Getting Organised To Trek For The First Time

[Lorna]

Hi there,

I'm new to both forums and trekking… so go easy on me too. I have booked a Kokoda trek for June 09. I'm a 47 year old female traveling without my husband ( who isn't' the least bit interested in trekking Kokoda). I live 'out the back o Bourke…. so no hills for training and no gym.

At present I run 10km 4 times a week but plan to add step aerobics in soon to strengthen my legs. Any other ideas would be helpful.

Also , how much water should I carry? reading all the different Kokoda companies info – some recommend 2 litres, some 3. Is fresh drinking water readily available on the track? should I ALWAYS use purification tablets? that's it for now. Looking forward to any tips you may have to offer on anything relevant. I'm all ears.

[Boss Meri]

Hi Lorna, welcome to our forum. Firstly, lots of women trek on their own with Kokoda Trekking (KTL) so no worries there. With regards to water, we recommend 3 ltrs this side of the trek and two ltrs from Naoro onwards to Kokoda.

With regards to training, if you can't find any hills, you need to find a highrise apartment block and do the stairwells or step training in a gym to strengthen your legs for walking up mountains sometimes for hours on end.

Are you trekking with us, hope so!

The majority of trekkers use purification tablets. There is water everywhere on the track so you never have to worry about running out!

Hope this helps with your preparation.

[Dave0]

Hi Lorna,
I'm guessing Gail doesn't know there aren't too many high rise buildings out the back'o Bourke. Do as much step work as you can in the gym. A stair walker for hours would be the go. The whole trek is pretty much steep up or steep down. There's water everywhere – take a camel pack (2L plenty) plus a 1L for Staminade etc. We didn't use any sterilisers – the guides advice was fine. The whole time you will wet – from sweat or rain. Take 2 sets of clothes – 1 to walk in, 1 to sleep in. It's miserable putting on wet clothes but you soon get used to it. Fungal powder for the feet helps. Comfotable shoes are the key and in hindsight, a pair of the good old Dunlop Volleys would be as good as anything if this is going to be a one off trek. The guides have no problems with them. Don't get too bogged down in gear. In the end, you'll only be out for a few days. There's plenty of food provided, water everywhere and a village each night. Get fit, go happy and you'll have the experience of a lifetime. It's brutally hard at times, but the guides are great and you'll have a laugh. Just hit that stepper!!!!!!

[petedowling]

Hi Lorna , It sounds like you are moving in the right direction in regard to your fitness but if I can give you any advice I would suggest trying to get some hill work going . Stepping seems like a fair compromise. As regards the water a three litre camel back/pack is ideal.
As regards water purifying, I would suggest you treat your water by tablet or with a Steri Pen. Tablets will cost you about $30 but a really good option and It was the one I used was a Steri -Pen. It runs on a small battery/ extremely light weight/ but costs about $200(you may be able to share the cost or if you are into the outdoors a lot it is a great investment. The pen emits ultra violet light and you stir it into a 500ml water bottle for 45 seconds and it sterilizes your water. You then tip the contents of your water bottle into the plastic bladder of your camelpack. The uv light stops the bugs from replicating by destroying their DNA basically. Google it. Mine worked fantastically. Alternatively you can chance your arm and do nothing and you may be ok but a water borne parasite causing you GI problems especially the Squirts is not an option worth considering. Train hard, believe in yourself , do it on your terms and enjoy it totally. Good luck
Pete

[mikmac1959]

G'day lorna
i walked last july, there is plenty of water but i was worried about getting the runs so i always sterilised!! i carried 2x 1ltre bottles on the side of my pack. Whwnever we filled up i would drop in a aqua tab ( available in boxes of 100 from camping stores) and a spoon full of staminade. Next time we stopped i would put this 2 ltres in my bladder pack and repeat the process. 1 tip don't use clear bottles you see all the floaties.
cheers Mike.

[Author]

Posts