Day 23: Possum Springs to Yourdamung

May 26

Written By Slower Hiking

We acknowledge the Nyoongar People as the traditional custodians of the land and waters along the Bibbulmun Track

Carpet of bright pink flowers in foreground with multi-trunked trees in background — Fields of pink boronia late in the day. They are glorious!

The forecast is for 27C (81 F) today, which is pretty warm for hiking in open terrain.

Satellite map of Bibbulmun track route in blue the section from Dwellingup to Collie highlighted yellow todays walk is red — After yesterday’s slog I’m apprehensive but the distance is shorter, about 19km, and the elevation gain and loss much less.

We decide to start early to beat the heat but there are so many wildflowers today that we still arrive in camp at around 4pm!

zoomed in satellite map for the day with distance and elevation graph 19.3 kilometres walking with 300 metres climbing — Nevertheless the time flies by because there is so much to see. Use the Bibbulmun Track Foundation Map 3 Collie

Back view of backpacker in background with dug up ground either side of track in foreground — Varied and rich vegetation but saddening that this section has so much pig damage.

Closeup of an orange and brown asymmetrical flower with donkey ear like petals — Diuris cruenta, a new species!

Bullock Track with dappled sunlit bushes and trees either side under blue sky — Straight, old bullock train logging tracks with gentle gradients. I’m coming to love them!

Back view of hiker with backpack on a track surrounded by spiky black trunked grass trees and tall jarrah — All kinds of fascinating small plants in the open areas amongst the grass trees. Many orchids in bud: enthusiasts, take a good look in these spots!

Closeup of many bright orangw sunlit flowers — Spectacular Hibbertia stellaris growing in a swampy area

Bright orange sunlit flowers on low growing bush with more scattered in the background — Hibbertia stellaris

Close up of spikes of creamy white star shaped flowers with golden yellow flowers in the background — Stackhousia monogyna (Creamy Candles) and yellow Hibbertia

Back view of hiker with pack on sunlit red track with colourful understorey flowers either side under blue sky — A richly diverse understorey and gentle forestry track: what more could we ask?

closeup of star shaped lavender and purple orchid — Elythranthera brunonis (Purple enamel orchid)

Closeup of pink and salmon colured flower with donkey-ear-like petals and a yellow centre — Diuris longifolia (Purple Pansy Orchid)

Closeup of a pink shiny petalled flower centre with a sand wncrusted bud top left — Purple enamel orchid showing the unique and distinctive glossiness of the petals in sunlight

Closeup of numerous small pink nodding umbrella shaped flowers amongst small green leaves — Tetratheca sp.

White curving sandy path through colourful shrubs and trees in the background under a clear blue sky — Spectacular wildflower country

Walker on red stony track under a huge eucalypt tree with grass trees all around under a clear blue sky

Closeup of a purple three=petalled flower with white and yellow in the centreand short spiky green leaves growing on orange-yellow gravel — A recently burnt section with all kinds of small plants. I’m captivated by these tiny iris that I’ve seen before, Patersonia babianoides - the leaves are everywhere but only now and then do I get to see them in flower. Often Patersonias are open for just one day.

sunlit view across swampland with numerous pink and cream flowers and scattered burnt branches of shrubs under a clear blue sky — And into some marvellous swampland. We are here at midday so the light is harsh but wow, it is fantastic, with so many different plants.

Side view of hiker with pack in midground on track through colourful swampland

Closeup of lemon yellow flower surrounded by closed buds — Many different swamp sundews

Closeup of clear pink half opened flowers and buds against a shaded background

Hiker with poles and backp[ack top left approaching small flat wooden bridge over channel in swampland

Closeup of two star shaped bright yellow flowers with three uppermost petals striped bright red — A patch of especially brilliantly coloured cowslip orchids (Caladenia flava)

Backlit view of slender orange flowers with long antennae-like stamens — Basket flower Adenanthos obovatus

Hiker with poles and pack approaching on white sandy track surrounded by pink and yellow wildflowers — Just fabulous!

Afternoon backlit view through trees with a carpet of pink flowers underneath — Tired legs completely forgotten!

Hikers in a three sided rustic wooden hut with a grasstree right foreground — And here we are at the hut. John is happy to be photographed. He knows the track inside out and spends a lot of time on it. Yet another of the many wonderful hikers we meet on the track.

View over picnic table and open jarrah forest with grass trees from under a wooden verandah — Beaut outlook from Yourdamung Hut

White sandy open campsite surrounded by blckened jarrah tree trunks and low shrubs and groundcovers — Sandy tent pads for a change, much gentler on tent floors than that lateritic gravel!

It’s been a cracker walk today and for me a much needed contrast to yesterday. My confidence is seesawing in direct correlation with the difficulty of the day: I need to develop more of Geoff’s Zen!

How to prepare mentally for a thru hike

Dwellingup to Collie cover page

Slower Hiking https://Slowerhiking.com

Day 22: Dookanelly to Possum Springs

Day 24: Yourdamung to Harris Dam