Steve McBean

Completed: 1 December, 2023

Start date: 12 October, 2022
Age When Completed: 70
Direction Walked: Southbound

Track Towns and Supplies

Did you have any issues finding food/supplies? Yes
We bought a dehydrator and it was fantastic. We had a huge range of dinners that tasted amazing. Maryann (my wife) must take all the credit. We posted food, via Aust Post, to a number of town visitor centres. All arrived ok and had no problems picking them up.

Your Story or Advice for Others

General Comments
An amazing trail, so much variation and so well maintained. A credit to all those volunteers who give up their time to help maintain and improve the track.

Your Best Equipment
My 2 walking poles. Takes a load off your knees and they are great when wading through streams. Canvas knee high gaiters - a must in snake country and when the trail is narrow and the vegetation scrapes against your shins. My Light weight HMG back pack (900g).

Your Worst Equipment
Trail runners -I used them in the 1st 1/2 of the trail (Kalamunda to Pemberton) and they wore out and did not provide sufficient grip on the steep down slopes. In the 2nd 1/2 I changed to trail shoes which had a much sturdier tread.

Advice for Others
On long hikes such as the Bibb, I recommend wearing trail shoes or boots, not Trail runners. Trail shoes and boots have a much sturdier tread which is more suitable when carrying a heavy back pack.

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

Favourite Section
Around Donnelly River and Pemberton - I thought the Karri, Karri and Jarrah trees were amazing as were the Tingle trees around Frankland River and Giants.

Highlight of your trip
Meeting fellow hikers and making so many friends on the trail. The 2 School groups from Christ Church Grammar school who I spent 7 nights camping with. And the school group from Albany who helped me to cross the Torbay Inlet