Bibbulman E2E

[mtrain]

Those of you who have done the Bibb complete, I am curious as to how you organised food re-supply. Obviously it can be done without food drops so I am interested as to what is the longest stretch between opportunities to buy food and how many days food you would have to carry at a medium pace?

[jacko1956]

The longest is defintely Kalamunda to Dwellingup. It is possible to get a meal at Mundaring Weir if you time it with the Pub. A popular option is to spend 1st night at the Hotel or YHA at Mundaring - halfway between Hewitts Hill and Ball Creek huts.
Also possible to get a meal at Nth Bannister Roadhouse but not supplies. If you contact them I believe they will hold a parcel for you.
In my case I travelled fairly fast (36 days), had my son meet me at Nth Bannister, and for the rest ate mostly noodles etc between towns.
You can eat big in Dwellingup, Collie, Balingup, Donnelly River Village (sort of), Pemberton, Northcliffe, Walpole and Denmark as well as resupply at those points.
You can also generally get a meal at Peaceful Bay and (depending on time) at Munglinup Tavern.
I would recommend carrying about 5 days worth for the longest sections with what I refer to as "hold out meal" of one of your favourite dehydrated meals. This can be had on last day as a reward, as a "pick me up", or as emergency meal if you misjudge.
You probably will need a food drop or a friend to help out at Nth Bannister (Gringer Creek) unless you want to travel with 10 or so days worth though.
If you have no locals to call on for help PM me with the dates you expect to go and I may be able to help. Nth Bannister is easy for me to go to.

[jimmeyer176]

An easy way to avoid the 200km section from Kalamunda to Dwellingup is to fly to Perth, take the train to East Perth then the bus to North Bannister, hike to Albany, take the bus back to North Bannister and hike back to Kalamunda, never having to go more than 135kms without resupply, and hiking that last section when you are most fit. Just an idea.

Otherwise I would definately send a drop to the Roadhouse at North Bannister.

[rogo]

Contact the Bibb Foundation as they are a very friendly bunch with lots advice for E2E ers. I thought the roadhouse at Bannister now kept a fair supply of hikers meals. This section from Kalamunda to Dwellingup is the hardest to cater for. Have you thought about posting food to rest stop towns as well. Post it to your accommodation so it will be there when you arrive, post offices aren't the best solution.

I like the Jim's advice tho.

[Strick]

Yep, the first stretch from Kalaumunda to Dwellingup is by far the longest and the only one where you might consider a food drop.

I have walked E to E twice. The first time I was following on from a big bunch of Firemen who were doing a sponsored thing and leaving tons of cans concealed in the register boxes, which I gratefully scooped up. The second time I was much fitter and just did it in one big blitz, though I believe they were carrying noodles, cans of sardines and a few really basic supplies at the N. Bannister Roadhouse. Of course, I also ate at the pub at Mundaring and the Roadhouse itself. I wouldn't worry too much, something will sort itself out.

I say go for it. The Bibb is a fantastic walk and the place it all started for me in terms of the really long hikes.

[Gippsmick]

2 day road trip before starting the hike, Perth to Albany and back, drop off food parcels at accommodation places in the track towns.

[seagullhike]

Your'e forgetting the most important place to get a bite along the track The Mumballup pub!
I don't know if it's the same still as it was when I walked through there but god, anyone who likes a beer and the possibility of winning a whole chicken in a raffle will like this place.

You might even get a sneaky little lift in the back of a ute to the trail head at 1am by the friendly dope sharing locals.

Ahhhhhh Mumballup what a place!

[jacko1956]

I don't know why I got the name wrong in my post (Munglinup instead of Mumballup) BUT in my case the *&%$#! place was shut. When I section walked it, it was closed for upgrades, and when I did an E2E last year it was shut (about 10:30 to 11:15) and showed no signs of opening. The place has no hours of business out the front.

[rogo]

I started at Mumballup 18 months ago. The Tav was open then, but I wouldn't eat there (but maybe I'm a bit fussy). I did have coffee though and some of my walking buddies had some food, I can't remember what. The guy who ran/runs it was nice enough and allows cars to be left in his carpark for a few days.

[jacko1956]

Rumour has it that it is "owned" by a bikie group.
I gather it has good food at good prices - if you can catch it open.