Frank

My friend did 230 kms before I met up with her and only passed one other person coming the opposite direction, so had everynight in the shelters to herself. The last 220 we did together we only shared the shelter twice with others. One a small family and once a couple on a weekend walk. She ended up sending her tent home but I kept my inner (less than 1 kg)and loved setting it up in the shelter as it stayed completely dry and fab protection from the mozzies and hungry animals hanging around.

We saw lots of wildlife, including many many snakes. This does not worry us as we both always carry a little snake kit and know how to correctly apply first aid for snake bite which buys time till you can get to emergency assistance.

We did the walk in early October, which I think was a fabulous time to do it. Still quite cool so great for walking 20km days and beautiful wildflowers everywhere. Nights are cool but with good down sleeping bag and thermal gear, no worries.

I would recommend this walk to anyone of reasonable fitness. Well worth it and well done to the Bibbulmun foundation members who maintain the track to a high standard and also the shelters which are always a pleasure to arrive at each afternoon!

Certainly not as hard as the walking in other states such as Tasmania, the Bibb track offers a well marked and graded track with, as you can see in Daves photo’s, excellent facilities. While some of it still uses fire access roads (mostly in the north), work is constantly being done by the foundation (Freinds of the Bibb) to improve the track. Alot of rerouting has taken place since it’s opening in order to maintain a single track walk trail rather than reusing access roads.

Dave makes some great points about the pro’s and con’s of walking in the spring, but personally I love the wild flowers and think they are worth seeing especially in the darling ranges.

Night walking during the hotter months is always an exciting change as well. The markers are reflective and are generally very easy to locate. Again you will hear and see alot of wildlife, some of which your not likely to see during the day (Frogs, spiders etc. Of course you will get the occasional freight when a boomer bounds off directly beside you, but thats part of the fun.

Lastly, don’t be to concerned if your not prepared to walk 1000km, the bibb track can cater for ever walker. With great access it is possible to walk anything from one day, over nighter, two weeks, or the full two months. Using the guide book it is easy to choose a suitable section for your level of fitness or available time. During the cool months it is common to see families with young kids in toe making the most of the great outdoors.

ps. It is good manners to carry a tent in case a hut is full. This isn’t always possible for end 2 enders (Nobody wants to carry 2+kg’s for 1000km and not have to use it) and respect should be given to those trying the mammoth walk.