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The ambitious can take 1000 kilometres from Kalamunda to Albany on the Bibbulmun Track while others can travel just one kilometre around the Baigup Wetland in Bayswater.
Kathy Miller from Collie embraced hiking more than most, walking 2021 kilometres in 2021, after having a personally tough year in 2020.
“So I set myself challenge to make sure I got out of bed every day and ended up doing 2021 kilometres,” the 52-year-old said.
“I started with two and three kilometre walks, and I’ve worked up, and I can now take a pack and do a 100 kilometre section on the Bibbulmun track in four or five days without any problem.
“But I didn’t do that from the first day, I was just going out for a little walk from my back gate.”
Those walks around Collie remain among her favourite hikes as is the Cape to Cape Track from Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse near Dunsborough to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, near Augusta.
Another highlight was the section of the Bibbulmun Track south of Balingup.
“The sunrise views from the Blackwood hut are just incredible, looking right over the Blackwood River valley,” she said.
Carrie Peters from Wannanup, south of Mandurah, targeted the number of hikes rather than distance travelled and completed 15 walks in 15 weeks over summer.
The mother of five wanted to lose weight and knew a target would help maintain her motivation. Her favourite hike was Whistlepipe Gully in Kalamunda.
Sport and recreation minister David Templeman said WA had quickly become a must-see destination for people seeking nature-based recreation and active experiences.
The state government has spent more than $21 million on trails throughout WA.
HikeWest president Dave Osborne said the increased interest in bushwalking was welcome, but more trails were needed near Perth.
Osborne, who represents WA hiking clubs that cater for both beginners and those wanting to explore beyond the established trails, said some popular trails near Perth had been back to back with people at times during lockdowns.
“Most of the opportunities are restricted to around the Darling Scarp because further out there are water catchment restrictions around the reservoirs,” Osborne said, where the state government does not allow new trails to be built.”
Bushwalking boom: How to avoid getting lost on WA’s trails
Source: Philippines Alive
