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  1. Our Hiking Adventures
  2. Walks
  3. Bibbulmun Track
  4. 2011: North to South
  5. Bibbulmun Track 2011 :: Wrap-Up
  • ← SPOT2 GPS Messenger :: 54-Day On Track Review
  • Day 54 :: Hidden Valley to Albany →

Bibbulmun Track 2011 :: Wrap-Up

This walk took a lot of planning... I'm not sure how long it takes other folks, but all up we were planning and training for about six months prior to starting the walk. This included trialing our gear on shorter walks (Mittagong to Katoomba) and training closer to departure time (Week -4, Week -3, Week -2 & Week -1); not to mention the huge spreadsheet I developed to manage every aspect of the walk from the Itinerary through to the parcel labels for the food drops.

And now, at time of writing, it's 8 months since finishing the walk, 10 months after starting the walk and an amazing 16 months since starting the planning. As indicated in Our Walk in Numbers we recorded 44,416 words and 9,621 photographs on the track: these have been turned into 58 Blog Posts with 99,500 words and 4,359 photographs (no wonder it's taken 8 months).

Financial Cost of the Walk

It was our biggest single holiday ever, and knowing that, we'd decided that we were not going to skimp on expenses or even worry about them until it was all over. So it was very interesting to do the final accounting. This does not include equipment purchases, non of which were done purely for this walk though.

Item Total Cost Days Average
Total Costs $5,222.63 65 $80.35
Transport to/from Track $1,093.00 3 $364.33
Delivery of Food Drops $575.78 2 $287.89
Walking the Track $2,663.61 54 $49.33
Holiday / Entertainment / Post-Walk $890.24 6 $148.37

$25 / person for the duration of the walk is pretty good I think; though, at least, I need to add the transport costs in to give a realistic minimal cost of doing the track at $3,756 or $69.57 / day, which is $34.78 / person.

Our Walk in Numbers

I love numbers, and the spreadsheet has not troubles totalling up all sorts of numbers ;) The following just refers to one of us, generally Perry...

1 journey
2 people
12 camp grounds
35 kg food eaten
53 overnights
143 SPOT messages
316 hours of walking
1,021 kilometres of track
5,223 total $cost
9,106 photographs taken
44,416 words written
49,036 metres skipped down
49,407 metres trudged up
90,919 GPS points recorded
1,215,573 footsteps

On-Track Projects

I had heaps of little, and not so little, projects on the go during the walk: probably drove Sandi spare, but she coped most of the time :)

Photographs
I decided well before the walk that I was not going to worry about how many photographs I took on the walk, that if I saw something that framed itself up nicely I'd take it and worry about if it was a nice photograph later. I ended up 9,621 overall – 9,106 of which were taken actually on the track. 8,615 photos were good enough to be publishable, and at the time of writing (I've just done the minimum to do the blog posts) 50%, or 4,359 photographs, have been published.
Flora: Kalamunda – Donnelly River
Flora: Donnelly River – Albany
Orchids of the Bibbulmun Track
Trees of the Bibbulmun Track
Stumps of the Bibbulmun Track
Fungi of the Bibbulmun Track
Photographs of the Bibbulmun Track developed quickly after starting the walk: I'd take a close up photo of the track as the track changed its nature. The surface of the Bibbulmun Track changed from pea gravel to sand to sea water to sand dune to inundation to concrete and paving stones.
Panoramas of the Bibbulmun Track were taken using the SONY using sweeping panoramas, which detail the changing environment over the 1,000km, others were stitched together using AutoPano.
Fauna of the Bibbulmun Track details what we did see (which didn't seem much): We were amazed at the lack of fauna we found.
Photographs from Week 1
Photographs from Week 2
Photographs from Week 3
Photographs from Week 4
Photographs from Week 5
Photographs from Week 6
Photographs from Week 7
Photographs from Week 8
Time-Lapse
54 Day Timelapse
Over the 54 days of our trek, we took a portrait photo each morning before setting off on the day's walk and then each afternoon when we'd reached camp -- often capturing the morning's optimism and then the afternoon's pain of the journey on our faces.
Photo-Mosaics
I plan to produce various photo-mosaics with the photographs. See The Bibbulmun Track :: The Mowbray Version for further details.
Track Log
The Bibbulmun Guidebook has a distance table that I used to make sure we'd be able to walk the intended itinerary. The itinerary predicted when we'd pass each point, and when we did pass each point I jotted down the time. Bibbulmun 2011 Distance Table.
GPS Tracks
Our GPS unit not only is great for getting us back on track and GeoTagging our photographs, it also allows uploading the tracks for others' benefit. I had some difficulty getting GPS tracks for the Bibbulmun (as the Foundation does not publish them), finally finding Bibbulmun Track & GPS (which is a great site, who I've sent my tracks to for inclusion into his published tracks).
I also publish our GPS Tracks as Google Earth files which are available at The Bibbulmun Track :: The Mowbray Version
Ratings
Once we started rating things (The soup and the back country meals were first), we started rating everything! Cafes, Camping Grounds, store bought bread (for hiking).
Back Country Ratings
Cup-a-Soup Ratings
Much to the amusement of our fellow walkers we'd rate the evening's Cup-a-Soup and Back Country meals. These were chosen, generally at random, using a lucky dip method. We were very happy with the Back Country meals, which worked out as a very easy meal at the end of the day. The cup-a-soups that we were able to source were not as nice as what we were used to in New South Wales.
Bibbulmun Cafe Ratings
The track towns were a highlight (mostly) on the walk, one reason was the ability to sit in a cafe and have someone else cook you something (that wasn't dehydrated first). Our experience showed there is quite a difference between the cafes we tried.
Bibbulmun Track Camping Ground Ratings
All the camping grounds we stayed at whilst on the walk also kept our food drop, which we'd delivered before the walk (for which we are very thankful): but they were all very different.
Bread Ratings
Another thing we had to do in each town was to purchase something to put lunch on, as we needed it to keep its freshness over the 2 month walk. We had to get creative in a couple of towns, and the overall ratings surprised us!
Reviews
I wanted to record, in reviews, our experiences with our gear:
SPOT2 Messenger – Review: 54-Day On Track Review :: SPOT2 GPS Messenger
Garmain Oregon 300 – Review: Not done yet
SONY HX9V Travel Camera – Review: Not done yet
Voltaic FUSE Solar Charger – Review: 54-Day On Track Review :: Voltaic FUSE Solar Charger
Keen Newport Sandals – Review: Not done yet
ThermaRest NeoAir Trekker – Review: Not done yet
Monte-Belle Dow Hugger – Review: Not done yet
Mountain Hardware SkyLedge 2.1 – Review: Not done yet
JetBoil Personal Cooking System – Review: Not done yet
The Guide to the Bibbulmun Track – Review: Not done yet

