Something I have thought about doing since I was here over a year ago. The Cape to Cap Track (great link) is a hike 3 hours south of Perth in the Margaret River Region of Western Australia. It is a 135 km trek from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste. Going off on an adventure of this type was something that I could not justify doing not having a job. I felt my time should be more focused, what if I were to miss an important job offer phone call because I was out in the bush? I was not about to let that happen. BUT! No need to worry, I had already received a job offer from Bankwest (and accepted) and would be starting on the 10th.
My trek could not have worked out more perfectly. My parents were already going down to the Margaret River for the long holiday weekend (Western Australia Day) with friends. I planned to tag along and have them drop me off at Cape Leeuwin and leave a car at Cape Naturaliste, the other end of the trek, that I would drive back when I was done. Go figure? I was excited that this trek was actually going to work out and started making all necessary preparations.
I had traveled to Australia with a bag that I had got to backpack around Europe with in college. It has an internal frame and is made to double as a back packing back pack (there's a difference). It was not exactly designed for the type of trek that I was embarking on, but it is what I had so I made it work. Other essentials that I needed before I took off into the Australian bush alone were a stove, three of the finest freeze dried dinners I could find, rain gear (poncho/back pack cover), a head lamp and water purification tabs. Everything else we more or less had. My parents brought over a really nice 4 man tent, a down sleeping bag and a sleeping pad. I also found a canteen, and a camping pot for boiling water that I could take. I spent a good part of the two days leading up to my trek planning. I planned my route made a rough day to day itinerary. I planned what I was going to eat for each meal, snacks for the trail etc..
I thought I did a pretty good job too. I was proud, confident, and excited. There was something about heading off into the bush alone for a week that really excited me. Another thing I could check off the bucket list, not that I had this on it. Like so many things that I have done this year it was a unique opportunity one that I may never get a chance to do again. I was going into the wild. *Yes, I watched Into the Wild on Netflix before I left. Good movie if you haven't seen it and have two and a half hours to spare.
I planned to complete the trip in 5 days 4 nights. I would leave at noon Saturday and be done Wednesday after lunch. Below was my food rations;
Breakfast - two packs of oatmeal, instant coffee (4 mornings planned for)
Lunch - sardines, multi-grain rye crispbread (4 lunches)
Dinner - 3 freeze dried dinners (lamb risotto, Mexican, venison noodle) *figured I wouldn't need one after the first day easy hike, big sendoff lunch.
Dessert - peanut m&ms (a backpacking favorite since I climbed Mt. Whitney when I was 10)
On the trail - trail mix and homemade granola bars (love you mom)
Misc - Jar of crunchy peanut butter (used as filler)
My days were roughly;
Saturday - 17.5 km from Cape Leeuwin to the Deepdene Campsite
Sunday - 32 km from Deepdene Campsite to Contos Campground (campsites = free, campgrounds = $7)
Monday - 29.5 km Contos Campground to Ellenbrook Campsite
Tuesday 21.5 km Ellenbrook Campsite to Moses Campsite
Wednesday 34 km Moses Campsite to Cape Naturaliste *didn't happen
Wednesday 23.5 km Moses Campsite to Mount Duckworth Campsite *took the extra day
Thursday 10.5 km Mount Duckworth Campsite to Cape Naturaliste
Next the journey begins..
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