Hi everyone, this vlog is a little different as I am doing a "Back Packing" trip alone a section of the Bibbulmun Track here in Western Australia. This track is not as long as teh Appalachian Trail, only being about 1000km long from Perth to Albany. It is mostly forest country - Jarrah/Mari and then Karri forests, which are unique in the world.
This is more of a test run for me and I am only doing half of a section, from Donnelly River to Willow Springs, about 11.3 km, (the actual Bibbulmun section would go on for another 11 Km to Gregory Brook campsite. I am testing out my gear/back pack etc and my body, especially my knees, as I haven't been backpacking since "Outdoor Adventures" about 6 years ago back in North Carolina.
I had about 15 kg of gear, but should really try to bring that down to about 13 kg. I carried some extra warm gear and food as this was a test run and I wasn't sure how cold it was going to get.
So i went from Donnelly River to Willow Springs and back the next day about 22 km round trip. My body was not grateful, but I did it, and felt a sense of accomplishment afterwards. The thing that surprised me were my hiking boots. They seem to be at the end of their lifetime (they are about 20 years old!). I think the padding inside the shoe was shot and the sole was beginning to come off the bottom, but they sufficed for the trip, but my feet were more sore than i thought they would be. My shoulders were also crying out at the end of it, which shows that i have to get back into better shape!
One of the best things I found about being out on the track, was the sense of community and comradeship with other hikers. Whenever you met someone along the way, you always stopped and chatted and checked if they needed anything. I was surprised that many of the hikers I met along the way were older, retired women! I felt that if they could do it, I couldn't very well complain about anything! An example of this was when I reached the Willow Springs hut and a couple hiking up behind me over dinner, mentioned that they had found a yellow PLB (Personal locator becon) along the track and had given it to two of the ladies I met going back to DR to drop off at the General Store. I soon realized that the PLB they were talking about was mine! Fat lot of good it was going to do me now!. The next morning the guy who was riding his bike along the Munda Bindi bike trail, headed off too Donnelly River ahead of us, and I asked him to let the store know that Dingo would be along later to collect his PLB. Sure enough, when i arrived a few hours later, the ladies had dropped it off, Ian had told them i was coming and they were expecting me at the store and i reclaimed my PLB (good thing too as they are about $400+).
(We mainly carry these in case of snake bites or getting lost off trail).
I also met an older couple (I am guessing in their 70's) from New Hampshire in the United States, who have hiked most of the major hiking trails around the world, including the Appalachian, and Pacific Crest Trail (California), and have flown to Perth to do the whole Bibbulmun track! I was very inspired by them and felt like i wanted to do more hiking, despite my protesting body. Unfortunately, they had to leave the trail at Donnelly River (Which is the half-way point) as the lady had sprained her ankle and felt that she shouldn't keep walking on it. I managed to get back to my car at DR ahead of them, and drive it to one of the Cross-roads to pick them up and then take them to Manjimup, (a large SW town), where they were able to catch a bus to Albany. Here they would rent a car and travel around a bit until the ankle healed and then I think they want to come back and finish the track! Truly an inspiration.
Willow Springs was an interesting camp site. It is the only place I have camped at where the folks there have arrived in the most varied types of transport. We had a guy cycling, five of us hiking, two families in caravans and then we were joined by a group on horse back, doing the old "Stock Route". All of these trails intersect here at Willow Springs. Quite a conglomerate.
Anyway, after dropping the American Couple off at Manjimup, I had to decide where to go next, and settled on a spot I hadn't been to before called, Snotty Gobble Loop, which was a little campsite of about 8 sites, ~100m from the river. That adventure is in the next video.... thanks for checking in and hit that like button so that I know you have viewed the vlog.
cheers,
Dingo
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