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I am doing the trek in late September. I am walking at the moment with 12kgs in my pack for 1 hour minimum every night and 1 long walk (4 hours) through the Royal National Park on the weekend incorporating hills as much as possible. I am 35. I have the option of the shared or personal porter but am still undecided about what to do as I want to push myself as much as possible. Any advice?
Hi there, on average most packs weigh in around the 15kg mark if someone is carrying their own but mostly the average would be around the 17kg mark including water.
Hence, if you are comfortable carrying this weight and it does not affect your balance than by all means give it a go.
If on the other hand you struggle up what we call test mountain (from Hoi to Isurava) then you had better hire someone.
Another option is a shared porter like you have suggested and have them carry your tent/sleeping bag etc. and share the cost with one of the other trekkers.
<img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//tongue.gif” style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”:P” border=”0″ alt=”tongue.gif” /> Hi Hunty (That was my Smily look after I reached Isurava from Kokoda!)
I recently did the Trek from North to South and trained for a number of months with a 15kg pack and a 2kg Hydration Pack and it was my plan to share a Porter with my Brother, with me losing the toss and getting the first day, which I believe was the worst day, climbing from Hoi to Deniki then onto Isurava, then onto the Battlesite.
Basically after that day the plan went out the window and I chose to then have a Porter for the remainder of the trip, as at 60, I did want to enjoy it as well.
I was fortunate enough to receive an absolutely fantastic young Porter, Maurice from Port Moresby. He was a remarkable young fellow and anticipated my every move and absolutely nothing was a problem for him. Maurice was typical of all the Porters selected by Gail and Russell and I can only offer the highest recommendation for Maurice.
In hindsight, I believe I could have made it quite comfortably, utilising the original plan of sharing a Porter with my Brother, as the second day would have allowed me to recover sufficiently to handle days 3, 5 & 7, but hey that's how I felt on ANZAC Day eve, buggered!
If I was to trek again, I would definitely share a Porter (I would choose Maurice though).
I highly recommend though to train on as many hills as you can and as steep as possible. I would also suggest that you do it on as many successive days as possible, because that is 'specific training'. The mountain I trained on was 470m and just prior to going, I'd do it twice in a row in an attempt to lift my fitness level.
Hope this is beneficial for you and I have no doubt you will complete the trek and your feeling of exileration when you walk over the end line is such a wonderful mixed feeling, that it is difficult to explain.
Good luck and I'll find out what Trek No your on and keep tabs on you. Who are you walking with?
Cheers
Waza (Trek 83)
<img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//biggrin.gif” style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”:D” border=”0″ alt=”biggrin.gif” /> (My look now as I sit down to Dinner with a nice glass of Red)
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