In 2020 the Foundation held a fund-raising raffle with the first prize being a trip to the Annapurna range of mountains in Nepal. The prize was donated by travel partners the Peregrine Travel Centre WA, now based in the Carine Quarter, and Intrepid Travels based in Melbourne. Unfortunately, as we know, COVID caused all overseas travel to be halted. After a few false starts, the winners managed to finally start their trekking adventure.
Harry Jockel and his partner Teagan sent us an update and we are delighted to hear that they had a fantastic time. In Harry’s words “ A bit belated, but last year in October my partner Teagan and I, were given the opportunity to travel to Nepal and take a crack at the Annapurna Circuit.”
“It was an amazing, challenging experience that I can't recommend enough. Over 11 days we trekked a total of 155km with 10,550m elevation and reached a max altitude of 5,416m at Thorong La Pass. The trek takes you from rice fields and lush forests to the high-altitude Himalayas. We had some challenging weather at the start, copping the end of the monsoon season, but it cleared up and every day as we ascended the views got better and better.
“The mountains are breathtaking,and it feels completely surreal going from flat Western Australia to sitting at a teahouse, sipping on ginger tea while looking over at the Annapurna range. We visited some fascinating towns and learned a lot about Nepalese culture.
The trek was run by Intrepid; the guides were fantastic, everything was really well organised and we had a great group of people, which made the trek all the better. We received lots of good, relevant advice and tips from Mike Wood of Peregrine Travel regarding the gear to take and how to deal with the altitude. (Ed: Mike is a very experienced Himalayan trekking guide and founding Chair of the Foundation, a current Board member and a volunteer guide.)
If anyone is considering the trek, I would highly recommend it. I can't wait to get back to Nepal. Teagan and I went on to trek to Everest Base Camp and Teagan did the full Three Passes circuit.”
Our thanks to Intrepid and Peregrine Travel for donating this amazing prize. Another trip is up for grabs in our upcoming raffle in April – so keep an eye out for tickets!
If you are considering walking over between December and March (the Birak and Bunuru seasons), please restrict your walks to day walks (duration of one day). We advise that you check the weather and fire forecasts. If the fire danger is extreme or catastrophic we recommend walkers don’t go out on the Track, or leave if they are already out. If in doubt, and the weather forecast is for hot (and windy) conditions, the recommendation is not to go walking.
It is usually too hot to walk in the peak of summer.
It is strongly recommended that you do not carry out any extended walk between December and the start of March anywhere on the Track.
If you do go out, you must be able to self-evacuate in the event of a bushfire as a rescue may not be possible.
The Track gets very hot and the bushfire risk is extreme. Temperatures can range from low 30s to mid-40s. In recent years the Track has been severely impacted by bushfires with the destruction of campsites and other structures which fire fighters were not able to save due to the ferocity of the fires. Much of the Track is difficult to access quickly in an emergency and more so during a bushfire.
Please plan to walk outside of these months and avoid putting your life at risk and the lives of those that may need to rescue you.
Day walks in the karri forest can be comfortable on cooler days (temperatures less than 27 degrees). We advise people planning a day walk to check the weather and fire forecasts. Again, if the fire danger is extreme or catastrophic it is strongly recommend people don’t go out on the Track. The south coast, although may be cooler, offers little protection from the sun due to the lack of a forest canopy and fire spreads more quickly in open bush and grassland. Even when walking in winter, always cover up and wear a hat and sunscreen.
Some key points to remember:
Plan your visits for cooler periods of the year, avoiding the hot summer months (Birak and Bunuru).
Check the Fire Danger Rating and do not go on the trails if the forecast is extreme or catastrophic.
Do not do extended multi-day trips as it is not possible to keep up with changing conditions (extremely limited mobile phone coverage) and it is difficult to self-evacuate from the trail at short notice. You must be able to self-evacuate in the event of a bushfire. This means you should not rely on rescue services, family or friends to come to your aid.
Avoid remoter sections of the trail where there is limited vehicle access.
Abide by all trail closure signage, and any instructions from Parks and Wildlife and other emergency staff.
Trails and parks may be closed on days when the Fire Danger Rating is extreme or catastrophic.
More info about total fire bans and permanent fire bans at specific Bibbulmun Track campsites.
Campfire in a fire ring at a campsite
Campfire bans will be in place at many campsites on the Bibbulmun Track.
Walkers are not permitted to light any campfires or wood operated stoves where campfire bans are in place. Please carry and use a liquid fuel stove.
Campfire bans will begin from December 1. Once in place, they may continue to April depending on weather conditions. Please check the Section By Section guide (under Trip Planner) for any changes.
Check the Section by Section Guide relevant to the section you are walking for other impacts. There are likely to be some sections of the Track that will be impacted by bushfires this summer.
