Mark Wilson
- Start date: 10 July 2009
- Age When Completed: 55
- Direction Walked: Sectional
- Others in Group:
Craig,
General Comments
The Bibbulmun Track in a brilliant track to hike as scenery changed from ocean views to huge karri trees. The track moves from rocks, to gravel, to thick leaves, to sand and then in place boardwalk.
Food/Supplies Comments
Food: porridge, tuna and crackers, cheese, dried meals, soup, dark chocolate, nuts and raisins. Food weighs a lot so keeping it to the correct amount is so important. Keep equipment to a essentials: stove, sleeping bag and mat, clothes, first aid kit, gaiters.
Favourite Section
Northcliffe to Walpole with beautiful changes to scenery.
Highlights
Walking with a mate, Craig. The challenge and the scenery, and the campsite sitting around a fire.
Personal Reactions
Craig and I woke up early to continue another day of our 11 day hike on The Bibbulmum Track. The night before we read in the guide book, “This is one of the most challenging sections along the track climbing in and out of the Donnelly River Valley several times.” With bags packed, porridge eaten and ready to conquer the 19.2km hike from Boarding House Campsite to Beavis Campsite we hit the track with a cracking pace spurring one another on. At one of the T-junctions we turned left to start climbing an old slippery clay vehicle track. With walking poles digging into the clay, backs bent, heads down looking at the ground 2 steps forward 1 step back as we ascending what can only be described as one of the steepest sections of the Bibbulmun Track compared to the 502km we had already completed, saying “what idiot made this part of the track”. With mind pushing the body we finely made it to the top with another T-junction and no “Waugal” (small triangular aluminium track marker) to be seen showing us which way to go. Craig walked left and I walked right for a least a couple of kilometers hoping to locate a Waugal. I thought to myself Craig must be on the correct track as there were not Waugal to be seen, so I made my way back only to find that he had done the same thing. The conversation lead to, “had we missed a turn off somewhere climbing that horrendous ascend”, so off we hiked down that same track slipping and sliding in the rain, knees aching, legs shaking, skating onto our bottoms more times than I can remember, exhausted and dejected looking desperately for a Waugal. Finally, almost to the bottom of his dreadful descent we locate not just a Waugal but a clearly marked sign pointing the correct way to go. What a waste of time, energy and morale!
With the assurance we were on the right track and the enjoyment returning, all of a sudden there was this huge cracking sound, the sound when either a branch or a tree is about to fall to the ground. But this thunderous sound was right near us. I shouting, ‘stop!’ and before our eyes only 20 meters in front of us on the track a gigantic marri tree smashed down the hill and the canopy of the tree lands all over the track. Fear and adrenaline flooded our bodies as we looked at each other in disbelief and thanked God that we were not underneath those huge branches. After getting our wits back we somehow climbed over the foliage to continue finally arriving at Beavis Campsite so exhausted than I had ever been after a day of hiking.
Wildlife
We came across snakes, kangaroos, pigs, emus, frogs.
Your Best Equipment
Walking poles
Your Worst Equipment
Too thin sleeping mat
Advice for Others
Do it, you’ll love it. Prepare well.