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Pacman,
Have you and your friend done any training? Are you going with a reputable trekking company or guides?
I hope you're not simply relying on Dr Google for advice….he's not always as accurate as he'd lead you to believe.
Hi Jan.
Bummer about your brother's surgery, but I'm glad you've decided to go anyway. I think you'd kick yourself if you postponed. I had planned to go this time last year, so this is a long time coming for me, too. I'm also going with another company in a few weeks (10 Aug), but I'm confident it's a good choice (my dad wanted us to trek with a specific trek leader).
I hope you have a fabulous time.
Thanks again for the replies. Everyone I've talked to seems to think this is a good idea.
If anyone else has more thoughts/suggestions, I'd like to hear them.
Thanks.
EveHi Geoff,
Thanks for the feedback. I think I've carried that book with me every day for the last month or so, reading a bit each day. It's awesome for someone like me who is very into military history, but also for getting an idea of the terrain of each section of track. A really good investment! How fortunate for you to be able to train with Ross Clover.
You're right about the difference training outdoors, compared to a gym. Climbing up (and sliding down!) muddy hillsides is a much heftier task than going up and down on a step or other gym machine. Having said that, I'm also a big advocate for general gym/body weight training – squats and lunges can make the outdoor work less of an effort on the legs and it all pays off in the end.
The trouble I've had has been in locating places to train. The ones I've been to have been from knowing about them previously, or being told by someone who was training there themselves. In addition, there are a lot of places I can't go by myself, simply for safety reasons – yet another motivation behind my decision to specifically train people for this adventure; so they'll have someone to guide and encourage them, but more importantly, go with them. (Aside…I get asked all the time why I run with my clients. If I told them to run around the block and not walk, while I waited for them, do you think they'd do it?
And I don't like to ask clients to do what I'm not prepared to do myself.)I may decide to do the clothing thing on the side, as I'm already a distributor for the separate gym and casual wear brands. The anti-mosquito wear was a bonus/chance encounter that looks very much like good timing. But I have time to think about it.
Thanks again for your thoughts. I appreciate them.
Eve
I agree with the others. I couldn't imagine doing Kokoda without a reputable group and/or with a kind of "just wing it on the day" thinking. I'm training for an August trek (the full 150km military trek, G-d help me haha!) and can't imagine doing my training on my own, let alone the real thing.
I think if it's cost you're worried about, it might be prudent to save up and go at a later date. You'll need a sat phone and a well pumped up credit card in case of emergency, as well as all the necessary first aid equipment etc, if you go on your own….which might make a cheap trip turn out to be major false economy if something were to go wrong on the way.
I hope you take on board what's been said by the others above. Regardless, best of luck and I hope you have a great experience.
Hi all,
I haven't posted on this site in about a year (was supposed to trek last August, but I'm now doing it this August), but I thought I'd weigh in on this convo as I purchased my boots just over a week ago and have been training in them every day.
I ended up buying the Scarpa Kailash gortex boots (there's a mens version of the same) and they've been excellent since day one…no blisters, no rubbing etc. I chose them over leather boots, because they are much lighter in comparison (that I've found) and don't seem to need as much maintenance or wearing in.
I took them for a 'serious' test today out at the Glasgow Track (Melbourne in the Dandenongs) – twice up and down in the rain and mud. I had really minimal slipping – the grip on the soles is better than any of the other boots I own – and they stayed comfy. A little on the expensive side, but worth it for something that felt good for me straight out of the box.
The mud didn't stick in the tread on the soles either, but I'm sure that might end up being a different story after a few days on the track.
Hi Brian,
I don't wear glasses, but…. As much as I'm really opposed to having to use the 'A' word on a public forum, I know Amway have (had?) a spray item for glass products that stops fogging and makes water run off glass surfaces (stops the beading and streaking). From what I've seen, it seemed to work really well. So there is something out there. I'm sure there would be similar products in general retail, or optometrists might sell something that would do the trick.
Eve
Hi,
Hope you don't mind me jumping in on the conversation here!
I went down to Paddy Pallin yesterday and spoke with an awesome salesperson for about half an hour or so (more impressive, because I told him I wasn't going to be buying anything at that time) and tried on some gortex boots and some full leather ones.
Can anyone tell me the pros and cons from personal experience? The leather obviously will last a lot longer, but will start to hold water and will take much longer to wear in. The gortex were a whole half kg lighter than the leather, were waterproof (as much as a shoe can be), but didn't look like they'd last as long as the leather.
I'm thinking gortex is the better option, but would like other opinions, please.
Thanks.
EveI haven't heard of the Glasgow Track before, but I'll check it out, thanks!
I also had a look at your website and read the diary account of your trip. I enjoyed it. Bummer that you were sick.
I notice you also fundraised. I am doing the same for Camp Quality and Legacy and am looking for sponsors to help us actually get to Kokoda. I've set up donations pages for the charities, but have no idea really where to start or what to do, as I've never done anything like this before. I have money and time constraints. I know it's doable, but it's feeling like a huge task right now.
Any advice?
Thanks.
Eve