The Track is indistinguishable alongside this creek bed after the fire.
On certain days, a total fire ban will be in force where walkers may not be permitted to light a fuel stove either. For information about locations of current total fire bans call 1800 709 355 or visit the www.emergency.wa.gov.au/.
No fires are permitted at any time of year at two campsites in the northern section (Yourdamung and Blackwood) and between the Mt Chance campsite (south of Northcliffe) through to Albany.
We strongly encourage walkers to always use fuel stoves to cook on whenever they are walking the Bibbulmun Track. Campfires are great to sit around, but they can have an adverse effect on the environment.
Extending from the Peaceful Bay trail head to the canoe shed on the western side of Irwin Inlet, TS124 includes a number of steps, some of which provide terrific views of the Inlet and beach.
About 6 years ago, long before the advent of well organised Support Volunteer Campaigns, the sectional volunteers replaced twenty of the original steps with repurposed jarrah signage and star irons provided by Parks & Wildlife in Walpole, however over time these too proved to be less than satisfactory.
More recently the sectional vollies determined the scope of works required to replace all the steps and in November 2022 Parks & Wildlife delivered brand new pine risers and star irons to site in readiness for the work. Much of this material was part of the BTF stockpile in Walpole from previous South Coast campaigns.
Over five visits between June 2023 and November 2023 a team of volunteers installed a total of 53 new steps, with the bulk of the work attributed to sectional vollies. The result is a far more comfortable experience for walkers and a great long-term outcome for the Bibbulmun Track by avoiding any further impact from erosion.
THE CAST (in order of appearance) included: Ian Rae, John Hosking, Leigh Wallace, John Fathers, Charmaine Harris, Selene Moonbeams, Margot Lowe and Mark Davidson.
There are many details to consider before heading out on a long-distance hike along the Bibbulmun Track. Good planning can make all the difference!
What defines an End-to-End or Thru-hike
Hiking ‘end-to-end’, also referred to as a ‘thru-hike’ or ‘through-hike’, is the act of hiking an established long-distance trail or track, such as the Bibbulmun Track, from start to finish. A hiker who completes the full length of the 1000km Bibbulmun Track is called an End-to-Ender or End-to-End Hiker of the Bibbulmun Track.
To be classified as an End-to-Ender you need to have walked the entire length of the Track. Whether you do this in one go, or in stages over many years (a ‘sectional end-to-end’) makes no difference. It doesn’t matter if you walk some sections from north to south and others from south to north. The important thing is that you have walked every step of the way!
Explore our How To articles to start planning your end-to-end:
The initial planning stage: Heading north to south or south to north? And when will you head out? Will you hike it all in one go or section-by-by section?
Learn about all things food: what will you eat while you are on the Track? How will you prepare your food? What are food drops and should you consider them?
As the Bibbulmun Track specialists, we’ve got some experience when it comes to advising hikers on planning their End-to-End Hike. We’ve found some details can often get overlooked.
You’ve done it! Now it’s time to register your End-to-End Hike to receive your badge and certificate. Registering also helps us at the Bibbulmun Track Foundation as it gives us a bit of leverage when it comes to sponsorship and grants.
Getting excited yet? You should be! You’ve got a big journey ahead!
In addition, Bibbulmun Track Foundation members benefit from our free one-on-one trip planning advice sessions. An experienced End-to-Ender will sit with you and give you heaps of useful advice and tips, check over your itinerary, food drops and even look at some equipment you might be planning to use on your walk. This service is also offered via email for those not in or near Perth.
We're excited to announce a new partnership between the Bibbulmun Track Foundation and Act Belong Commit, Western Australia’s longest-running mental health promotion campaign. This collaboration is a testament to our shared commitment to the power of nature and community in enhancing mental well-being. Act Belong Commit, spearheaded by Mentally Healthy WA which is based at Curtin University's School of Population Health, focuses on fostering mental wellness through active and communal participation.
Steve Sertis, the Foundation’ Events Manager, captures the essence of this partnership: “Bushwalking offers more than just physical exercise; it provides a therapeutic journey through nature, allowing us to connect with nature and the mind to unwind.”
A key highlight of this partnership is integrating our exciting 2024 calendar of events into the Act Belong Commit activity finder. This addition will make it easier for everyone to discover and engage in our unique and mentally enriching events. We're continuously expanding our offerings to align with Act Belong Commit's principles, offering a diverse range of choices to encourage people to get involved.
We encourage you to take the "Mental Wellbeing Quiz" on the Act Belong Commit website, an important step towards enhancing your mental health. Keep an eye on their activity finder for our upcoming events and join us on this meaningful journey towards holistic wellbeing.
