The Boom, Crash Opera of yesterday’s wild storm devastated many old trees with some snapped clean in half. The path was strewn with branches and fallen trees turning a pretty straight-forward walk into an obstacle course. The bush was washed clean though and the leaves sparkled with rain drops.
Ahh, it is good to be alive and strolling through the Great Outdoors.
Days: 7 – 10
Dates: From Thursday, 14 September to Sunday, 17 September 2023.
Stages: Nerang Campsite to Gringer Creek Campsite = 16.6km
Gringer Creek Campsite to White Horse Hills Campsite = 17km
White Horse Hills Campsite to Chadoora Campsite = 30km
Chadoora Campsite to Dwellingup = 20.2km
Total Planned Distance: 85.5km Total Actual Distance: 83.8km
Progress: 202/1,005km
Terrain: Clearly defined paths up and down hills with a couple of stiff climbs to keep me honest. Also a bit more rock hopping.
Average Daily Ascent: 345m Average Daily Descent: 353m
Weather: A few misty showers after the boom, crash opera storm and then clear and cool. Perfect walking weather.
General Comments:
- It’s Day 7 and the ol’ body is starting to get with the programme or to use the right hiking language, “become trail fit’. Yes, I am still more than happy to pull the backpack off at the end of each day, but at least I now have my packing down to a fine art and I am only carrying four days worth of food. I really look forward to resupplying as it means more food and fuel for the aforementioned body. Unfortunately, it also means more weight in the pack. Ugh! What a great incentive to eat, eat, eat.
- I have already noticed that I am pulling my belt in a little tighter and that is a good thing. I think it would be physically impossible to carry enough food to not lose weight on this track. I have heard of some people losing 10-15kgs and it will be interesting to see what my scales say when I get home. In the meantime, I am feeling good and strong.
- Not so good is the pain emanating from my toes. On previous walks, I have usually discovered a corn on the little toe on my right foot, but I seem to have developed a matching corn on my next toe and they are pressing on each other. They let me know they are not happy as soon as I pull my boots on every morning. Yep, it’s going to be a long 47 days.
- Since the get-go we have been pretty much confined to forest paths – both narrow tracks and broad access roads. While the forest in very peaceful and the trees are amazing, unfortunately much of the bush is burnt black. You see, the West Australian Parks and Wildlife department schedules regular ‘prescribed burns’ which are designed to keep the ground cover at a manageable level and prevent more serious and damaging fires. Some Australian plants also need a fire event to germinate. I get all that, but after almost ten straight days of walking through charred countryside, it does start to get you down a little. Black as far as the eye can see. I understand that the Bibb Foundation wants to build this trail into an international attraction. I think some international hikers may be shocked by the fire-ravaged landscape.
- We are meeting ‘all kinds’ people on this hike. Most of them are interesting and pleasant company, but there are always exceptions to the rule. Our peaceful night at White Horse Hills shelter was interrupted by three incredibly rude and arrogant men who blundered into the campsite when everyone was already fast asleep. Head lights blazing, at the top of their voices they demanded that we move so that they could sleep in the shelter. Yep, it takes all kinds.
Highlights:
- Dehydrated Peanut Butter: Who knew that dehydrated peanut butter was a thing AND that it tasted so good? Yes, it would be even more delicious on a slab of fresh sour dough bread, but it still tastes delicious on crackers or wraps after walking 20km or so. The trick is to add just the right amount of water to get the consistency perfect. Too much water and the peanut butter oozes out the sides of the crackers (or squishes through the holes). Too thick and it is impossible to spread evenly. Yes, these are the sort of First World problems we must manage out on the trail. 😊
- The birdlife has been wonderful so far. Not that I am a serious twitcher, but it’s lovely to hear and see birds as I walk. I particularly love the black cockatoos who seem to ‘lumber’ through the air, reminding me of those huge Hercules aircraft. The cockies also have a raucous screech letting everyone know they are around or advising each other that I have strayed into their territory. I would love to know what they are yelling about.
- For those wondering, Yes, I have been enjoying a bird bath at the end of every day to get the worst of the dirt and sweat off. I have brought one of those lightweight, foldable canvas dog water bowls and it holds enough water to get me clean-ish. The real treat is when I lash out and wash my hair. It’s amazing what you can achieve with a small amount of water and bath gel, and equally amazing how good it makes you feel.
