Bushwalk Australia

How would you do an unsupported walk of the Canning Stock Route?

Canning Walker wrote:How would you do an unsupported walk of the Canning Stock Route?

I'd imagine, with great difficulty.

The Canning Stock Route is a track that runs from Halls Creek in the Kimberley region of Western Australia to Wiluna in the mid-west region. With a total distance of around 1,850 km it is the longest historic stock route in the world.

The Heysen trail is 1200km and repeatedly passes through or near towns that can provide transport, provisions, accommodation and water. At times the Heysen trail can be difficult to walk because of the gaps between water availability.

On the CSR, there is very little availability of these facilities. I think a walker would require a backup crew to supply water and food at regular intervals on the track. Even 4wd vehicles are at risk in this terrain and a long way from help.

There is a 4wd focussed information pack available with a lot of useful information and contacts in it.

http://www.anfwdc.asn.au/get_doc.php?id=63

At 30km per day (unlikely) the CSR would be 2 months solid walk.

Do you have any long distance walking experience?

Does unsupported mean no food and water drops?

If you need to ask the question...

Strider wrote:If you need to ask the question...

It means you don't know the answer.

I've ridden it on a motorbike, it was not easy, I cannot imagine how you would do it walking and unsupported........

I have hitched it twice, driven it once and recently walked it with supply drops, no vehicle in attendance.

There will be at least two attempts to walk it unassisted this year. One person with a cart, no vehicle or supply drops. The other with two vehicles travelling with them, but apparently not helping them in any way - just filming.

I have looked at the husband and wife's logistics and can't see how it can work.

The man with the cart is open to advice, but I did it with supplies so not much help.

Canning Walker wrote:I have hitched it twice, driven it once and recently walked it with supply drops, no vehicle in attendance.

Hats off to you then!

Did you do a trip report of your recent walk?

Canning Walker wrote:I have hitched it twice, driven it once and recently walked it with supply drops, no vehicle in attendance.

There will be at least two attempts to walk it unassisted this year. One person with a cart, no vehicle or supply drops. The other with two vehicles travelling with them, but apparently not helping them in any way - just filming.

I have looked at the husband and wife's logistics and can't see how it can work.

The man with the cart is open to advice, but I did it with supplies so not much help.

Legendary!

Guess the question is, can one carry enough food and water for the full duration? I'd think not. So then the question is, how can one obtain food and water along the way? Hunt for food? I recall reading something about its history and there were water wells sunk along the way when the route was first created. But I also understood many were sabotaged by the locals in those day due to resentment. Not sure how many of those wells are still functional.

Found this site which I think I have read at some point. 70 water drop points for an assisted walk. Pretty amazing!
http://www.canningwalker.com

Yep, http://www.canningwalker.com is where I store all the information.

Michael, I have started writing up my diary and loading it to the website. This will be cleaned up later. On Day22 now. 44 more days to write up. The Gallery gives a good idea of what the walk was like, minus the exciting bits. The last thing I thought to do when being charged by a rutting camel was grab my camera. Did not know at that point if I was going to survive it.

This is what I have managed to glean from the husband and wife team - unfortunately nothing on the trolleys as yet. But they are using a desalinator which is interesting. Keep you posted.

http://www.canningwalker.com/the-teams/ ... k-and-rose

If there are any long distance desert walkers on this forum, I would be super keen to hear your comments on how to do it unsupported/unassisted.

The guy from Poland attempting it on his own this year should be good reference material closer to the time. No details as yet.

I have spoken with Bob Cooper regarding whether a person trained in desert survival could do it Aboriginal style living off the land.

He did the maths (which I will put on the website next week) and decided that the risk was too high.

Permanent organ and muscle damage likely due to poor nourishment and scarcity of water over stretches of dry up to 225km. Total distance from Billiluna to Wiluna is 1657km.

It is possible to do of course. Everything is. But the risk and effort will be monumental.

The seed is nestled in the back of my mind, however, waiting for information and inspiration, to germinate.

Personally I have scratched the trolley idea for myself. I think someone could do it this way, but it won't be me. I don't like baggage.

That's a great walk! "Félicitations!"

I am sure that it can be done by a White man or woman. And it will be!

The water is a problem but i think that the food would be my main concern. If i had to do this walk, i would organize some food drop.
It is not exactly "unsupported" but if you wanted to do it really unsupported, you should not drink the well water!

If you haven't seen it already check out the movie "Alone Across Australia". Its about Jon Muir's expedition walking across Australia unsupported from south to north.

For anyone who might be thinking about walking the Canning Stock Route, I have added an information page regarding water. I will add photos later, but this should help greatly with planning in the mean time.
http://www.canningwalker.com/the-cannin ... oute/water

Here is an update regarding several challenges on the Canning this year
http://www.canningwalker.com/the-cannin ... 1968-today

LandSailor ... you would not per chance know about the land yacht that sailed across the Tanami from Alice Springs to Halls Creek this year, would you?

Canning Walker wrote:LandSailor ... you would not per chance know about the land yacht that sailed across the Tanami from Alice Springs to Halls Creek this year, would you?

No hadnt heard about that Canning Walker. My nickname is more to do with being someone who sailed a bit but now spends more time on land. Always loved the water though.
I love seakayaking as much as I do bushwalking.

Thanks Landlubber :-

I come from sailing background too, so know the feeling.