Am I Ready

[cathy]

i'M TREKING ON THE 19TH JUNE AND AM CARRYING MY OWN PACK, I'VE NOTICED NOT MANY WOMEN DO, SO NOW I'M WONDERING IF I'M KIDDING MYSELF. I HAVE BEEN TRAINING ON THE THOUSAND STEPS IN FERNTREE GULLY IN MELBOURNE. I GO UP AND DOWN THESE FOUR TIMES WITH A 18KG PACK. IT TAKES ABOUT THREE AND A HALF HOURS, I'M NOT FAST I JUST PLOD ALONG. HOW LONG DO YOU GO BEFORE YOU HAVE A REST AND IS THE PACE VERY FAST?
I ALSO RECENTLY DID THE OXFAM 100KM WALK, WE DID THIS IN 22HRS BUT I FOUND I STRUGGLED ON THE HILLS THATS WHY I AM NOW TRAINING ON THE STEPS. IM NERVOUS I MIGHT HOLD MORE EXPERIENCED AND YOUNGER PEOPLE BACK. (I'M 42 AND A MOTHER OF 4)
ANY INFO FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THE TREK WOULD BE GREAT
THANKS CATHY

[aussie]

Hi Cathy, sounds like you are certainly do the training so well done! As mentioned in my article today with regards to Lisa under the news area. We have had women carry their packs before but its only when a problem arises both for males and females that it causes problems.

For example, Lisa slipped and sprained her ankle. She had hired a personal porter so he has carried her pack and given her encouragement all the way as well as stayed by her side hour by hour. He then waited with her while the others moved on and today flew in by helicopter with her to wait for the others to catch up.

All in all if you can afford one, hire a porter. You are hiring someone who would not normally earn a wage and when times are tough they will help you any way they can.

Email me privately: gail@pngbd.com
and I will put you onto a couple who have done the Oxfam trek, run marathons etc so they will be able to do some comparisons for you.

As for plodding along, this is what we recommend anyway. We ask everyone to walk their normal speed not race. When you are puffed, stop for a breather, get your breath back and start again.

Sometimes the slower ones up and pass the faster ones and beat them into villages because they just plod along…keep it up, you will do fine.

I know how you feel coz I too was nervous and anxious as I headed out last November. It ended up the best experience of my life!

Photograph: all the boys on my own trek last November….if not for them, I am sure I would still be out there…haha and I was only carrying around 8-10kg in my day pack:
Group_pic_of_the_boysscanpo.jpg

[rowebrad]

hi cathy,also trekking on 19th june.we have been doing 1000 steps in ftg also,found it a bit busy.try doongala in the basin it is in the melways.there is a track that goes up to the channel 10 tv tower,we have found this very good as the terrain is quite rough and very steep.you can contact me on rowebrad@bigpond.net.au if you need more info.
good luck
brad

[Nicole]

Hi all,

I am doing the trek on the 5th July 05, I too have also been doing the 1000 steps in Ferntree Gully, Melbourne, along with the steep tracks alongside the steps. I try and do a mix of steps and hills going up and downs about 4 times. To those of you who have done the trail and the 1000 steps how is this in comparison?

rowebrad, where is doongala in the basin? Am looking for some new training places, as it becomes a bit repetitive doing the steps, any other suggestions?

Also I am undecided about what size gaiters I should get? I would like to get the smallest possible as I hear it gets too hot but I have noticed in pictures that people do where the long ones, Which is better?

Any advice would be great
Cheers
Nicole

[CATHY CRUSE]

Hi Nicole

Doongalla state forest is melway Map ref:66-A6. I'm going out on Friday to give it a try I'm also getting a little bored with the steps, I need some new scenery.
Email me if you want cathy_cruse @hotmail.com, I'd love to compare notes.

Thanks Cathy

[graeme]

Hi Cathy

After reading the training you are doing I am thinking I am not doing enough and will hold you back
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[aussie]

Please always remember….you all walk at your own speed. Of course some trekkers will be fitter…let them be….let them lead….who cares….the main thing is to finish!

Our porters will stick with you to the end they dont care if it takes you 4 hours or 10 hours to get to the next campsite where you all end up anyway.

One guy in our Anzac treks struggled from the half way point to Kokoda but he made it and won the admiration of everyone who met and knew him. Check out his arrival in Kokoda to a hero's welcome. He was a large guy but the porters managed to carry him, refer pic below. When I handed out the certificates at the Gateway the following day, he got a standing ovation.

Please train your hardest but remember the kokoda trail is a great leveller…even the fittest can be brought down to your level. Some may have the physical strength but lack the mental strength!

No, not the guy in front, thats our oldest guy to walk the trail Walter Kelly at 81….John the fellow I was talking about is in the background of this pic….he walked from Isurava to Kokoda with only socks on as his feet were a mess.
Walter__s_welcome.jpg

[aussie]

John walking into Kokoda – what a proud moment for him and our porters and guides to see him finish! but man oh man, he did it and no-one can take that away from him.
Picture_103.jpg

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