Need EXPERIENCE Bibbulmun track walkers.

[Ehudd]

How does this itinerary look, keeping in mind the dates are wrong.

Bibbulmun track


Day 1 3 September
Kalamunda - Hewetts Hill CS (10.2km)

Day 2 4 September
Hewetts Hill CS - Ball Creek CS (10.6km)

Day 3 5 September
Ball Creek CS - Helena CS (8.6km)

Day 4 6 September
Helena CS - Waalegh CS (9.5km)

Day 5 7 September
Waalegh CS - Beraking CS (8.5km)

Day 6 8 September
Beraking CS - Brookton CS (19.8km)

Day 7 9 September
Brookton CS - Monadnocks CS (26.7km)

Day 8 10 September
Monadnocks CS - Nerang CS (25.3km)

Day 9 11 September
Nerang CS - Gringer Creek CS (16.6KM)

Day 10 12 September
Gringer Creek CS - White Horse Hills CS (17.6km)

Day 11 13 September
White Hore Hills CS - Mt Wells CS (14.5km)

Day 12 14 September
Mt Wells CS - Chadoora CS (14.8km)

Day 13 15 September
Chadoora CS - Dwellingup (19.5km)

(202.3km)

Day 14 16 September
Rest Day

Day 15 17 September
Dwellingup - Swamp Oak CS (13.1km)

Day 16 18 September
Swamp Oak CS - Murray CS (18.4km)

Day 17 19 September
Murray CS - Dookanelly Campsite (17.7km)

Day 18 20 September
Dookanelly CS - Possum Springs CS (16.3km)

Day 19 21 September
Possum Springs CS - Yourdamung CS (18.7km)

Day 20 22 September
Yourdamung CS - Harris Dam CS (13.5km)

Day 21 23 September
Harris Dam CS - Collie (21.3km)

(122KM)

Day 22 24 Septemeber
Collie - Yabberup CS (19.6km)

Day 23 25 September
Yabberup CS - Noggerup CS (15.9km)

Day 24 26 September
Noggerup CS - Grimwade CS (21.9km)

Day 25 27 September
Grimwade CS - Balingup (22.4km)

Day 26 28 September
Ballingup - Blackwood CS (20.6km)

Day 27 29 September
Blackwood CS - Gregory Brook CS (18km)

Day 28 30 September
Gregory Brook CS - Donnelly River Village (20.9km)

Day 29 1 October
Donnelly River Village - Tom Road CS (16km)

Day 30 2 October
Tom Road CS - Boarding House CS (23km)

Day 31 3 October
Boarding House CS - Beavis CS (19.2km)

Day 32 4 October
BBeavis CS - Beedelup CS (19.7Km)

Day 33 5 October
Beedelup CS - Pemberton (23.8km)

Day 34 6 October
Rest Day

(241KM)

Day 35 7 October
Pemberton - Warren CS (20.1km)

Day 36 8 October
Warren CS - Schafer CS (21.2km)

Day 37 9 October
Schafer CS - Gardner CS (29.2Km)

Day 38 10 October
Gardner CS - Lake Maringup CS (16.1km)

Day 39 11 October
Lake Maringup CS - Dog Pool CS (25.5km)

Day 40 12 October
Dog Pool CS - Mt Chance CS (19.4km)

Day 41 13 October
Mt Chance CS - Woolbales CS (20.9)

Day 42 14 October
Woolbales CS - Long Point CS (17.8km)

Day 43 15 October
Long Point CS - Walpole (22.4Km)

Day 44 16 October
Rest Day

(192.6km)

Day 45 17 October
Walpole - Frankland River CS (17.4km)

Day 46 18 October
Frankland River CS - Giants CS (13.9km)

Day 47 19 October
Giants CS - Rame Head CS (17.7km)

Day 48 20 October
Rame Head CS - Peaceful Bay (12.4km)

Day 49 21 October
Peaceful Bay - Boat Harbour CS (23.6km)

Day 50 22 October
Boat Harbour CS - William Bay CS (21.4km)

Day 51 23 October
William Bay CS - Denmark (20.2km)

Day 52 24 October
Denmark - West Cape CS (30.3km)

Day 53 25 October
West Cap CS - Tobay CS (16.7km)

Day 54 26 October
Tobay CS - Sandpatch CS (25km)

day 55 27 October
SandPatch CS - Albany (13km)

(211.6)


I tryed my best. Organising this walk has been one of the most stressful things I have ever done. And I still havent sorted out my food I literally dont know what I am doing. I have asked and asked on the bibbulmun track website and get no info without them trying to get money from me (which I know is used to restore the track) but i just dont have enough atm.

