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Hi
Just wondering if I am perhaps a little long in the tooth to do it, I am a healthy but slightly overweight 69 year old and very much would like to spend my 70th birthday, September 2008, on the track.In my younger days was a real keen bushwalker although of late have not been as active, with the possibility of walking the track I have been spending 1-2hours 5 days a week for the past month or so on the cardio gear at my local gym, am a little over weight but that is coming down.
My GP has not said yes or no yet but has inidicated that if I get my weight down he felt that he would give me the okay.
Whilst from the research I have done I can see that it would certainly not be a picnic but quite a challenge, I would be a fool at 70 not to use a porter I know it is hard my main concern at present, there are a few minor other ones, is the creek/river crossing "Walking the Plank" have heard some many stories although from what I have found that Porters will supply a lot of assistance whilst crossing.
Wonder if there are any other more mature trekers who have done the track and can advise me if I am perhaps dreaming?
Look forward to any replies not only from the more mature but you younger fellas also.
Brian
Hi Brian,
make no mistake, it is very hard. Probably the hardest thing I have ever done. However in our group we had a lot of 'mature' trekkers, a couple who were on the big end of 60 and I think 1 or 2 who were around 70. I would suggest that you do the trek starting from Ower's. In your training, walk up lots of hills, a lot of times. there is no reason why you couldn't do it,as long as you prepare well in advance. A porter would be a good way to go, my son was 19 and found it extreamly hard to carry his own pack, but you will most probably be carrying a day pack, which would weigh in at around 7 kg with water, so train with one. Take the longest trek you can, as this will not only give you time to enjoy the scenery, you will not have seen anything like it, but you will be able to go at a slower pace. We kept up a regime of 15-20min walking and 5-10 min rest. This may seem a lot, but those 15-20 minutes seem like hours. I see you are in Browns Plains in Brisbane. To test your fitness, take a drive up to Beerburrum, north of Caboolture and walk up Mt Beerburrum. It is 750 mtrs high, but straight up. this is where I did my training and heard that a trekking group from the Sunshine Coast bring groups down reguarly to train up and down this mountain.
Good Luck
NettieHi Brian,
Congratulations on you objective. I am one of the 60+ year olds who walked with Nettie from Kokoda in late August last. It was one of my life's most memorable highlights.
I would recommend you follow Allan Bradley's excellent article posted on November 1st. Given the time available and the identification of issues you need to address I am sure you can do it with the continuing right preparation. There is simply no substitute to finding the toughest and steepest hills and training relentlessly. You have ample time to prepare and achieve your objective. Good luckRegards, Geoff Hardie
Thanks Nettie
I will certainly take your advice at present I am concentrating on getting my weight down, whilst not excessive it is a little high do not want to carry unnecessary body weight, spend up to 2 hours 5 days a week in the cardio area in thelocal gym. Once I have it down I will also start doing some serious training.
Whilst I wanted to be on the track for my 70th in September whilst I know it rains any time there I was wondering which generally are the driest months, I imagine mid winter when the nights are also cold?
It sure looks like in the new year I will have to climb as many steep high hills as possible, I recently went up Mt Warning no problems going up but coming down really got to backs of my legs they really cramped up, partly due I think for not drinking enough water. I could hardly make it back to the car.
I agree the only real way to train is to walk, walk and walk as hard a track as possible.
Thanks again
BrianHi Geoff
Thanks for your interest also.
Not used to these forums went looking for Allan Bradley's article but could not find it will keep looking.
Regards Brian
Hi Brian, we say to all our trekkers, you have to remain positive firstly and tell yourself you CAN DO IT! I can remember when I walked at age 55 I too had my doubts as to whether I had done enough training. The night of the first day I asked my business partner Russell Eroro, 'do you think I am going to make it' ? ?
I did not think this was such a wierd question seeing I was directing my question to a guide who had walked in excess of 12 years! His reply was: I never want to hear this type of question again, the minute you start thinking negative thoughts you will not make it. Think positive at all times and do not give up!
My friend Bev was 65 at the time and did extremely well. Bev has worked as a trained nurse for more years than I am sure she would like to count and is obviously used to being on her feet for long periods so in the end did much better than myself who was used to sitting at a computer in an office.
We both enjoyed our trek so much and kept saying to each other that while it was tough we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves!
Weight is not such a big issue as long as you are fit enough. We had one woman who was over 120 kg and she made it with sheer determination. If you were to look through hundreds of our photographs in the photo gallery I am sure you will find heaps of pics where trekkers are not exactly a size 10 or equiv for a male. However the one thing that does stand out is fitness. One cannot be a couch potato and then come and walk these mountains.
The main training is to do whatever you do OFTEN. As one guy said to me, if he had to leave it to the weekend to head out to a mountain outside of where he lived he would only be able to train once a week. What he did was to find the largest hill in his area….park his car….then up and down as many times as he could building up to more times as his fitness level increased.
Another guy did pretty much the same in Brisbane. If you want to read his story click on the following:
http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=789
The article on our website that was mentioned above and is well worth reading can be read by clicking on the following:
http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=803
If you wanted to read about my own trek please click on:
http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=207
Stay focused, stay positive and train hard for a couple of months with lots of walks and an exercise bike to strengthen you muscles above your knees and YOU WILL MAKE IT !
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