Julie S
- Start date: 13 July 2016
- Age When Completed: 29
- Direction Walked: North to South
General Comments
Walking the Bibbulmun Track has been the most epic adventure of my life so far! I loved the simplicity of daily track life. Each day was so satisfying because I always got through my ‘to-do’ list which was, quite simply, walk! Such a welcome change to the frantic pace of ‘normal’ life, where there never seems to be enough hours in the day. It was so nice to slow down and enjoy the solitude and serenity of being amongst nature. Thank you so much to everyone who maintains this amazing track and the outstanding shelters for making such an unforgettable walking experience possible!!!
Food/Supplies Comments
I restocked my food supply in the towns without any problems. I did no cooking on the Track but the local IGAs had an adequate supply of cereal or muesli, fresh and dried fruit, trail mix, muesli bars, cheese, crackers, wrap bread, beef jerky, tuna pouches and chocolate!!!
Favourite Section
Dwellingup to Collie in the northern section.
Northcliffe to Walpole in the southern section.
Highlights
So many amazing moments:
*the views from all the mounts
*walking through burnt bushland and seeing how it is regenerating
*coming across an echidna just out of Swamp Oak
*the stars shining like jewels on clear nights
*the colourful sunrise at Yourdamung
*the walk out of Balingup into Blackwood
*the waterside locations of the shelters in the DRV to Pemberton section
*walking through majestic dreamy karri forests
*witnessing the ‘personality’ and scope of tingle trees
*photographing wildflowers
*seeing the ocean for the first time in 40 days
*the lookouts at Rame Head, West Cape Howe and Torbay
*magnificent cloud formations every time I walked along a beach
*walking under rainbows
*the dawning of my final day on the Bib
*watching winter transform into spring
*seeing the shelter sign at the end of each day
*eating a burger at each of the Track towns
Personal Reactions
The Track tested my physical fitness, sure, but it’s the mental side of things that got the true workout. Resilience, determination and persistence is what got me through! I developed courage in the face of obstacles and challenges and an inner strength to overcome them on my own. But no matter the difficulties I may have encountered, I still felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude at the end of each day.
I also want to say thank you to all the fellow hikers I met who shared conversation, stories, tips, advice, jokes, laughter, food and hot water for a cuppa!
Wildlife
Lots of kangaroos as well as emus, wallabies, possums, an echidna, rabbits, feral pigs, frogs, spiders, lizards, six snakes in the last section and heaps of birds- kookaburras, fairy wrens, red tailed black cockatoos, robins, wedge-tailed eagles and many more.
Your Best Equipment
My hiking boots, sleeping bag, DSLR camera and walking stick.
Your Worst Equipment
Nothing.
Advice for Others
A journey of a thousand kilometres begins with a single step so just put one foot in front of the other and start walking! Listen to your body and trust your intuition but most of all, savour your Bibbulmun experience!!!