Things that didn't work

Didn't take food parcel list
The saving of one piece of paper's weight meant we didn't know when the next gas was due, for example, and created needless nerves, which lead to buying and carrying a spare, unused, gas cylinder... the whole track (which is much heavier than a piece of paper).
Tea Calculation
Was way over what was required, needs to be definites (breakfast + dinner, plus % of optionals (lunch and pm tea))
Hot Chocolates and Coffee Calculation wrong
Had both hot chocolate & coffee for Sandi, not either. Plus, the usage changed over walk -- I started having hot chocolate for supper.
Muesli Bars
Too much reliance on muesli bars. Prefer something more savoury.
Weight Loss
Sandi says I lost too much weight. I ended up 74.3 clothed, though I did try to eat more late in the walk → more kilojoules and better food? Beef jerky? Beef tea? I think my weight loss was minimal in the Southern Half, probably because the towns are closer together and we really ate well when in town! :)
Mountain Design rain jackets
Did the opposite: See Day 13, which meant we purchased ponchos at Collie and basically used our 'wet weather' jackets for warmth only. Not replaced by Mountain Designs because they were so old – but they did give us a 50% voucher on something else.
Black Diamond head light
The programmes failed, then can't turn on. Replaced by Mountain Designs.
Sandi's socks
Holed in one week each (the new ones from Collie were OK for the rest of the walk). Replaced by Mountain Designs.
Camera
Grinding noise, focus on blue or pink dodgy or non-existent when small, zoom can be slow then fast and finicky
FUSE Solar Charger
When cloudy / hazy / canopy in second half.
Needs 3 sets of batteries for GPS & camera → more than planned (luckily had SteriPen batteries).
12 volt charging when walking.
SteriPen
didn't need it, although nearly caught out between huts when we forgot to fill up with track water
Calculation for lollies
was too many -- should be based on difficulty
Difficulty rating
not very accurate (length and time). Maybe include ascent / descent?
Missed a haki-sak
good wind down exercise? Maybe get / make light weight one?
Wet weather pants
Can't put the Mountain Designs pants on over boots.
My Track pants
Can't put on over boots.
Shopping bags
Not best for some items in pack (pack zippers kill them).
Clip-Lock bags
Not good for keeping smells in or out (eg: laundry powder taste in muesli).
Gas Calculation
Didn't include gas for hot washes.
Clothes pegs
Were too small and broke easily.
Cloth loops may be better for pack hanging too.

Things that did work out

These notes don't substitute for a full review of our experiences, but it's what I jotted down directly after the walk.