[LAMEA-Gals]

Hey there
I have done the middle section - Dwellingup to Pemberton. One thing you may need to factor in. You arrive in Collie on a Sunday - and I assume you will be wanting to go to the supermarket to re-supply. Be aware that the supermarkets in Collie are closed on Sundays. We were caught out. So will need to wait until Monday to do your shopping.

Good luck with your planning.

[Ehudd]

Thanks for the reply Lamea-Gals. Im actually going to pre pack all the food Id take and have someone send it down to the post office at each town, but again, I will need a monday for this is assume.

[rogo]

Hi Ehudd,

I have done the track to Tom Rd, in sections, so can't help with a full hike. But I think you will find you can double hut after the first couple of days in the northern section. Also I have been told to post your food drops to the local Hotel or something that is open longer hours than a post office. I am sure if you phone the place they will be willing to hold the package for you. This gives you a little flexibility especially over the weekends.

When are you leaving? I am doing my first solo in Oct around Mts Cuthburt and Vincent. The flowers are superb in this area in spring and I can hardly wait. But after yesterdays story about the solo walker (lady) needing to use her "spot" my family are a little less agreeable to my walk .

If I can help any more pm me.

Ro

[jacko1956]

I think if you're not that fast a hiker I would do Monadnocks to Nerang over two days BUT I believe ALL hikers should be comfortable doing Hewitts Hill to Helena in 1 day.
For the rest, looks like a fairly easy schedule and you should enjoy the trip.
Cheers
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=12824
Re prepacking and mailing food. I didn't do this but between Mundaring and Dwellingup there is only the one place to mail to - North Bannister Roadhouse.
If you need help message me and I'll send you my email for further contact.

[Ehudd]

Thanks for all the info thus far.

Is it esential I have a map? is it a well marked track?
I just cant justify payed 80 bucks for a map...

[north-north-west]

It's probably more than just one single little map, given the length of the track.

[jacko1956]

Not essential to have the EIGHT maps. They are most useful for section hiking actually.
The two guidebooks are excellent value even though editions are about 10 years old now.
Your local library should have them. Depending on fines rules you can use them at a good price e.g. - for free (in the case of my Melville library card) or for up to $2.50 each in fines (in the case of my Canning library card).
The track is VERY well marked. The guidebooks assist greatly and the mileage info etc helps in making decisions (like whether to stay or continue on to another hut).

[Ehudd]

I did some re adjusting

Bibbulmun track



Day 1 17 September
Kalamunda - Hewetts Hill CS (10.2km)

Day 2 18 September
Hewetts Hill CS - Ball Creek CS (10.6km)

Day 3 19 September
Ball Creek CS - Helena CS (8.6km)

Day 4 20 September
Helena CS - Waalegh CS (9.5km)

Day 5 21 September
Waalegh CS - Beraking CS (8.5km)

Day 6 22 September
Beraking CS - Brookton CS (19.8km)

Day 7 23 September
Brookton CS - Monadnocks CS (26.7km) Food Drop off

Day 8 24 September
Monadnocks CS - Nerang CS (25.3km)

Day 9 25 September
Nerang CS - Gringer Creek CS (16.6KM)

Day 10 26 September
Gringer Creek CS - White Horse Hills CS (17.6km)

Day 11 27 September
White Hore Hills CS - Mt Wells CS (14.5km)

Day 12 28 September
Mt Wells CS - Chadoora CS (14.8km)

Day 13 29 September
Chadoora CS - Dwellingup (19.5km)

Day 14 30 September
Dwellingup - Swamp Oak CS (13.1km)

