- This topic has 4,475 voices and 10 replies.
- Posts
For the time that I have been planning to do the trek, I was always planning on taking my old man with me.
He is far fitter then I am and also a heck of a lot tougher and I guess all my thoughts were about making this something for us.
I have just found out that there is no way that he will be able to do the trek (needs both knees reco'd essentially – after years of footy abuse) and I guess now I need to make the decision whether to do it alone.
For me, the physical side of the trek is daunting. Being overweight and trying vehemently to drop the excess weight (or at least as much as possible) and get fit (haven't been properly fit for 10 years) has been a challenge, but I guess the mental aspect of losing my 'mate' for the walk is the most scary.
It is easy for me to imagine pushing myself to keep up with the old man, but I'm just not sure how I will go alone.
I guess what I'm after is feedback from others who have trekked Kokoda alone. How much harder was it? Did you miss the companionship?
Sorry for the carry on, but this has really thrown all my plans into disarray and I'm trying to get my head around it.
when you say going alone,,do you mean a solo trek with out guides and a porter,,or just without your old man?????
when you say going alone,,do you mean a solo trek with out guides and a porter,,or just without your old man?????
QUOTE(peterh13 @ 3 Oct 2009, 04:03 AM) [snapback]10583[/snapback]when you say going alone,,do you mean a solo trek with out guides and a porter,,or just without your old man?????Sorry Peter, I just meant without the old man. Would, without a doubt, be going with a trekking company (thinking this one actually).
I've been going over and over this all night. The whole idea was to do it with my Dad as something to..hard to describe, but have together. We aren't particularly close and this was going to be kind of for us.
We do have a family connection with my Grandfather serving over there so I think I'm going to do it anyway, but I'm just struggling with idea of having no-one else there to kind of lift me up if I need it.
Just noticed your post and thought I would reply to you to put your mind at rest. We often have people who join a trek without knowing anyone listed. For example Brian who oftens posts on this website, he was 70 and did it alone.
The way the porters look after you will be like having someone you know along. A group came in off the track today and over and over they mentioned the porters and how they all went the extra yard.
Two female trekkers last week joined a trek who did not know each other. One struggeled a little and fell a day behind and walked with porters whilst the other one maintained the original schedule.
All trekkers go through pretty much the same day in day out and everyone whether or not they have met you before the trek will be there encouraging you to finish your trek.
We have had some other trekkers who have stayed up waiting on a struggling trekker to get into a campsite and have clapped them into camp.
With regards to loosing weight, we have had a trekker who has booked and walked a couple of times as an inspiration to loose weight. He said once he pays his deposit, it gets him off his TV chair and out walking. Brian who I mentioned above lost 20kg + just by wanting to walk Kokoda and the training it required.
All that aside, just imagine how proud your father will be of you when you finish your trek.
If you want company just make sure you end up booking on to a trek which has people already booked as on our website we clearly display how many trekkers are in any one group we take on the track.
With the connection to the Track through your Grandfather you have all the inspiration you need to "go for it".
Having already identified the very important fitness issues you need to address, in my opinion you are already 50% towards your goal.
As a son of a 39th Battalion Digger who served on the Track it was my ambition to retrace his wartime footsteps which I achieved in 2007, accompanied by my own two adult sons and other direct descendants of 39th & 2/14th Battalion Diggers.
It is not until you walk the Track that you fully appreciate and start to understand the sheer courage & bravery displayed by our WW2 Diggers.Train hard and definately go for it. It will be a highlight of your life, I can guarantee it.
Geoff Hardie
Doing the trek will certainly be a life changing experience for you (if you want it to be) going with a group you will not be alone and you will make good friends as the bond of doing the trek will be strong. You will be amazed how quickly as a group you develop and work together as a team…creek crossings, drying clothes, bathing and swimming etc. It also helps to develop a good sense of humour and have some good jokes or stories to tell…go and do the trip…than go back with dad at a later date
Goal 2010,
I'm a 27 year old female and I did Kokoda alone in August this year. I had originally planned to do it with my brother but like your Dad, he had to undergo a knee reconstruction. I wasn't sure if I could do it by myself, and like you, I was worried about not having someone there to lean on, someone who knows you. Everyone said to me "Don't worry, you'll make friends, you're not really alone etc etc" and while that's true, I did make great friends with my group and our trek leader and especially my porter, at the end of the day you're still alone. I envied the people there with their partners and family members and best friends. Even surrounded by the most amazing, friendly, welcoming group of people, in some ways it was pretty lonely, it forces you to REALLY step out of your comfort zone even more (as if walking the Kokoda Track isn't ENOUGH to step out of your comfort zone!).
In the end, going alone added a special layer to my experience, that only people who do it by themselves can understand. And I wouldn't have done it any other way. I walked Kokoda alone, and because of that, I know I can do ANYTHING. For the rest of my life, I never have to be worried or nervous about the unknown, I know I can face any challenge, because I walked Kokoda by myself. How can anything be more difficult, more physically challenging and mentally hardening?
You can do it.
QUOTE(Jan @ 9 Nov 2009, 12:43 PM) [snapback]10940[/snapback]Goal 2010,I'm a 27 year old female and I did Kokoda alone in August this year. I had originally planned to do it with my brother but like your Dad, he had to undergo a knee reconstruction. I wasn't sure if I could do it by myself, and like you, I was worried about not having someone there to lean on, someone who knows you. Everyone said to me "Don't worry, you'll make friends, you're not really alone etc etc" and while that's true, I did make great friends with my group and our trek leader and especially my porter, at the end of the day you're still alone. I envied the people there with their partners and family members and best friends. Even surrounded by the most amazing, friendly, welcoming group of people, in some ways it was pretty lonely, it forces you to REALLY step out of your comfort zone even more (as if walking the Kokoda Track isn't ENOUGH to step out of your comfort zone!).
In the end, going alone added a special layer to my experience, that only people who do it by themselves can understand. And I wouldn't have done it any other way. I walked Kokoda alone, and because of that, I know I can do ANYTHING. For the rest of my life, I never have to be worried or nervous about the unknown, I know I can face any challenge, because I walked Kokoda by myself. How can anything be more difficult, more physically challenging and mentally hardening?
You can do it.
Jan,
Thank you for your response. Whilst I had decided anyway to go and do it alone, your message did hit the spot with me.
I will admit I would have still liked my old man to go, I am certainly working hard to do it as best I can and give myself the opportunity and experience.
Thanks again for your reply. I do greatly value it.
Wayne.
Wayne
if you worried about doing it alone, you would feel more at ease if you could organise a training walk with other trekkers before you go, this will allow you to "break the ice" I'm sure if you contacted your trekking company they could pass your details on or provide contact information of the other trekkers in your group…. a couple of training walks and it will be like family……hope this helps…….
when are you going? and where do you live?….a lot of people browse this forum….in fact its common for people to post training walks asking for partnersbest of luck Craig
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.