Seeking challenges? Don't.

At 5am, I was like being led

No, I don't mean taking up the challenge of walking this long track. I mean don't add to it. To do the Bib is a huge enough challenge already. You may not believe this, and if you've gone on a few walks like me, you may even think, what's the fuss? Just need the time, that's all.

My last trip made me admire the grit of the individuals who have walked the entire Track. I came to realize there are risks that perhaps you can't plan for, real decisions to be made which could be life threatening. Knowing this is overcoming part of the challenge.

Beautiful karri at sunrise was a highlight

 I foolishly set myself a challenge in my recent walk from Karri Gully to Pemberton, much of which passed through magnificent karri trees of the Australian southwest forests. At 60m tall, the karri are some of the tallest in the world. They are beautiful and I enjoyed these forests tremendously.


What made my walk tough was that I gave myself four days for the 120km walk when it should take six. What it meant was I 'double hutted', that is, I skipped a shelter on each of two days. On a cool spring or winter's day, walking 40km a day would be hard work but still do-able, but the 30 degree temperatures for those days would make walking unbearable.

Spotted my first tiger snake in the bush (Image fromhttp://members.iinet.net.au/~bush/tiger.html)

Indeed, I suffered. I could have been heatstruck, as I lost appetite, had nausea, and didn't eat for two days. I recognize this could mean seeking medical help, and I wasn't walking with companions, and I didn't want to use my new Spot Tracker to raise the alarm. Even as I drank lots of water, my body was losing it through sweat. I felt weak. I had lost 3 kg.

On the fourth day, upon arriving at Pemberton, I found back my energy - and appetite. I ate marron at Gloucester Motel, asked the waitress to include in my drink lemon which I plucked, and it must have been the most delicious meal I ever had.

What a shame I didn't spend more time absorbing the beautiful surroundings in my hike from Karri Gully to Pemberton. Track Log from the beautiful Beedelup Shelter (29 October 2012):

"Hope no one offers to pay me $$$ to do the 40km from Boarding House Campsite again. At least not in this weather. I miss spending time to enjoy the surrounding. Last two days were hot, must have drunk six liters of water, and often worried about getting cramps. But, all's well, I've kept to schedule, although at a slow pace. Have enjoyed the magnificent karri, the accompaniment of gurgling brooks, and the peace. For cheering me up, thanks Cliff the Tinman, whom I met."

My first solo trip on the Bibbulmun Track

I've decided I want to complete walking the Bibbulmun Track (or the Bib) end to end (E2E). This means walking the entire distance of close to 1,000km. If you walk this distance at one go, you will need to set aside just focused on one thing - walk. That's hard to do. First, you must convince yourself to take six weeks' leave, most of it unpaid. Failing this, you resign yourself to wanting to do it in between jobs. Fine if employers work around the schedule you create and let you take the leave, but more often than not, you have time free only if you lose your job, and the last thing on the mind is enjoy a walk. So it's never going to happen unless you are really motivate yourself to do so.

How have I motivated myself so far?

I started job-hunting four weeks ago. You see, the variability of iron ore prices causes the bust and boom cycles of Australia's economy. The bust seems to have just begun and because I worked on an iron ore project, the company decided that once that project is over, off you go.

I don't need much motivating to go bushwalking, in between persuading companies to hire me. Let me share my experience doing my first solo hike three weeks ago. 

On the first night, I got lost just 100m from the shelter I planned to sleep in. I broke the cardinal survival rule: take care of the shelter, food, and rest, in that order. Instead, I lay down and slept after taking a cold dinner. An early morning rain woke me. The next morning, hardly rested and quite wet, I wrote from the shelter I finally found:

"What a welcome sight, the shelter I'm supposed to sleep in. Had my first camp alone, in the rain and lost in the dark. Surprisingly, the few wallabies that made their foot trots heard were welcome company. Wished I had the shelter to  sleep the night in. Despite the wet and anxious moments, it was a wonderful day yesterday. Had spent too much time photographing wild flowers, so forgot I had to press on."

I captured some delightful and unforgettable moments too:

"Highlight of walk from Collie was seeing the purple flag (a flower that opens wilts after one day) - seems they start blooming now. Used plenty of fixamol to combat blisters, progress was slow from my late start - had soaked sleeping bag, tent and mat. Wet day but luckily got campfire going (many thanks to the previous walkers who kept dried kindle). So managed to dry my stuff, but had a burnt trouser leg. Storm forecast, so I must press on. Enjoying this. Haven't passed a soul since I started." Writing on the second night.


In the Grimwade shelter, I wrote again:
"My third and last night. Writing in middle of storm. Winds are ferocious. Can't get my campfire going. Feel cold. Have been walking in wet, wet weather - the storm lasted the whole night, having picked up about 1pm today. Just after the Grimwade Road crossing, I thought how trees must have strong roots to face these winds. Some slender trunks were waving at least 3m at their tips. I was tempted to compare them with humans. Hmm.. "Walking first time solo makes me realize the importance of planning and packing right. Great experience as it's about making your own decisions and responsibility, learning to reduce risks, and more. I even adopted a new motto: Press on! While enjoying life (as in walking the Bibbulmun Track), I need a destination, know how to get there and when."

To be honest, I've become less motivated to do the E2E. I'm not as prepared as I thought I was.

My future posts will see me gain that confidence, I hope. Join me on this journey!