Planning and food parcels
I don't think I need to elaborate here: everything was just about perfect – maybe a little over done?
Tent
Very much a light-weight home away from home.
Only used all pegs in Peaceful Bay (storm)
NeoAir
Comfy
Need to be able to attach together. [Thermorest do sell a strap that'll do this]
Sleeping bags
'stretchable' gives lots of room (at least until tent wall is reached).
Camera
Great and easy shooting in most cases [% OK?]
HDR backlight is a great function I use often
Panorama (4 ways)
Battery use (2 days @ 150 photos / day)
GPS
Gives accurate ability to follow track-notes and tell Sandi where we're up to, how long to go, etc.
Geo-locate photos (better battery use of camera)
2 days per battery set.
Would be good to have part statistics and savable with waypoint [What I meant by this was the ability to break a track into sections with section statistics as well as the whole day statistics.]
SPOT
Didn't change batteries
Success rate? [Was 96%]
Lots of interest
People followed trail on site
Guidebook
Best track notes we've ever used
Although there are glaring mistakes in some odometer readings and DTP
Boots
Just made it!
Could feel every non-conformity through the soul by the end. See: Sandi's boots.
Laces just survived.
Ponchos
Only just OK == very sweaty
But good enough to encourage further investigation: See Essentials for the perfect poncho
Hat
Good in drizzle
strap (chin) = effective and comfort
Bushwalking Shirts and shorts
light, quick dry, strong.
Mountain Hardware shirt has great ventilation == noticeable difference in sweat smell
Calculation for staminade
based on difficulty of the walk (calculated on distance and time).
Fruit leather
real serves of fruit.
Blister treatment and prevention for Sandi.
Comfeel (equivalent) and hyperfix worked a treat. Sandi even managed to treat anyone else who complained about blisters :) See Blister Treatment
Gaiters
just made it with heal strap. See: Sandi's boots.
P's socks
Comfortable and warm.
A little hard to dry.
OK when wet.
Clip-Lock bags
Great for lots of little things
Though life can be a little short on some, got a few failures in last weeks.
No entertainment
Meant we focused on the day and track and experience.
Waterproof liners
Thankfully not tested with immersion.
Bottom section of P's pack not protected, therefore pack with waterproof stuff.
Loop on tea towel
For hanging on pack buckle for drying.
Sea to Summit garbage bag
No smell, no leaks.
Perfect to hang on outside of the pack.
Gas calculation
I'd used our usage rates on our previous walks and applied that to our intended menu: More than enough!
Venetian Cord
Great clothes line and OK for hanging packs if necessary.
NZ Dog whistles
Not used often though.

Essentials for the perfect poncho

Fitted to pack
tied onto pack when not in use
easy to untie and put on
Waterproof and breathable
Sleeves with velcro
allows fixing above elbow
Hood with adjustments
to pull tight in wind or loose in humidity
Length over gaiters
Good air-flow through
Adjustable
Ability to tighten in wind / bushes and loosen otherwise
Pockets
or easy use of clothes pockets and pack pockets
slits or covered (velcroed) folds
Wearable with hat over
saves holding

Blisters Treatment

Got a big tight blister on left second toe at end. Lanced blister and gently grained serous fluid then applied comfeel (equivalent) and hyperfix over it to keep it in-situ. Left it there and just reinforced hypafix to keep it all in place.

Showered with it on at night, then put on camp socks to protect it and assist it to dry. Likewise, if it got wet in boots.

Only removed it when after a day with wading it was very "swollen" (the dressing not the toe) and very dirty looking. Found it healed inside blister and baggy old skin of blister hanging there.

Let it all dry in camp socks with no dressing and haven't needed anything except hypafix, just as a precaution for 1 day.

Seems fine: old skin dried and shrivelled, haven't tried to debride that at all, think it gives some protection.

Heels with some "hot spots" but no blisters evident unless they're really deep; have put 2 layers hypafix and just jeft it on until it's falling off or so disgustingly dirty that I'm shamed into changing it.

Once comfeel went on blister, it didn't feel sore in boot, also wore boots tighter to stop foot sliding down so much.

Blisters in the Blog Posts


Collected Data
Mitupela.net Bibbulmun Track Page
The Summary & Overview of our big adventure: all roads lead from here!
53 Day Track Log
The Foundation's Distance Tables tracked on our GPS into Distance / Time / Hours / Speed point to point.
Cup-a-Soup Ratings
Cup-a-Soups are a great addition to the camping dinner: We scored all our evening soups.
Back Country Ratings
We used 42 Back Country dehydrated meals over the walk, scoring them each night (& once for breakfast): hunger sauce and discerning palates.
Cafe Ratings
The cafes on the track are often dreamt about on the way there: here is what we found when we got there.
Bread Ratings
We used bread for our lunches on the track and found that the different types performed quite differently.
Camp Ground Ratings
When in town we tented: the facilities were very important for the upcoming sections and variable!
Mapping / GPS
Google Earth Day Tracks
Each day's walk as a Google Earth Track, and one track of all the days combined into a single track.
Google Earth Section Tracks
The 53-day walk split into the Foundation's Sections with the extra 'bits' removed; also a combined Northern Track and Southern Track.
SPOT Adventure Page
Use an integrated map, Download KMZ & GPX files, shelter photos.

