I am going to walk 1000 km.
Why you ask?
My goal, is to
raise $1 for each meter that I walk. This would raise $1 million to allow the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) to support research to cure, treat
and prevent Type 1 Diabetes. I chose this organisation because my wife, her
sister and my cousin all have Type 1 Diabetes and JDRF is a global organisation
that is putting money into research for a cure for this disease.
I invite you to
join me, to think globally and act locally, to support JDRF and our family.
What is the Bibbulmun track?
In December 2014 I
am planning to hike the Bibbulmun track in the beautiful corner of SW Western
Australia. The Bibbulmun track is one of the longest hiking trails in Australia
stretching 1000km or 620 miles from Kalamunda in the Eastern suburbs of Perth
to historic Albany on the south coast. The track was officially opened in 1979
and has since grown from its original distance of around 900km to currently
just over 1000km.The Bibbulmun track is one of the world's great long distance
trails. In 1993 it was overhauled and modelled after the very famous and often
walked Appalachian Trail in the Eastern USA. A series of three sided huts were
built a comfortable days walk apart and they are an essential part of the trail
today. The climate in Western Australia is very dry for many months of the year
and the water tanks attached to these huts provide the only water for most of
the trail during the drier Summer months.
Why is it so remote?
Perth, Australia is
one of the most remote cities in the world. The nearest city with a population
of more than 100,000 is Adelaide which is 2,104km or 1,307 miles away. Because
of this, traffic on the track is often very scarce especially in Summer time.
The average time taken to do the hike is around 6-8 weeks and around 100 people
a yr on average take on this challenge with about 30 doing it end to end in one
go. The track consists of 58 sections with a town or a hut at the end of each
section. The huts average about 10km (6 miles) apart for the first 150km (93
miles) or so and from there on about 20km (12 miles) apart.
What can I expect to see?
Starting in the
North, the track winds its way through the Darling ranges heavily forested in
Jarrah, and Marri timber. Towards the middle of the track the hiker is dwarfed
by the majestic Karri forests around the town of Pemberton. These magnificent
trees are part of the Eucalyptus family and are found nowhere else in the
world, they can grow to a towering 90m (295ft) tall making them one of the
tallest trees in the world. After leaving the Karri forests you reach the
coastal plains around Northcliffe and from there finally reach the great
Southern Ocean. Now the track heads mostly in an Easterly direction toward the
historic city of Albany. It follows a picturesque and breathtaking coastline of
diverse flora and fauna and winds its way past the towns of Walpole and
Denmark. As you pass through Walpole you will encounter another rare species of
Eucalypt - the Red Tingle tree. These trees also grow to over 75m (246ft) tall
and can have a circumference of 24m (79ft). Some of them are over 400 yrs old.
These trees are found nowhere else on Earth except for this small patch of them
around Walpole. They have such personalities, some of them have curious faces
on them, from the gnarled bumpy trunks and it makes you feel like you are in
Middle Earth from the Lord of the Rings! I am sure I saw Treebeard during one
of my expeditions through the area!
The South West Wilderness area - A world renowned biodiversity hotspot
The track meanders
its way through one of the World's 34 hot spots in fauna and flora diversity.
There are many species of plants and animals that you will find nowhere else on
Earth. If you happen to walk the track in Spring - September to November in
Australia - the area will come alive with hundreds of species of wildflowers
and orchids. This area only covers 5% of Australia's land mass but has an
estimated 8,000 species of plants - more than one third of Australia's known
flowering plants. Over 75% of these are endemic to this area (found nowhere
else on Earth) There are also a number of endemic species of animals here
including 7 species of mammals, 13 species of birds, 34 species of reptiles and
28 species of frogs. For example the Numbat, an adorable little marsupial
anteater and the tiny Honey Possum which weighs just 7-12 grams! They are also
marsupials which means they give birth to their young live and then grow it in
their pouches. They weigh just 0.005g when they are born!
Can I break the record?
I will be
attempting to hike the track unassisted and self supported from the Northern
Terminus in Kalamunda to the Southern Terminus in Albany during the month of
December 2014. The current fastest known time for a self supported hike is 17
days 15 hrs and 10 min set in 2008 by Andy Fawcet. The fastest known time for a
supported walk was set by Bernadette Benson, an ultra marathon runner in 15
days 9 hrs 48 min in 2011. I will be attempting to break the current record for
the self supported hike of 17 days 15 hrs and 10 min and in doing so I am
raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). My wife
Jenn was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was just 7 yrs of age and her
sister Beth Ann was also diagnosed at the age of 3, I also have a first cousin
Josh who has Type 1 Diabetes.
Please help us!
I will be taking on
the challenge of the Bibbulmun Track to support JDRF and all the people who
suffer from this disease. Type 1 Diabetes is a life-long autoimmune disease,
and as yet there is no cure. JDRF is the world's largest charitable supporter
of type 1 Diabetes research. Australia and Perth in particular, is at the
forefront of ground breaking research that is already leading to major
breakthroughs in diabetes management - research that is welcomed by all those
living with type 1 diabetes.
This is only
possible with ongoing financial support from our community and that is where I
need your help!
My goal, is to
raise $1 for each meter that I walk. This would raise $1 million to allow JDRF
to support research to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes.
I invite you to
join me, to think globally and act locally, supporting JDRF and our family.
Follow this link to
donate now. http://jdrf.org.au/DarrenKing
I will be posting
videos and pictures of the track in December, as well as my training
adventures so you can follow along at home. I will also be doing video track
notes for those of you who would be interested in hiking the Bibbulmun track -
I highly recommend it!
Look forward to
sharing this adventure with you!
Darren
