A Perth man is thought to have set a new hiking record in the most Australian way possible-not realising that he’d even done it.
School teacher Jono Ride set out on Australia’s famous Bibbulmun track and completed the 1,000km in 16 days, thought to be the quickest solo completion of the route.
“After I started walking I realised I was going quite quick and a friend of mine said, ‘did you know the fastest guy that’s ever done it unassisted did it in about 17 and a half days?” said Mr Ride in an interview with ABC Radio Perth.
“My feet a little bit sore but other than that I’m pretty good.”
The track traverses a variety of landscapes
The track, which runs from the Perth Hills to Albany, is one of the most gruelling hikes in the country and attracts more than 80,000 adventurers every year.
For a lot of Western Australians, the Bibbulmun is one of those things you drive past on the road and say ‘I’d like to do that one day'” said Mr Ride.
“When you’re alone in the middle of the Western Australian bush at night and you’ve been alone by yourself for days it gets pretty weird.
“I know I went quite quick on this one but you still have time to meet some really interesting people and get some stories.”
Mr Ride encountered over 20 snakes on his trip
While no official records are kept, Linda Daniels, executive director of the track’s foundation, said the event was hugely significant.
“Generally, end to end we tend to say it’s going to take you between six to eight weeks on average, but it can take up to eleven weeks,” said Ms Daniels.
People that have walked the track really quickly often end up in serious injury…Between Kalamunda and Dwellingup, there is no other town so you really have to be self-sufficient with all your food and the equipment that you need.”
Feeling inspired? Find out more about the track here
“I walked past a guy at the Mumballup Pub and he said ‘anyone as crazy as you deserves a beer’ and he gave a beer for the walk,” said Mr Ride.
Given he walked 60 km’s per day in 14-hour shifts, he sure as hell earnt it.
Someone is always there to help on the Bibbulmun
