ZPacks Hexamid Solo review

I have recently been trialling the ZPacks Hexamid Solo. The Hexamid has been around for a few years now and has had various iterations through its life as Joe Valesko and the ZPacks team have worked upon the basic design and improved it.

I formerly owned a Hexamid a few years ago which was the version where the extended beak came standard but before the split beak of current models was introduced. I sold that model and actually regretted it later. The tent is super lightweight and, although it most definitely has limitations, it can find a useful place in any ultralight hiker’s gear list.

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ZPacks Cuben Fibre 2013 in blue

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Thoughts on the Bibbulmun Track

Having now completed my thru-hike of the Bibbulmun Track, I thought it was worth providing some thoughts on the trail as a whole. Hopefully, this will prove to be of some value to future thru-hikers (or end-to-enders as they are referred to in Australia) considering hiking the trail and also in planning their future hikes.

Trail overview

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The route of the Bibbulmun Track

The route of the trail takes in the best of what Perth, the southwest and southern regions of Western Australia have to offer. From the extensive jarrah forests of the north, through the granite outcrops and viewpoints of the monadnocks, through the transition area to karri forest and onto the plains and wetlands and finally the southern coastal region. The trail allows the hiker to experience the best of these areas and to immerse oneself in the experience.

The trail is long enough in that it can grant a sufficiently extended hike to allow an individual to really get a proper thru-hike experience.

It is also short enough in that it is manageable for people to fit into their lives, particularly those who are in full-time employment and would find it difficult to take off longer periods of time. This hike can be accomplished without needing to resign from your job or take a career break (unless you would like to of course).

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Day 43: The finish

Mutton Bird Campsite (977.7 km) to Albany (1,002.3 km)

Mileage: 24.6 km/15.4 miles

We started bright and early from Mutton Bird campsite at 6 AM having risen around 4.30 AM. It’s amazing how quickly the body clock adjusts to the daylight hours and your routine adjusts to that schedule. At the moment in Western Australia at this latitude, it gets light at that time and is not fully dark until 8.30 PM so there is plenty of available hiking time.

The morning started with a few isolated rain showers which were a feature of the first few days. Fortunately, these had mostly cleared by the time we got underway.

Morning rainfall at sunrise

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Day 41: Across the Nullaki

Denmark (917.6 km) to West Cape Howe Campsite (948.8 km)

Mileage: 31.2 km/19.5 miles (+1.8 km side trail from town)

It was good to rest and refresh in Denmark yesterday. The town has several cafes (yes, chai latte…) and a large supermarket so I was able to get the resupply done for the final three day stretch into the end of the trail in Albany.

To leave Denmark, you need to get across to the Nullaki peninsula which can be done by foot (the long way), road (the cheap way) or boat (the 007 way). Being the debonair individual that I am, I chose the boat and arranged for John from Madfish Charters to take us across Wilson Inlet. Our little cheery boat arrived at 7 AM exactly to take us across the 3km inlet. The good news is those kms are included in the official trail km so we don’t have to walk them.

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Day 40: Into Denmark

William Bay campsite (897.6 km) to Denmark (917.6 km)

Mileage: 20 km/12 miles (+1.8 km side trail to town).

Today was a day when I was glad to have done the longer km yesterday. The highlight of the day  was climbing Mt Hallawell which would have been difficult on top of the beach walk of Mazoletti Beach yesterday which is the longest beach on the trail.

We left William Bay campsite around 6.40 AM with the aim of arriving in Denmark around lunchtime (for obvious reasons). The trail after the campsite was fairly easy being along ridges and being generally undulating rather than the demanding ups and downs of yesterday.


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Day 39: A wild day to William Bay

Quarrum Nature Reserve (864.2 km) to William Bay (897.6 km)

Mileage: 33.4 km/20.9 miles

It was quite stormy last night with some strong winds, a couple of intense rolls of thunder and frequent lightning during the night. The Hexamid stood up reasonably well and I had a fairly low, taut pitch. That also meant some condensation though it was quite manageable. The rain continued this morning so a lie in was called for to wait out the rain. The forecast was rain this morning then clearing by 10 AM as the cold front cleared through. It is unusual to have cold fronts in WA in summer as they are considered more of a winter phenomenon but at least it’s cool.

The day began wandering through Quarrum Nature Reserve which was impressive. It is also known as the Showgrounds and I imagine the wildflowers are really impressive in the right season. There were lots of kangaroos, most of whom were very tame. The scenary was almost English-esque with only the Australian fauna giving things away.


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Day 38: Irwin Inlet by canoe

Peaceful Bay (854.2 km) to Quarrum Nature Reserve (864.2 km)

Mileage: 10km/6.25 miles

Today was a long day.  Not just because of the drive but due to a difficult day yesterday.  We had to take my daughter to  the emergency department yesterday as she took a tumble and hurt her back. I didn’t leave the hospital until after 1 AM and Nicole ended up staying all night. Lauren turned out to be fine but, unfortunately it meant a long day today on next to no sleep.

Peaceful Bay is a 450km drive from Perth but a fairly pleasant one going through some nice little towns on the way such as Balingup and Walpole. We arrived at Peaceful Bay at around 3pm and got going shortly after.


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Heading south (and then east….)

On December 26th, it will be time to head south to complete the last section of the Bibbulmun Track between Peaceful Bay and Albany along the southern coast of Western Australia.

This section of the track runs for 148km and has, apparently, some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline anywhere in Western Australia.  Halfway along this part of the trail is the town of Denmark which is 63km from Peaceful Bay (or 2.5 days hiking) which will help break up the section.

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On the John Muir Trail

 

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Hiking the John Muir Trail

Hard to believe it is already two years ago I was hiking the John Muir Trail through California. The JMT is some of the most epic scenery in the US and winds for 211 miles from Yosemite to the summit of Mount Whitney.  The trail goes through the Sierra Nevada which were called by John Muir “the range of light”.

“Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature’s darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature’s sources never fail.”  John Muir, Our National Parks, 1901

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