South West Life

This article was written by Akita Olsen.

I have always enjoyed bushwalking, especially in our South West.

If you are familiar with bushwalking then you would have heard of the famous and feared “Bibbulmun Track”.

Along the Bibbulmun track there are mysterious wooden huts approximately every 20 kilometres along the track. One of these huts I used was the one at "Grimwade".

The wooden shelter was constructed in 1997 by a crew from the Kirup Work Centre, of CALM’s Blackwood district. Their work is greatly appreciated by many, especially the many walkers of the Bibbulmun track.

After a day of hiking it is very rewarding to see the wooden huts and know you do not have to fuss around setting up a tent – which would be another 5 kilos on the back!!

The huts can sleep up to 12 people, so if there is only a couple of you then you should be okay but if it is peak season, or you have a group, you would need to pack tents in case there are other walkers.

It is important to register your names and dates in the “track n trail” logbook provided at each wooden hut. It certainly is interesting to open the logbook and read pages filled in by previous walkers/travellers – many of which are tourists from overseas. This reminds me how lucky we are here in the South West to have such great trails, scenery, landscape and “space”... which we often take for granted. Some come for the challenge, others for the wildflowers, and others simply love walking.

The information in the logbook is helpful in the event of an emergency and the data is helpful for maintenance and understanding of numbers of the track’s usage...etc. Many walkers do the whole walk from Kalamunda to Albany, and others do a few days here and there. (The end-to-end walk is 965 kilometres.)

The track is wonderful and it is interesting how the scenery and plants change fairly often... sometimes you can walk for a couple of days and not see anyone, then other times, especially in spring, you do meet other walkers. It is common sense that all walkers (even day walkers) take drinking water, sun protection, a companion, and first aid kits. It is always good to inform others of your attended travels, destinations, dates, etc.

There are many maps and books about the track, and along the path you are regularly directed by the bright yellow track markers/arrows - which are extremely helpful when it comes to a fork in the road/path.

At each hut base there are water tanks provided, so if it has not been a dry year there should be some rain water for you to use – it is suggested that the water be boiled before drinking or using in your cooking. I went through a lot of drinking water, food, and half a packet of band aids. Although there is effort, and blisters involved, it is all worth it.

Sleeping outside and seeing all the hundreds of stars... you actually do not miss the television at all, and wonder why you have not been doing this earlier.