Timelapse
54 Day Timelapse
Over the 54 days of our trek, we took a portrait photo each morning before setting off on the day's walk and then each afternoon when we'd reached camp -- often capturing the morning's optimism and then the afternoon's pain of the journey on our faces.
Photo Albums
Flora of the Bibbulmun Track
Kalamunda – Donnelly River
Donnelly River – Albany
Orchids of the Bibbulmun Track
Trees of the Bibbulmun Track
Stumps of the Bibbulmun Track
Fungi of the Bibbulmun Track
Photographs of the plants we found along the way: The abundant flowers, huge trees, amazing fungi and sculptured stumps.
Photographs of the Bibbulmun Track
The track was an ever-present and ever-changing companion for 54 days: here it is up close and personal.
Panoramas of the Bibbulmun Track
The SONY made neat sweeping panoramas, which detail the changing environment over the 1,000km.
Fauna of the Bibbulmun Track
We were amazed at the lack of fauna we found, what we did find is here.
The Bibbulmun Track :: Our 2011 Walk
For 8 weeks in September & October we took over 9,000 photos: Week 1 – Week 2 – Week 3 – Week 4 – Week 5 – Week 6 – Week 7 – Week 8

Created by perry • Last edit by perry on November 23rd, 2018

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Search these adventures:

  • Our Hiking Adventures
  • Walks
    • Australian Alps Walking Track
    • Bibbulmun Track
      • 2011: North to South
        • Bibbulmun Track :: Preparations
        • Day 1 :: Kalamunda to Hewitt's Hill
        • Day 2 :: Hewitt's Hill to Helena
        • Day 3 :: Helena to Beraking
        • Day 4 :: Beraking to Brookton
        • Day 5 :: Brookton to Canning
        • Day 6 :: Canning to Monadnocks
        • Day 7 :: Monadnocks to Mt Cooke
        • Day 8 :: Mt Cooke to Gringer Creek
        • Day 9 :: Gringer Creek to White Horse
        • Day 10 :: White Horse to Mt Wells
        • Day 11 :: Mt Wells to Chadoora
        • Day 12 :: Chadoora to Dwellingup
        • Day 13 :: Dwellingup to Swamp Oak
        • Day 14 :: Swamp Oak to Murray River
        • Day 15 :: Murray River to Dookanelly
        • Day 16 :: Dookanelly to Possum Springs
        • Day 17 :: Possum Springs to Yourdamung
        • Day 18 :: Yourdamung to Harris Dam
        • Day 19 :: Harris Dam to Collie
        • Day 20 :: Rest Day in Collie
        • Day 21 :: Collie to Yabberup
        • Day 22 :: Yabberup to Noggerup
        • Day 23 :: Noggerup to Grimwade
        • Day 24 :: Grimwade to Balingup
        • Day 25 :: Balingup to Blackwood
        • Day 26 :: Blackwood to Gregory Brook
        • Day 27 :: Gregory Brook to Donnelly River
        • Day 28 :: Donnelly River to Tom Road
        • Day 29 :: Tom Road to Boarding House
        • Day 30 :: Boarding House to Beavis
        • Day 31 :: Beavis to Beedelup
        • Day 32 :: Beedelup to Pemberton
        • Day 33 :: Pemberton to Warren
        • Day 34 :: Warren to Schafer
        • Day 35 :: Schafer to Northcliffe
        • Day 36 :: Northcliffe to Gardener
        • Day 37 :: Gardner to Maringup
        • Day 38 :: Maringup to Dog Pool
        • Day 39 :: Dog Pool to Mt Chance
        • Day 40 :: Mt Chance to Woolbales
        • Day 41 :: Woolbales to Long Point
        • Day 42 :: Long Point to Rest Point
        • Day 43 :: Rest Point to Coalmine Beach
        • Day 44 :: Coalmine Beach to Frankland
        • Day 45 :: Frankland to Giants
        • Day 46 :: Giants to Rame Head
        • Day 47 :: Rame Head to Peaceful Bay
        • Day 48 :: Peaceful Bay to Boat Harbour
        • Day 49 :: Boat Harbour to William Bay
        • Day 50 :: William Bay to Denmark
        • Day 51 :: Denmark to West Cape Howe
        • Day 52 :: West Cape Howe to Torbay
        • Day 53 :: Torbay to Hidden Valley
        • Day 54 :: Hidden Valley to Albany
        • Bibbulmun Track 2011 :: Wrap-Up
        • SPOT2 GPS Messenger :: 54-Day On Track Review
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