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Hi Everyone,
I have been reading these forums since I decided to do the trek almost 18 months ago. The information from so many experienced people has been great, takes most of the guess work out of it. Thus my reason for this post, as I don't think the question has been asked before. I booked with a trekking company about 6 mths ago through a travel agent. The agency is organising a group trek of 16 people, the only person I know in the group is the mate that I'm going with. When talking to the agency today to ask a few questions and finalise the deposit we were told that a member of the group will be 5 years old.
I'm a bit blown away, as a five year old child would be the last person I would have considered being included in the trip. Now before I am accused of being ageist I should say that I am the father of a 3 and 4 year old and my mate the father of 3. So I don't have a problem with kids but I do have a few concerns with what I consider a bit young for such a trek, these include :
– The childs ability to actually complete the trek
– Their health & welfare during the trek
– The ability for a five year old to actually comprehend what they are about to do (walk hard for 9 days)
– The impact that such a decision can make upon the other members of the group.
I'm probably venting my spleen a little at the moment as I only found out about this this afternoon. So rather than asking myself all these questions I thought I'd ask the experts. Your opinions would be appreciated, thanks.
P.S. I'm booked for Anzac Day '08Hi there, just noticed your post so thought I would give you my two cents worth.
If a 5 year old walked with us at Kokoda Trekking I can honestly say our KTL boys would get him home. We have had two 7 year olds at different times and they did just fine.
I can remember on one trek before they headed out they were saying they would all stick together. When they came back in they said after they saw how our boys treated the son, they did not worry about him as he was doing much better than him and his father, yeah 3 generations!
Now I am not saying all 7 year olds could do this but obviously their fathers put some time and effort into training with them and they were certainly not overweight in any way at all.
One of the 7 year olds joked when he came back in off the track that he was in the camp playing soccer with our boys when Dad and Grandpa walked in a couple of hours later.
The only thing you have a right to say as a potential trekker, is why they cant have their own private trek as you are uncomfortable walking with a 5 year old in a large group as with Anzac they are on the norm HUGE groups with most companies from down south. At 5 he will become the youngest aussie kid to walk that I am aware of. I think our 7 year olds are the youngest to date but I could be wrong.
We cap our Anzac treks at 20 and walk in all different directions on different days to try and make less impact on the track whereas some trekking companies head out with 150-180 + including trekkers and porters!
PS you have been on our forums for 18 months and yet you picked another trekking company, now I AM DISAPPOINTED !!!
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IMGP2447__Small_.JPGI think 5 is a bit too young. Having 4 boys, I wouldn't even contemplate taking a 5 year old! He ( and I can only assume it's a boy) would most probably end up having to be carried, cant see Dad doing that unless he is SUPER fit, so it will fall to the porters, who have enough to carry. There is a lot of difference between a 5 year old and a 7 year old, at 5, kids are still babies.
I would strongly agree that a five year old is not physically mature enough to walk this track.
As a father of two boys now aged 25 and 26 who walked the track with me in late August last and who have been experienced bush walkers since aged 13, I would not have allowed them to participate in such a walk much earlier than age 10 and even then provided absolutely no weight was carried.
I actively participated in marathon running in the late seventies and early eighties. I witnessed young boys (under 10) participating. One later became a champion schoolboy athlete and then "washed up" at age 18, a victim of chronic bone stress factures. This was put down to too much stress put on developing bones too early. I believe walking the Kokoda Track at such a young age is very unwise in view of the unknown long term potential damage to developing bone structures.
I am not medically trained however these are my experiences and observations and I would strongly urge parents wishing to take young children along the track that comprehensive medical advice be sought .Geoff Hardie
Hi Shephard, I'm actually doing that trek with you along with my son. Yes I am the mother! I appreciate your concern and I can assure you I asked both the travel agency and the tour operator before booking if a) everyone on the tour was aware of my son's age and
that he would be able to handle the trek. We recently did a trek in South Africa albeit not the Kokoda and not 9 days – however he managed better than all of us. I understand the enormity of this challenge as does he (as best as a 5 year old can). When I booked this tour I stressed that I would not put him through this if there was any concern of him not making the trek.He has been training – he's has had his shots and he also understands that he is one heck of a lucky child to have this opportunity. When we did South Africa he actually forged very strong friendships with the older people on the tour – some of which were over 70 year old. I have actually spoken to an older person doing this trek with us (he is over 70) and he assured me he was all for it and fully supportive of it. My son – after having learnt about the war from Peter Fitsimmons book – now wants to be in the Army.
