending a second pair of each ahead to one of the Track towns in case they are so worn we need to replace them (gulp!). My basic gear, not including food and water, weighed about 13 kilograms (see the list at the end of this blog). The Bibbulmun Track passes through many different environments; we saw an astonishing 85 different orchid species and hybrids. 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 local food shop in Balingup had closed down. Have booked to complete it later this year. Bibbulmun Track | 9 Section Bibbulmun Track Itinerary, WA 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. I also occasionally use my phone. There are a number of things to consider before setting out on the Track. Ill call them and ask and add something to the blog about that section, it probably warrants a mention. Despite and abnormally rainy experience, it was quite the relaxing hike. But for the purposes of a non-picky hiker, theyre perfectly adequate. This saved me a lot of stress wondering whether I was on the right track in the absence of waugals. Cheers, Andrew. 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. There are buses from all the main track towns to Perth or Albany in case we get injured and need to bail. 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. Suggest you make a post on one of the Bib track sites on facebook as lots of experts there. I charge both from a portable battery pack, which usually lasts me between towns. Most of the sections are somewhere between 20 and 25 kilometres long, or about a full days walk for the average hiker. 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. Hi Anna, Definitely not perfect but I was trying! BT Day 36: Helena to Kalamunda 947.3km (28.7km) June 22, 2021. There was a cooperative in Pemberton I didnt know about! These pages are bursting with information to help you have a safe and pleasant journey. My niece is currently on the track and has pre-planned food drops along the way. Each town has its own distinct character, and the offerings of each are there to be savoured by walkers who have spent a few days in the bush. Me most of all that article had obviously made a bigger impression on me than Id imagined. Hi Emma, 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. 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 . 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. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. A combination approach really worked well for me. If you ever got foot pain while walking, its worth going to a podiatrist to get your feet assessed. 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. Thanks Andrew for such detailed notes. 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. If youre inspired to try, heres (some of) the info youll need to make it happen. 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. Use Google Sheets to create and edit online spreadsheets. 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). 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. 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. Posted on July 8, 2018 Unless something goes wrong, all your water will come from the tanks at campsites or taps in towns. The rest includes a teeny, tiny cooker and gas canister, down jacket, one change of clothes, basic hygiene kit, first aid kit and basic electronics. The Bibbulmun Track, Western Australia | Odyssey Traveller Sending packages to yourself does make a bit of guess work. It was quite a process!! By Ben Dickinson. Required fields are marked *. The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. A range of tasty Back Country Cuisine meals are available in select stores along the Track. Sharing the journey. Charting my travels around the world, one adventure at a time. Bibbulmun Track | Local Travel Tips One of my favourite places to escape to is a little town called Pemberton, 335 kilometres south of Perth. At this time the wild flowers (including orchids) are out, temperatures are moderate, and the streams and water tanks are likely to have plenty of water in them. These notes will help to make your Bibbulmun Track experience safer and more enjoyable. Plus purchasing a small amount of meals from the supermarket did still switch up my diet. Bibbulmun Track Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! I highly recommend it! 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. Well be weighing out all our food and making decisions on menus based on the weight/calorie ratio ( and cost will have a small impact on decision-making), to ensure were carrying the most calorie efficient food. They cost nearly $700 and dont look like much, but theyre probably the best money Ive ever spent on hiking gear. Sugars and fats might be your enemy in the real world, but theyre your friend on the trail. Awesome write up thank you! Doing it sandals should surely count for more than a regular end-to-end. Location/temp range/specific trip description: Seems roughly 0 to 30 degrees C (32-86 degrees F), I'm not very sure though. WA Parks Foundation Chair the Hon Kerry Sanderson AC CVO with Board Director Eva Skira AM hiking on the Bibbulmun Track. 10 kg each. What pack did you use for this hike? Therefore, we will put "30 day fixed", "7 day auction", etc in this column. 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. Our current plan involves only restocking at the towns, although we are also exploring the option of calling upon the Tracks Trail Angels to drop off food on some of the longer, 7+ day stints to reduce our pack weights. Luckily, the huts along the way collect rainwater, so well always have a supply of drinking water once we have purified it. I speak from experience many times Ive wearily had to retrace my steps to look for a waugal. Well be talking & typing all things #tinyhouse #hiking #permaculture #gardening #bushwalking #simpleliving #organic #wastefree #reading. Bibbulmun Track (WA, Australia) | Fastest Known Time If you ever come this way let me know so I can return the favour Short and sweet, to the point, just what I needed. Some things Im curious about: if you dont mind answering: What do you bring to take photos? Nick. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. The towns Tourist/Information centers and some petrol stations have stored supplies for her. 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. 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. From Perth, there are a couple of public buses that will take us straight to the Northern Terminus of the Bibbulmun Track in Kalamunda.
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