Day 15 1 September
Swamp Oak CS - Murray CS (18.4km)

Day 16 2 October
Murray CS - Dookanelly Campsite (17.7km)

Day 17 3 October
Dookanelly CS - Possum Springs CS (16.3km)

Day 18 4 October
Possum Springs CS - Yourdamung CS (18.7km)

Day 19 5 October
Yourdamung CS - Harris Dam CS (13.5km)

Day 20 6 October
Harris Dam CS - Collie (21.3km) $135 Ridges Hotel

(122KM)

Day 21 7 October
Collie - Yabberup CS (19.6km)

Day 22 8 October
Yabberup CS - Noggerup CS (15.9km)

Day 23 9 October
Noggerup CS - Grimwade CS (21.9km)

Day 24 10 October
Grimwade CS - Balingup (22.4km) $130 Balingup Bliss retreat

Day 25 11 October
Ballingup - Blackwood CS (20.6km)

Day 26 12 October
Blackwood CS - Gregory Brook CS (18km)

Day 27 13 October
Gregory Brook CS - Donnelly River Village (20.9km)

Day 28 14 October
Donnelly River Village - Tom Road CS (16km)

Day 29 15 October
Tom Road CS - Boarding House CS (23km)

Day 30 16 October
Boarding House CS - Beavis CS (19.2km)

Day 31 17 October
BBeavis CS - Beedelup CS (19.7Km)

Day 32 18 October
Beedelup CS - Pemberton (23.8km) Gloucester Hotel $90 per night

Day 33 19 October
Rest Day Gloucester Hotel $90 per night

(241KM)

Day 34 20 October
Pemberton - Warren CS (20.1km)

Day 35 21 October
Warren CS - Schafer CS (21.2km)

Day 36 22 October
Schafer CS - Gardner CS (29.2Km)

Day 37 23 October
Gardner CS - Lake Maringup CS (16.1km)

Day 38 24 October
Lake Maringup CS - Dog Pool CS (25.5km)

Day 39 25 October
Dog Pool CS - Mt Chance CS (19.4km)

Day 40 26 October
Mt Chance CS - Woolbales CS (20.9)

Day 41 27 October
Woolbales CS - Long Point CS (17.8km)

Day 42 28 October
Long Point CS - Walpole (22.4Km) Tingle all over $45 per night

Day 43 29 October Tingle all over $45 per night
Rest Day

(192.6km)

Day 44 30 October
Walpole - Frankland River CS (17.4km)

Day 45 31 October
Frankland River CS - Giants CS (13.9km)

Day 46 1 November
Giants CS - Rame Head CS (17.7km)

Day 47 2 November
Rame Head CS - Peaceful Bay (12.4km)

Day 48 3 November
Peaceful Bay - Boat Harbour CS (23.6km)

Day 49 4 November
Boat Harbour CS - William Bay CS (21.4km)

Day 50 5 November
William Bay CS - Denmark (20.2km) $120 Denmark Waters

Day 51 6 November
Denmark - West Cape CS (30.3km)

Day 52 7 November
West Cap CS - Tobay CS (16.7km)

Day 53 8 November
Tobay CS - Sandpatch CS (25km)

day 54 9 November
SandPatch CS - Albany (13km)

(211.6)


Because of the long weekend I have no where to stay in dwellingup so cut out a rest day. I think i will be sleeping on the street.

Other than that I am pretty happy with it.

[jacko1956]

Collie - Premier Hotel $60 with ensuite (roughish but they auto deduct $10 for Bib hikers).
Balingup - Hiker Hideaway
Pemberton - YHA is excellent.
All much cheaper options, all you'll want is a shower and a mattress - spend the money on steaks!

[Ehudd]

thanks man, ill def check them out tomorrow! cheers

Are there any huts in Dwellingup? Cause they are fully booked out anywhere else

[rogo]

I stayed at the collie caravan park in a cabin. Its a bit off the track but cheap and comfy. I'd ask in Dwellingup for somewhere to shower. By then I'm sure you will really want one.Then just walk down the track a bit and pitch a tent.

