"Ball Creek" at 8am and the sun already has a bite: while some have already left, the rest of us pack up. My backpack is on the far right. A bit of a barren campsite as it is so heavily used.
"Ball Creek" was my shelter number two, although I double hutted passed "Hewett's Hill" , so this was my first hut. Slept Ok. The 28kg pack was heavy to lug up the hills with 11 days of dehydrated food inside. Re-stocked with another 2.5 to 3 litres of cold water from the rain water tank before leaving.
"Mt. Dale" having dinner. After walking all day in boots with thin and thick socks it was really good to air the feet by wearing these Crocs shoes. They gave more protection than thongs and were very light. You could also wear socks with them when it was very cold and the socks stop any mosquito bites. Just remembered I double hutted passed "Beraking" so it was a 19.9km walking day
"Canning" campsite. The grime and the dirt of gathering semi pre-burnt wood from the bush was always worth the effort once the fire was going. The only risky part was going bush in these Croc shoes when there were snakes around. Often you heard them moving away rather than saw them. You felt very unprotected without boots and gaiters on to stop snakes getting your ankles. You needed to kick logs before attempting to pick them up, as you can get bitten on the hand or arm otherwise.
Looking back from the fire and table towards "White Horse Hills" home for the night. Diane is reading a book and does not double hut, so we only shared three or four huts together. Walking end to end was part of her retirement plan. Just goes to show that you can do it solo as a women! Quite a few do as you read about them in the track register and journal book in each hut.
Dumped my backpack on the table and you can see my boots and gaiters about to get a sun airing. Top bunk has some items on to reserve it. The clothes line was left by someone else. I left my pegless line at one hut, as I forgot to look up when I checked that I had packed everything. Bought another pegless one at Dwellingup store.
Notice the luxury of a tap at the bottom of the steps, so you don't have to walk around to the rain water tank! Monadnocks was the only hut with this water feature. It was very well layed-out and the grounds were cared for too.
Mt.Wells. This OLD "Towermn's Hut" is used as a sleeping shelter. The worst most run-down hut on the total journey. But when the heavens open with a heavy downpour, it presented a welcome shelter from the cold winds too. Glad there were only two of us in it. The pot belly fireplace inside the hut was full of half-burnt wood, from the previous occupants, as it was too wet outside for them to remove. We cleaned it up and got it roaring hot. Just loved the challenge of getting it going with wet wood.
"Murray" campsite after lunch white waiting for my clothes to dry in the wind. Showers stopped them from being hung out in the sunny intervals.
"Dookanelly" campsite where other hikers are drying their sleeping bags. Mine was waterproof and kept in a waterproof bag. Just occasionally it needed an airing, but I slept inside a silk liner, so I only had to wash that when I reached a town.
Half-way between the dunny and the hut. Notice how far away the rainiwater tank is form the hut.
One of the more spoken about huts, because of all the luxery items you can see. Congratulations to the "Volunteers" who takes so much pride in this particular hut.
My usual top bunk that I choose in all the northern huts. The southern ones don't have bunks, but just one large communial area to sleep in. Here you can see the blue silk liner that went inside the sleeping bag, so that my dirty body did no soil the bag.
Looking down from my bunk bed. Some walkers light candles to save battery power. They are good for general purpose lighting, as long as it's not too windy.
"Blackwood" campsite. Notice the clothes blowing horizontally on the drying line! Hut surrounded by Pine trees (no campfires allowed), and the views were fantastic. You can see my "space blanket" half under my jacket, keeping me warm from the freezing wind. Click for close-up.
My nylon rain tarp taken to protect me if I needed to use my lightweight hammock (rather than take a heavier tent)- found a use. At "Blackwood" campsite the wind and rain was driving in and soaking the table and benches. This very strong tarp solved the problem for all 10 of us in the hut (school kids outing).
My spare thin stong line and tent pegs helped keep this protective tarp from blowing away at "Blackwood" campsite.
You can see the table and bench seat is wet, but the tarp reduced the cold draughts all night. It is interesting what you can rig-up when necessity demands.
"Donelly River" has a FREE shelter option,but with no showers or kitchen. Unlike this biker with his heavy swag, I chose to pay money and sleep on a matress bunk, with hot showers and a proper kitchen. Constant showers on Thursday 27th September. Managed to wash all my clothes and put them through the tumble dryer. I felt so fresh on leaving this campsite, although I started to feel sick with a headache and stomach upset as the day went on.
A two storey dunny (loo or toilet) at "Lake Maringup" was the most hi-tech. It was bio-degradeable through wind action as much as water, because of it's location near the fresh water lake. It looked big enough to be a shelter!
"Long Point" campsite (another hut to myself) with "Chatham Island" in the background. Went to the dunny (toilet) and met a "Tiger" snake as I approached the door. It was a hot day and it moved out of my way very quickly!
"Beavis" campsite with the waterhole or small dammed creek, off on the right. One of many Karri trees in the foreground.
That's all my gear spread out at "Dog Pool" shelter, that I had to myself. A burst of sunshine between clouds allowed this quick photograph. Note the puddle on the barbacue plate. The green moss is covering a large log on the right.
Looking back from the river "Shannon", you can just see the "Dog Pool" hut's roof.
The only part I did not like about the southern section of the Track was the banning of camp fires. No where to dry my socks and boots and all of the rest of my wet gear. No sun and no wind and I just had to wait for my body heat to dry my clothes.
It is a 300 metre spur trail from the Track up to "Mt. Chance" campsite. Noted that the water tank outlet and tap, was on the farthest side away from the hut entrance. Got wet again in a huge downpower, just going there to get some water.
It almost looks like "Rame Head" hut should have potted plants growing in this solarium extension. It was built to keep out the wind and rain, while allowing clothes to dry. The front of the hut looks inland towards "Giants" campsite in the hills.
Although this hut is sheltered by a hill of bushes and plants, strong winds still buffeted it. The sunlight slowly lights up the early morning scene.
Definately my number one sunrise picture showing "Rame Head" hut, while looking east towards"Peaceful Bay".
Mosquito net in place suspended from the ceiling. I soaked it in Pyretherine before I left home, so that any mosquitos getting in when I got in, died the moment they landed on the surface. Handy for fly protection too. Never had any beasts raiding my food, as it was always hung up in my backpack. Sometimes I would wrap my silver foil space blanket around the outside, so that I could hear any Possums tampering with it in the night.
"West Howe" campsite where these seasoned Trekkers put up a self-supporing tent inside the hut , to give them extra warmth. They had packed the wrong fuel for their stove, so I let them share my gas stove and they let me share their meal. A happy swop, as I did not have to do any cooking for once.
The very last shelter or hut at "Hidden Valley". I understand other walkers saying that the just wanted to turn around and keep walking. It becomes a way of life, with it's little routines and state of mind. I never knew what was around the next corner, so every experience was new and thought provoking. Could I live back in the" Big Smoke" again?
