Lucy Baker
- Start date: 11 September 2022
- Age When Completed: 48
- Direction Walked: North to South
General Comments
What a fabulous track. Well maintained; easy to navigate with so many track markers; amazing to have such quality huts regularly and reassuring to have the toilets and water. I am very grateful for all of this.
Food/Supplies Comments
I bought most of my food in the towns and found them well stocked (except for Peaceful Bay). Some required a bit more creativity in choices. I did send two packages with some supplies and had my first 10 days food with me which made it easier; but I would not have starved without the packages.
Favourite Section
Walpole to Peaceful Bay
Highlights
The wildflowers, the wonderful fellow walkers I met, the campfires, the Karri forests, the Tingle trees and the colour of the water on the coast.
Personal Reactions
It was meant to be a Zen peaceful journey into myself. It was that but the lovely walkers I met along the way turned it more into a social journey and it was a better trip because of this.
Wildlife
Echidnas, kangaroos, a bandicoot, bobtail lizards, skinks, dugites, tiger snakes, emus. Lots of birds including white and red tailed cocatoos. An eagle (my talisman of strength) on the first and last days. Wildlife overall however, was less numerous that I would have expected.
Your Best Equipment
A waterproof kilt from zpacs that I wore most of the walk. It kept me dry in the rain and cool in the sun.
A dynema poncho that I made myself. Easy on an off in the frequent drizzle then sunshine.
Your Worst Equipment
My shoes. I got blisters in the first few days and suffered for the first two weeks.
Advice for Others
Don’t underestimate the hard gravel on much of the early part of the track and the toll this takes on your feet. I and many other experienced walkers got blisters. Have shoes with a very springy sole and soft inner soles.
Go in spring as the wildflowers make it.
Do it.