- Start date: 5 May 2003
- Age When Completed: 58
- Direction Walked: Sectional
General Comments
Completed a section of a walk for charity at a later stage because a series of bush fires had swept across the Pingerup Plains and large sections of the Track were closed. Had to finish the “bit in the middle” when I could which I did in April this year.
Food/Supplies Comments
I carried sufficient freeze dried food for the whole of each of the 3 sections and bought other items in the various towns on route.
Favourite Section
Impossible to say because of the diversity. Maybe from Lake Maringup through to Warren.
Highlights
Meeting people I had met before on the track. Watching sea eagles a few feet above my head near Walple. The resident possums at Frankland.
Personal Reactions
Satisfaction in finally completing the whole Track again; weariness (it was tougher than the first time, probably because I’m two years older!) but at the same time physical well-being, feeling fitter and lighter (I lost 6 kgs on the final section)
Wildlife
1 fox, 3 tiger snakes, lots of kargaroos, 2 possums, countless birds, a few wild pigs around the Pemberton area, 1 huge ginger feral cat, also near Pemberton.
Your Best Equipment
The best are probaly my fatherful Norwegian sleeping bag and Gortex boots.
Your Worst Equipment
I think by now I’ve fine tuned the equipment so nothing could be described as worst.
Advice for Others
Talk to someone who has done it before. There are lots of useful hints to make your walk more pleasant. Test your capability before you start, ie. find out how far you really can walk each day with your pack on. At the very least ensure your footwear is strong enough and comfortable, that your pack is properly fitted and balanced and you have clothing suitable for wet, dry, hot and cold weather.