- Start date: 26 August 2019
- Age When Completed: 38, 66
- Direction Walked: North to South
- Others in Group:
Derek Perkins, 66
General Comments
We are fortunate to have this track right on our doorstep. For years we only hiked small sections of the track with the dream of completing an end to end one day. That day finally came! This was a most amazing experience.
Food/Supplies Comments
We largely supplied our own food especially with our own home cooked dehydrated dinner meals. But the towns were good for picking up extras like chocolate, fruit, cakes, meat and cheese.
Favourite Section
We enjoyed all of the track but in particular Walpole to Peaceful Bay that had the coast, the giant red tingle trees and forests. Balingup to DRV is also a close second favourite as I love walking through the farming countryside.
Highlights
Our main highlight was walking Woolbales to Long Point. Going from the Pingerup Plains, over granite rocks, through forest and popping out onto the coast, our first sighting of the ocean after being inland for so long. This felt like a milestone. The wildflowers were also amazing along this section. We loved the tall Karri trees and walking alongside the Donnelly River, crossing the halfway point. The canoe crossing was a real highlight as something fun and different!
Personal Reactions
Loved the diversity, each day was different and meeting many other hikers.
Wildlife
Lots of birds, kangaroos, some Emus, think I spotted one Quokka.
Your Best Equipment
Our Trangia cooking stove was perfect for the two of us especially for rehydrating our meals. Our new tent Big Agnes copper spur 3 that can be free standing we would use in the shelter was ideal especially futher down south with the mozzies and flies. My new backpack Osprey Lumina was excellent for carrying everything and being comfortable from day one.
Your Worst Equipment
Derek ran into problems with his Aarn Load Limo backpack, it was 10 years old and had to be replaced by a new one whilst on track. Even the new Aarn had problems with hip belt and stuff. No one was sold on the Aarn after having met Derek and his! We started with the Zpack tent but as it wasn’t free standing we swapped it out. It would make a great tent for other trails. It is also only single walled.
Advice for Others
Make sure you test out all your equipment and footwear prior to the walk, do practise walks with the weight you will be carrying.