Lee Ann Simpson (Lee)
Completed: 28 April, 2023
Lee
- Start date: 26 March, 2023
- Age When Completed: 46
- Direction Walked: Southbound
Track Towns and Supplies
- Did you have any issues finding food/supplies? Yes
- I went on a road trip to all the visitor centers with my dog a week before and dropped off supply boxes. I eat the same thing day in, day out when I'm hiking, so this just made it super easy. I didnt have to get to towns and come up with the possibility of changing my food and I only had to carry a few days at a time.
Your Story or Advice for Others
General CommentsI wanted to complete the Bibbulmun as last year I traveled to USA to hike the PCT. I was unable to complete this due to injury, so I felt this was a great success. I managed it in only 34 days with 3 complete rest days and a rescued little kitten.
Your Best Equipment
I love all my equipment. I did a lot of research on all my items to travel to USA and hike the PCT, and it definitely paid off.
Your Worst Equipment
Nothing, it was all awesome. I used everything that I carried.
Advice for Others
Don't let anyone tell you can't do things in life. Hike your own hike and try to love and enjoy every minute of it, even when it is pushing all your buttons and testing you. I am a 46 year old female who in the past 3 years has had 7 major shoulder surgeries. I still need a full shoulder replacement and 2 knee replacements. If I can do this, anyone can. Its not a race, there is no time limit, let nature fill your soul and your heart.
Trip Details
How you completed the Bibbulmun Track:- All at once
- Who did you complete the Track with? Solo (primarily)
- Was undertaking your hike the PRIMARY/MAIN purpose of your TRAVEL from where you currently live? No
Your Experience
I loved it where the bush turned into the big trees. It was raining pretty hard and my visibility was limited, but I love that transformation.
Highlight of your trip
Definitely finding Carl the cat and hiking over 120km with him and then finding him his forever home with an amazing lady. Carl started off a 5-6 week old kitten who had been dumped just outside of Northcliffe near Gardner camp and was on his last legs. I managed to coax him to me and gave him some milk and cereal and he slept under my shirt all night in my sleeping bag and didn't move unless I did. We started our adventure to Walpole the next day and had so much fun. He met everyone we passed and was well received. Sandra was an amazing lady I met who donated some dehydrated tuna and that saved the little guys life. He ate like a king that night. Unfortunately we had a rocky reception at Dog Pool where the group staying there just kept going on about the only good cat is a dead cat and so many cats, not enough recipes. It was horrible, so we retreated to our tent and enjoyed our own company. He went from being so weak that he stayed sitting in my rain jacket the first day and having a few walks on his leash, then went on to having his head out for half the day watching where we were going and the other half sitting on my shoulder/backpack, then the last day, spent the full 40ish km on the pack loving watching the world go by.