- A real highlight of this stage was a surprise visit from a West Australian friend I met on the Karijini trip I did a couple of years ago. We had discussed the Bibb and kept in touch since then. Glennys surprised me by walking into Chadoora campsite to say hello. What a lovely thing to do. She is slowly chipping away at the Bibb herself – juggling her very busy business and sectional hikes. It was so nice to see a familiar and friendly face.
- A rest day tomorrow! Yippee! Clean clothes, clean me, a real bed and real food! Watch out Dwellingup!
#travelinspo #BibbulmunTrack #multidayhikes #adventurebeforedementia #longdistancewalks #australianbush #Dwellingup #bushwalks #greatoutdoors #crosscountry #exploreonfoot #WesternAustralia #discoverwesternaustralia #nativeflora #trailangels #hikingadventures #epicadventures
Life...one big adventure 
I like the photos of the flowers they are all very nice.
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Thank you. They are even nicer in person. Almost like mini works of art.
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Irrepressible, Mel- even with sore toes! Those dark photos are wonderfully atmospheric but maybe not so good there in daylight. You must have lost weight in the end?
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Those sunrise photos were taken on top of a hill with huge granite boulders. It made the whole area even more atmospheric, but we had to step carefully as they were slippery buggers. Yes, the belt kept being pulled tighter and tighter, and I stepped on the scales about 8kg lighter by the time I got home. 🙂
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🤗🩵
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I haven’t done much trekking in WA but thank you for this great sneak preview. I’ll have to pop over from Brisbane when I’m back in Oz in 2025. I need to explore the West…;-)
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Yes, WA is definitely worth a visit, but you had better allow plenty of time! It is one BIG state! 🙂
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Beautiful sunrise/sunset pics. Enjoy your PB 😊 Maggie
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That peanut butter was a true culinary revelation! 🤣
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Another wonderful section, though I’m sorry about your toes – sounds painful and I hope your feet hold up! The arrogant men sound like idiots, I hope you didn’t move for them!! 🙂
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Actually we did move for them and I was NONE too quiet packing up and leaving very early the next morning! 🙂
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Wonderful photos, I especially like your photos of the plants and flowers. They’re really striking. I had no idea dehydrated peanut butter existed. It sounds amazing.
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Apparently dehydrated peanut butter is big in the US with lots of different flavours. Our Aussie supermarkets only stock one or two brands and the PB brand was the go! Delish!
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Looks like a pretty epic walk Mel. The impression that is often given ( in the U.K. anyway) about walking in Australia is that there is always some deadly snake or poisonous spider waiting to bite you! You don’t mention this though? Maybe I watched ‘Crocodile Dundee’ too many times!
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Don’t worry, there were snakes aplenty out there! Some people reported seeing 30 snakes in one day! 🐍🐍🐍 That just doesn’t bear thinking about! We were very lucky and only saw about 7 the entire walk.
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Just so long as they didn’t bite me!
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Nah, you’ll be fine if you give them a wide berth…although having said that, I think someone died from snakebite on the Track last year. Perhaps they were unlucky and/or weren’t carrying the right gear such as a snake bandage. Thank goodness there are no snakes at Mont Blanc! 🙂
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Yes, hiking in Europe is pretty predator free, there are wolves I think in some of the Eastern European countries but nothing that’s going to sneak up and kill you!
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Just one trip or stumble and there is a long, long, long tumble to the bottom of the mountain! 🙂 Who needs bitey things when you have that to look forward to?
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Very true 😂
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So THAT’s the secret to weight loss. Lemme grab my walking shoes and join you! (Bummer about the incredibly rude not-at-all-gentle men.)
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Happy for you to join me any time!! 🙂
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Some of the flowers/plants in your post have an almost alien look (though still very pretty). Losing weight while eating enough (yeah for dehydrated peanut butter), is one of the biggest benefits of a long distance hike! Love that last photo of the train track.
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I agree about the alien flowers. That crossed my mind a number of times as I strolled by. The other thing that amazed me was the delicacy of them. It was all quite incongruous in such a harsh landscape. Maybe we timed it just right to see their short blooming glory.
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