Bibbulman Track - May

[dougjjj]

Hi Guys,

So I'm heading back to finish up walking the Bibbulmun Track, I walked Albany -> Balingup last year and I'm planning to continue on for another couple of weeks this year.

I'm not sure how far I'll go, I'm thinking I might only have 10 days so I was going to walk Balingup -> Collie -> Dwellingup. That time of year was quite nice last year, not too much rain, camps were quiet, usually I'd see people every 2nd or 3rd day which was perfect.

Anyway no questions just getting my ideas down on 'paper'


Enjoy

[Redtail]

This may be obvious advice, but keep an eye on the Bibbulmun Track Foundation's website (http://www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/) for track conditions. There's a bunch of fires raging across the SW right now and some sections are closed, including Dwellingup to Collie. At the least, the track may be obscured. At worst, camps and huts may be totally destroyed. If it's the latter, shelter and water become an issue.

[walk2wineries]

I wonder if its worth also getting info on the http://www.mundabiddi.org.au/ which parallels the Bibulman for some of that area? Their FB page reports closures, I guess whether its open in May will depend on how much damage is done to the track. https://www.facebook.com/MundaBiddiTrai ... am&fref=nf

The other thing .... the Bibulman was substantially realigned I think over a decade ago. Parts of it still exist but have been renamed - there is a lovely section in the Wellington national park parallel to the river road -Honeymoon pool and other camping spots, then going North it was nearer to Harvey than Collie. http://www.collierivervalley.com.au/col ... or-centre/ I wonder how much of this could still be walked if the Bib itself is damaged? South of Wellington forest, the Ferguson Valley has some dirt roads and somewhere the MundaBiddi goes through it, Crooked Brook is nice, then from Donnybrook it goes to Boyanup where I think you are back on the Bib? I get some of the ***up names muddled. Just a suggestion but it might be nicer than road walking, walking through soot or lots of detours, although I think there are a lot of forest roads in that area that would be alternatives. Enjoy! Oh, and there is a better range of wineries near the old track....

[dougjjj]

Cool, thanks for the advice on the bush fires, I hadn't heard about them.

I'm not planning to walk for another few months so I'll play it by ear and see how things are closer to the time.

[Burnsy]

Alerts and warnings for bush fires can be obtained here
http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/alerts/Pages/default.aspx
Part of the Bibbulman is currently closed due to fire over the fast two days but given your talking May this should not affect you.
"RECREATION SITE CLOSURES:
The Bibbulmun Track from Mt Dale to Randall Rd remains closed. The Canning campsite on the Bibbulmun Track is also closed. Mt Dale and Brookton campsites remain closed. "

[Redtail]

I wonder if its worth also getting info on the http://www.mundabiddi.org.au/ which parallels the Bibulman for some of that area? Their FB page reports closures, I guess whether its open in May will depend on how much damage is done to the track. https://www.facebook.com/MundaBiddiTrai ... am&fref=nf

Yes, I would guess the situation is much the same.

The other thing .... the Bibulman was substantially realigned I think over a decade ago. Parts of it still exist but have been renamed - there is a lovely section in the Wellington national park parallel to the river road -Honeymoon pool and other camping spots, then going North it was nearer to Harvey than Collie. http://www.collierivervalley.com.au/col ... or-centre/ I wonder how much of this could still be walked if the Bib itself is damaged? South of Wellington forest, the Ferguson Valley has some dirt roads and somewhere the MundaBiddi goes through it, Crooked Brook is nice, then from Donnybrook it goes to Boyanup where I think you are back on the Bib? I get some of the ***up names muddled. Just a suggestion but it might be nicer than road walking, walking through soot or lots of detours, although I think there are a lot of forest roads in that area that would be alternatives. Enjoy! Oh, and there is a better range of wineries near the old track....

The track is now officially 1003km long (formerly 963km), with at least two (three?) extra camps.
New guide books have been issued, but they don't have maps like the old ones. New maps are due, but I don't think they've been published yet.

[Redtail]

Cool, thanks for the advice on the bush fires, I hadn't heard about them.

There's a contingent of Victorian regional firefighters over here helping out, as it happens. [Thanks people!]

I'm not planning to walk for another few months so I'll play it by ear and see how things are closer to the time.

Good idea. It may take a while to rebuild or establish temporary camps, if that's what's needed.