Only doing the Bibb as a sectional walk, we tend not to stay in towns, but had a lovely stay in Balingup when we past through there last year. That walk, we had a large group and we rented a house for 2 nights.

Donnelly River has free accommodation, but I'd pay the $25 to stay in the hikers dorm. The hut has no platform, its just a hut with a drop down shade cloth over the front. By your itinerary I look like I'll be a week behind you. I look forward to reading your entries in the red book. Let me know what name you'll be using.

[jacko1956]

I think there is a caravan park at Dwellingup to pitch a tent cheap'
I actually got picked up by spouse and spent the night at home on my thruhike.
Nowhere in town she wanted to stay at and only a bit over an hour's drive to our house.

[rogo]

The caravan park is a couple of kilometres off the track.

[Ehudd]

Rogo, My name will be Samuel.

Im happy to indulge in good accommodation. I work hard for my money and am more than happy to spend it

My real concern now is a map, I really dont feel like I will need one after everything I have read of other hikers. I will have my phone on my always, I know I will drop out of reception alot but for the most part you seem to get it.

[jacko1956]

Phone coverage is excellent with Telstra pretty well all the way. North of Balingup and south of Walpole good on high ground with other networks. Minimal between Balingup and Walpole otherwise.
As mentioned before guidebooks better than maps for end2end.

[Ehudd]

I will check out a guidebook when I go in tomorrow.

Starting to get excited now!! Cant wait to shed this weight off. I used to take pride in my body, time to bring it back. It will be a good life lesson for me, ah I just cant wait. Plus, I havent had 2 months off drinking since i started drinking when I was 15. One more big weekend for me, than its time to become a man.

[Ehudd]

Are the campsites labeled?

[rogo]

On the maps or guide books? Yes they are and all the huts are sign posted by a hut symbol at the junction from the track. Some huts are on the track but some are up to 200 metres off the track and usually uphill. All the toilets are all uphill. I hate that .

Enjoy the walk, the flowers are going to be amazing. Just remember that walking can be hand work for the first couple of days, then you get trail fit, so hang in if it seems too hard. Take some treats to get you through. I listen to music thru head phones if I feel I need a treat.

I have been reading a book on the AT in USA (which the bibb was modelled on) and the author wisely says, you can never go up a hill slowly enough. I look forward to reading your entires. I was down at donnelly river to tom road a couple of months ago. My trail name is Rogo. Original huh!

[Ehudd]

hmmm I really think I should have bought the guide book lol. Looks like im just winging it as the shop is closed and Im leaving Monday. Im sure I will be fine yes?

[rogo]

If you get a chance to get to the city, Mountain Designs have the maps for sale. I guess they would have the books as well, not sure. I only use the maps. The books annoy me as they are far too detailed and you start to look for features that aren't there or have changed/ overgrown too much. And there a few diversions that are permanent. But that is on the maps as wells.

But you can do the walk without maps/books. Just be alert and make sure you follow the waugals.

[Gippsmick]

Check out Perry's blog:

http://mitupela.net/b/index.php?blog=2

One of the most comprehensive sites I've found about preparing for an end to end on the bib track. Perry and Sandy have it all worked out.

[rogo]

Hey Ehudd, I looked for your name in the Canning and Monadnock huts. I didn't see it. I hope you're still on the track. The flowers were lovely but I think I was a week too early for the best show in the Darling Scarp.

It was my first solo and loved the walking but I wouldn't say that I enjoyed the lack of friends at the end of the day. There was others on the track and had a good laugh with them, but it wasn't the same. I hope you're enjoying it. Look out for Ruin, he is tearing down the track and was a great person to chat to for an hour.

[avalon]

Hi there all,
Just keep in mind that the shelters at the campsites on the Bibbulmun track are only three sided. Not like the huts with four walls and a door that can be found on some other tracks and overseas.
Keep on walking Don .

[jacko1956]

They are shelters not huts yes. And like all such are not necessarily empty so people should always carry an alternative such as a tent or tarp.
BUT they all have a drop toilet and a water tank (sometimes 2).
I would describe the shelter and facilities provided on the Bibbulmun as the best you will get anywhere for free.