The Bibbulmun Track Part One - planning a thru hike

Ever since reading the 'Stumbling Thru' series by A. Digger Stolz, I have wanted to do a thru hike. There are many reasons why, not least of which was the attraction of living a minimalistic lifestyle, in which everything I needed to live I carried on my back.  I also wanted the experience of just living outdoors and in nature for an extended period of time. In 2017 I sat down and started to research trails.  Aspects of the track I was specifically looking for included:

• DISTANCE - I wanted to walk a long distance multi-week trail
• ACCESS TO WATER - It was important to me that there was regular access to water along the trail.  Carrying litres and litres of water is no fun!
• EASE OF NAVIGATION - I'm not a total dummy when it comes to navigation but I'm not at ease navigating with a map and compass on the daily, so I wanted a well signposted track
• LOW RISK - I have 3 children I wanted to come home to, so I didn't want to walk a track with risky river crossings etc
• TRAIL MAINTENANCE - I wanted to know that someone was maintaining the trail because there is nothing more frustrating than having to turn back because the trail is impassable.
• ABSENCE OF LIFE THREATENING MEGAFAUNA - speaks for itself really 

The trail that ticked all the boxes for me was the Bibbulmun Track.  This is a 1000km trail from Kalamunda, a suburb on the outskirts of Perth, to Albany on the south coast of Western Australia.

One of the things that attracted me to this trail was the fact that it is very diverse.  It passes through amazing karri and tingle forests, plains, boulder strewn hills and also coastal heathlands.
There are 49 campsites along the track spaced between 10km and 25km apart.  Each campsite has a three-sided timber shelter, a long drop toilet, and most importantly a water tank!
The trail passes through seven track towns on the way meaning you can regularly resupply food, shower, wash your clothes and sleep in a bed.
I'm going to be really honest here and add that I also chose the Bibbulmun because when I looked at the maps and elevations I naively and conceitedly thought that the track would be a piece of cake and didn't look particularly difficult.  I was wrong.....so wrong.......but more about that in future posts!