Lorraine Chaplin-Mills (The Bears)

Completed: 26 October, 2024

Lorraine Chaplin-Mills thumbnail — **Lorraine Chaplin-Mills**
The Bears

Start date: 2 September, 2024
Age When Completed: 60
Direction Walked: Southbound

Track Towns and Supplies

How many days did you stay in Track Towns? 6
Did you have any issues finding food/supplies? No
We dried our own meals and searched the supermarkets for alternative and light weight options so that we didn't have to use the Backcountry or freeze dried meals. A chocolate bar everyday is great!

Particular Track Towns that you would return to:

Donnelly River Village
Pemberton
Denmark

Your Story or Advice for Others

General Comments
Early morning starts so that you beat most of the snakes and you get into hut reasonably early to rest and recover. Be prepared for days that are more arduous than expected.

Your Best Equipment
Osprey Backpack with AirSpeed - keep your back cool.

Your Worst Equipment
Found my sleeping bag to very restrictive. Ended up modifying it to utilise it as more of a quilt.

Advice for Others
Really try to only walk hut to hut, if unavoidable really think about which huts you can double hut. Doing a 36km day takes it toll and makes your next day of walking harder. Having a rest day in every track town, your body will thank you.

Trip Details

How you completed the Bibbulmun Track:

All at once

How many days did it take you to complete the Track? 49
Who did you complete the Track with? With family
Was undertaking your hike the PRIMARY/MAIN purpose of your TRAVEL from where you currently live? Yes
What first prompted you to walk the Bibbulmun Track? Local knowledge

What did you use to navigate the Track?

BT Maps
BT Guidebooks

Your Experience

Availability of information: Good - The maps and handbooks require updating as information isn't accurate and there is quite a discrepancy between the distances provided on the map compared to the handbook, compared to the apps that people use. It is quite frustrating to discover you have walked an extra 2-3km more than you had planned.
Amount of Wildlife Encountered: Good - Close encounter with a flock of White-Tailed Black Cockatoos

Favourite Section
The Tingle Forrest was beautiful and amazing

Highlight of your trip
Finishing!