I'm hoping to earn my Bushman badge this week by undertaking a two-day adventure on the Bibbulman Track, starting early tomorrow morning. The plan is drive south east from the city of Perth to access the Bibbulman from the Brookton Highway, just south of the camp site of the same name and from there, hike north the 28 kilometres to the Waalegh Campsite where we will stay overnight. The second day is a 23 kilometre hike from Waalegh to Mundaring Weir Hotel where my walking companions hope to enjoy a beer or four, while I enjoy a nice lunch!
On this northern section of the track there are camp huts about every ten kilometres that sleep about eight people. It is a case of first come, first served, which means you need to carry camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, etc) in case the huts are full. All my own camping equipment is still in 'Blighty' so I am grateful to my younger brother, James for the loan of some of his. Fortunately, I do have walking boots and waterproof gear just in case the forecast is completely wrong. The rain here can be fairly ferocious and I do not fancy being caught in it in the open outback country!
My first walk in a wilderness area of Australia, I am unsure about how I will cope with the conditions, particularly the heat. It is about 24 - 25C today in the town and forecast for 27 / 30 over the two days of our walk. Minus the sea breeze that keeps you cool on the coast, I expect quite challenging conditions inland. The heat was my main diffcuulty on last year's six-day adventure in the Grand Canyon and I don't expect it to be any different on this expedition. Also in common with the Grand Canyon trip, water may be an issue with the supplies at the camp reliant on rain water collected in tanks. If the tanks have water it will require treatment before consumption. I usually walk alone or with one other companion and having three walkers with me will certainly be different.
Unfamiliar with the flora and fauna of the region, I look forward to finding out a bit more about the herbage and the landscape of the interior. Perth city is essentiallly built on the sand dunes at the edge of a hinterland desert which is a new walking landsape for me. For part of the walk, we will be walking through extensive woodland areas with a good variety of trees. Many of the plants in this area are pyrophytic in nature and require regular burnings to ensure their seeds sprout and come to fruition and I am interested to see some of them up close. There will be controlled burning going on in some of the areas we are walking through but it should not interfere with our progress. I understand poisonous snakes and spiders could be encountered, which I hope to avoid and kangaroos in their natural habitat are likely and which I look forward to seeing
Watch this space, Cobber for further info on our adventures.
Watch this space, Cobber for further info on our adventures.