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I am planning on walking Kokoda in July 2013. My son is super-fit but will be aged 14 and 3 months at the time. I desperate to take him…..any tips? Feedback on how other kids his age have coped. We will do a 12 month preparation prior to leaving.
Hi Andrew, we have taken lots of school aged children on the track. The main problem our staff have faced is their mental abillity to continue when they hit the wall. Some children just want to give up and throw down their backpacks and refuse to carry them any longer. I have quite a few photographs of our porters doubling a pack on their back and one on their front simply because they feel its their job to get their trekkers to the next destination. Some of them come good and the following day start to carry again.
What we suggest is that you as the parent know your child. If you think he is strong, capable of carrying for the duration of the trek then ok let him carry himself.
On the other hand, we strongly suggest that you hire a personal porter for him. He then has a friend to walk with, talk to etc and they bond and become best friends.
This we have found to be fool proof and have never had a problem irrespective of their age as his porter will be with him every step of the way and your son will go back home with an understanding of PNG culture and proud that he achieved something in his life that he will never ever forget.
Thanks for the encouraging words……I am currently undecided about the porter, rolling the concept around in my head for a while until I decide. I don't imaging that Liam's pack will be especially heavy, and he is a determined kid, but I won't really know until he is tested on some local walks. A few months ago I got 'courage', 'mateship', 'endurance and 'sacrifice' tattooed on my bicep and that really sparked his interest. We've had lots of conversations since then, as you can imagine. I'm trying to sort through posts to get recommendations re pack size, boots, tent types etc at the moment. Why, for example, do people suggest a flat type of tent, not a 'dome'?
Hi again, you appear to be taking your trek very seriously so am sure you both will have had sufficient training prior to your walk so should do well.
With regards to tents – these days there are lots of traditional huts on the track. Villages charge us as trek operators a nightly fee irrespective of whether you sleep in a tent on the grass or in their hut. Some trekkers put up the tent inside the hut and leave off the fly just to protect themselves from insects etc.
Sometimes if there is a snorer in the group they will hint he sleeps away from the group in the hut so way one or the other, tents can come in handy. In my opinion, buy the cheapest tent you can find that is waterproof and light in weight and can sleep the two of you. At the end of the day, the lighter the better to carry and of course when it rains you do not want to wake up wet or in a leaking tent. Apart from that, I do not think it matters what shape as long as you get those two things right.
In fact that is the most common thing mentioned when trekkers complete their trek, that they took too much. Trekkers who come back to do the track again, trim so much off what they carry. On average first time trekkers leave with pack weighing 15-18 kg. Next time they trek they have it down to 12-15kg without water.
Basically anything you bring, pick the lightest – be it your tent or your plate etc even your boots. Choose good quality boots but go for a lighter pair rather than a heavier pair. Rather then t/shirts, purchase lightweight clothes from a camping store that dry quickly. A pair of skins to help stop rashes but are really lightweight and easy to wash and wear.
You make it sound all so simple………thanks. Just need to stop counting down the days though, its doing my head in, July 2013 is soooooo far away. Just ordered the guide to the track…..hoping it gets here before christmas and the beach!- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.