I appreciate your concerns but I wish you had expressed them to the travel agency as I'm a little disappointed that I am finding out about your concerns so close to the trek – now less than 30 days, as like I said above I did stress that I would only do the walk if everyone in our group was supportive.
Hi Shepherd,
I feel that I must share my views with you. I am a family friend of this 5 yr old child who will be on your trek! I can understand how you may have initially felt when you were made aware of this child's inclusion in the tour!
What you need to remember is that each child and their abilities differ from one another! You do not know the family or their life situation, these things shape individuals and mould them into the people that they are! The reason that I say this is simple, this child is an amazing child!
This child has white water rafted, has trekked through Africa, has sky dived, is in the Nippers and has travelled the world more extenstively than many adults. His mother would not take him unless she felt it appropriate, she would not take him if he were potentially at risk she would simply not take him if advised not to do so by the organising operators. I can tell you that he is currently in training with his mother and walks on average at least 5-10km's a day. He understands that the track is special and will be honouring his pop on Anzac day with the support of his mum.
Shepheard, to be honest if it were me, I would more concerned about the eldery trekkers that will be on the trip rather than the child.
So having said all of that, perhaps take some inspiration from this young man, you might feel differently once you have spent some time with him.
If your not prepared to do that, change your trek dates!
Hi Vanhamster and others
Firstly I am 69 years old and am walking the track to celebrate and be on the track for my 70th birhday in September I would be quite happy to have the young fella along would be fun I reckon.
I notice, with exception, Vanhamster's comments about being more worried about the elderly doing the trek well from what I heard from talking to a few "oldies" who have walked it is not the youngsters or elderly that you have to worry about as just about everyone of them has trained the ones you need to be concerned about are those "Gun Ho" younger ones who feel that they know better that they just do not need any training at all, often coming unprepared, can't see the necessity for porters and carry thier own overloaded packs these are the ones, not the youngsters or eldely, who often "Crash Out" early into the trek with the need, if possible, for more porters to run in to assist them.
Not having a shot at the genuine younger generation who often quite capably carry thier packs these have done their training and often are the ones along with the porters who willingly help others if they get into trouble.
Disappointing as Gail mentioned earlier that anyone should use this forum for so long and then not use KTL for thier trek, pity for them also they are the ones who miss out with the extras like a Sing Sing etc that only KTL puts on for thier trekkers.
Looking foward very much to my Trek (435) with KTL and I do really hope there some youngsters along with a couple more "Oldies" on it.
I hope the 5 year old and his mum who ever they go with have a real cool time.
Brian
Hi everyone fom Holland where I have just arrived on Holidays,
It seems the 5 year old has a wide range of adventure activity which may see him through safely.
I do wonder if the parents have sought medical opinion on the issues I raised in my post of Dec 13th last, i.e. the stress being put on developing bones which will not become apparent for many more years.Regards, Geoff Hardie
Hi Shepherd,
Presently in Singapore on a stop over after eights weeks away from home. Have been out of contact for past 6 weeks. Interested to know how your trek went with the 5 year old.
Regards, Geoff Hardie
Hi Anissa,
Pleased to hear your trek went well and Caylan completed the track with apparent ease.
As a parent I would have not allowed my children at this age to go for all the reasons stated in my previous posts.
I assume however you sought medical opinion on the long term effects of subjecting someone so young to this endurance task. I would be interested to know what your medical advice was. Of course we all will not know for many years, exactly what adverse consequences there will be, if any. I hope there will not be any for Caylan's sake.
Sorry to sound negative however I do have some strong views on this issue based upon personal experiences over 28 years of parenting.Cheers, Geoff Hardie
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