Rachel Newby (Rachel)

Completed: 18 September 2022

Photo of Rachel  Newby (Rachel)
Rachel Newby
Rachel
  • Start date: 4 August 2022
  • Age When Completed: 32
  • Direction Walked: South to North
  • Others in Group:

    solo

General Comments

I completed a back-to-back Munda Biddi E2E N2S and Bibbulmun E2E S2N yoyo and it was AMAZING! What fantastic trails in an incredible location. Huge thanks to all the vols that maintain the track, and to the foundations for coordinating it all.

Food/Supplies Comments

The visitor centres were amazing, especially in Dwellingup and between Manjumup and Northcliffe when a parcel for my Munda Biddi trip didn’t make it in time to Manji and Sam was able to transfer it to Northcliffe for me!

Favourite Section

Rame Head to Giants - such incredible ecological diversity!

Highlights

The fantastic diversity of plants! I got to see some colonies of the Albany Pitcher Plant which has been on my ‘bucket list’ for such a long time.

Your Best Equipment

Garmin inReach mini was awesome for communicating with home “I’m still alive!”
Also a little chamois towel for washing every day, and a piece of bailing twine as a washing line twisted up tight to string up and put the corners of clothes between the string to hold them up to dry.

Your Worst Equipment

My Keen boots! They were brand new but started to break after only a couple of days hiking and were almost completely destroyed by the end - and the company had zero interest in helping me to replace them.
Also my very heavy pack. The pack itself was almost 4kg unloaded - would definitely get a lighter pack for next time.

Advice for Others

Assume there are rats in every hut that will eat into your pack! Hang stuff up with a strong fishing line and carabiner. My pack never got broken into but so many other people’s did.
Also to walk your own hike - everyone has different gear, and different reasons, and ways of hiking. It’s good to learn from other people, but ultimately, I think it’s important to set your own goals and make decisions about what suits you best.