Over Christmas 2009 I was bemoaning the fact that I was 15 kg overweight and every time I tried to do something about it I failed and it made me feel that at 52 I had lost my mojo.

My 21 year old son told me I needed a bigger objective than just losing weight and challenged me to do the Kokoda Trail with him. It took me a week or so of internet research and a deep breath and I committed by signing us both up for the first week of July.

I gave up alcohol, started eating properly and went to the gym three times a week and in three months I was down from 100 kg to 85 kg. I turned to bushwalking doing three full day walks in the Blue mountains covering 20 km a day with 1200 m of climbing. Then I did a two dayer convincing myself I could back up two days in row and finally, two weeks before we left to Kokoda I did a three day walk with three sub zero camps, and big climbs. I felt ready to go.

The challenge for us was a 7 or 8 day day trek carrying our own packs – 10 kg plus water 3lt and daily food pack 0.9 kg.

We just got back home today after an amazing Kokoda Experience. Trek 660, 28 June to 7th July 2010.

We had Ernest as our Guide – a great leader with the respect of all his team, Clement and Tommy singing and playing guitar every night, at breakfast and even on the Track!. Clement showed us all the military sites and helped us understand how the soldiers of both sides must have felt as the battle turned first in favour of the Japanese and then the Australians.

We had a great small party of three trekkers, Ernest and four porters so we got to know each other well and understand what life is like in Kokoda Village where they all live.

We started at the Kokoda end and imagined the Japanese attack into the mountains as we progressed – how could they believe it was possible to get through to Moresby by this route? We saw each of the battle sites and each of the new defensive lines drawn by the Diggers in the fighting retreat. They picked some great positions to defend! Eventually we got to the furthest point of the advance and the start of the Australian advance.

We walked for 7 full days and the challenge was massive – physcially on the up hill climbs, and mentally on the long steep descents in very muddy slippery conditions. Ernest and his team walked closely with us when we were tired and let us charge off with energy in the morning. We had a well deserved swim in the Goldie River and then climbed up the last hill to Owers Corner in the afternoon and spent a great evening looking back at the view over the track we had conquered. We camped there overnight and had breakfast and a final sing song as the sun rose.

What a great feeling!

We are all elated with our trip and 100 pct supportive of the way KTL run the program – local guides, music, small groups, flexible pace to suit the group with alternate daily end points every day, history without being overly militaristic, and the leadership and support to get you through safely whilst respecting your desire to do the challenge as unaided as you can manage. This is no Package Tour – unlike some we saw with 15 to 20 trekkers, 30 to 40 porters – stretched out over kilometers with no chance for the leader to see who needs support, mass catering at night compared to our little group sitting around the camp fire.

Thanks to everyone at KTL!

Huw ap Rees

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