tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085073287622660650.post7646631014994930680..comments2023-04-06T00:52:47.910-07:00Comments on Running Down Under: The Pilgrim Trail (Camino Salvado): Subiaco to New Norcia, WABernadette Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02395370031916207980noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085073287622660650.post-82195063916756059692020-09-13T05:22:15.472-07:002020-09-13T05:22:15.472-07:00Hi Bernadette
In gathering intel about the trail ...Hi Bernadette <br />In gathering intel about the trail i came across your detailed account ... which was a little sobering as I leave in a couple of days time to do the same via the chittering route, and at a far less arduous pace. Im wondering about the trail markers 4 years on, I doubt whether there has been much improvement, and know from Spain that even the most prolithic marking can be subject to gremlims ... The account was helpful particularly with photos ... Thank you and all the best Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12403596704486135599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085073287622660650.post-29718052770523488462016-12-14T00:30:01.133-08:002016-12-14T00:30:01.133-08:00Thanks for being so determined to get this trail s...Thanks for being so determined to get this trail sanctioned for public use. The little details are coming along! Good for people to appreciate where the gaps are as it is, and what is available for the solo trekker. I wouldn't recommend the timing to others, either! I've done the Bibbulmun in 15 days, done numerous 4,000m plus mountain climbs, trekked Mongolia solo, done an Arctic multi day race, etc, so have some experience with extreme environments. And still recce'd this in advance and carried 3 GPS units plus Spot tracker... Bernadette Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02395370031916207980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085073287622660650.post-56914331975130482212016-12-14T00:24:47.157-08:002016-12-14T00:24:47.157-08:00Thanks for your comments, TB. I did actually mean ...Thanks for your comments, TB. I did actually mean Day 5's distance. Their website had said Calingiri Rd to New Norcia was 28k, but the map said 14k. To be honest, I took the website notes as a bonus, but had used the GPS file and maps for all planning. So 14k was in my brain. I'd also mentioned the daily totals to the foundation in advance, citing 14k for the last section and they did not tell me I was wrong. It turned out neither 14k, nor 28k were accurate! Bernadette Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02395370031916207980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085073287622660650.post-62234616061459072072016-12-11T17:04:25.970-08:002016-12-11T17:04:25.970-08:00Great story Bernadette and very fair. I applaud yo...Great story Bernadette and very fair. I applaud your determination to walk in such conditions - not something we would encourage most walkers to try though! I take on board all your valid criticisms and they are areas we are acutely aware of and working towards resolving. Because the trail is often in areas that are under the jurisdiction of other "organizations" we are powerless to get things to the level we would wish in the timeframe we desire. I sincerely look forward to meeting with you in 2017 and learning more from you. Duncan. Chairman PTFAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01660583782109558264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9085073287622660650.post-7103429139220492842016-12-11T16:27:14.555-08:002016-12-11T16:27:14.555-08:00Enjoyed reading your post on this. More pilgrim tr...Enjoyed reading your post on this. More pilgrim trail markers would be good, and obviously better water source (especially in late Spring/Summer)options would help. If it became a popular route maybe 1 or 2 campsites could be constructed. Sounds like 4 major camping points are; 1. (i)Caversham Discovery park or (ii) Swan Valley tourist park, 2. Walyunga (i) by the river (ii)near the entrance gate with ranger permission or (iii) near the north end of WNP 3. Julimar State Forest 4. (i) the Carrah farmstay (booked with 1 weeks notice) or (ii) bushland near Bindoon Military area or (iii) (2) Julimar State Forest near Calingiri Road and Old Plains Road junction with Rita Erickson Nature Reserve on the right. Some fantastic photos tell the story of the pilgrimage well!!! I think your photo caption and another section stating that "day 5 will be longer" is referring to day 4?? Have to laugh at the " I was sweating so much they had to put a warning sign on the road." ...oh the irony of the "water on road" sign... Maybe if arrangements had been made in advance the Dom Salvado crypt could have been viewed. Probably have to organise with the correct church people in advance in Perth... I've run on most of the Orlov trail as have a few other people based in Aveley,and the section near the Equestrian Centre is confusing, I think its easier just to stay on Cathedral Avenue, although there is some other potential detours in the area. I think there needs to be a Pilgrim Trail guestbook in New Norcia,(maybe one in Subiaco too for people starting in New Norcia going North to South) so anyone completing the trail can sign it like the one on Ellen Peak,or at Ball Creek on the Bibbulmun. A Pilgrim trail completion certificate signed by the priest might be good too, especially if children or teenagers undertake the pilgrimage, something to mark the achievement.I still have my "climbing certificate" somewhere which marked my first summit of Mt Trio as a 9 year old, and Bluff Knoll as a 12 yr old which were special at the time. Sounds like its a bit overgrown from Bells Rapids to Walyunga. Be interesting to see what its like in a wet winter on this route,and also comparing the New Norcia to Subiaco route with the Subiaco to New Norcia route. Pity about the polluted river water too with the pesticides etc. Early morning starts the way to go with the summer-like heat. Sounds like its reasonably well marked by the markers in some sections and completely neglected for very long stretches, so maps/GPS essential. Be nice to get more markers out there so that the maps/GPS become more of a backup and less an essential. Well done on successfully traversing the 5-day adventure challenge which many others might have had to quit. Many thanks for the detailed day by day descriptions,and the photos. Hope to have a shot at this amazing and special 185km pilgrimage some day...trailblazer777https://www.blogger.com/profile/15260445561233341753noreply@blogger.com