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Hi Danielle
The best advice that I can give is to walk up hills, hills, hills – the steeper the better. When they are too easy, start adding weight. By the time I did the track, I was walking up a steep track on Mt Archer (Rockhampton) with a 16kg pack without difficulty. While I didn't really struggle on Kokoda (well, there WERE a couple of places that were exceedingly tough), I was glad that I had trained with a pack, even though I hired a porter. You need to build up your "hill-walking" muscles, and you won't do that in a gym.
Mt Barney and Mt Warning are a good start. You need to find a close hill (doesn't have to be high but steep is good) that you can walk up every single day for about an hour. I did that, and Mt Archer once a week, and I was ready.
Waza sent me his training regime before I left, and while I didn't follow it, it was good to see how others trained.
Good luck.
MaryGood on you Brian, you are an inspiration. Sorry to learn that you will require dialysis – that's bad luck. You have such a good positive attitude to life, I'm sure it won't slow you down too much.
Best of luck for the future.
Regards
Mary (Trek 429)Gail
I love my "mass-produced" carved stick, and will probably bring it back with me to PNG rather than get another one!
Cheers
MaryHi Rachel
Sally and Gail have given you sensible advice. My daughter was 32 and fit when we walked the track, carried her own pack and she had no troubles whatever. However I did notice that when it came to creek crossings etc, she had no hand to hold except on the occasions when my own porter helped her across. Also, when coming down steep muddy slopes, she spent a bit of time on her bum because (a) she carried a heavy pack and (b) again she had no helping hand to hold.
She wouldn't have done it any other way, because that is her nature. But my advice would be to give a porter a job – it helps the PNG economy and makes your own life easier.
Enjoy your trek.
Regards
MaryThey wouldn't get one of those back into Aus because it would not be varnished etc, I shouldn't think. I'm really proud of my varnished one and am glad I trekked when they were available!
I trekked with KTL and they provided the absolute best pole as part of the package. It was perfect for the job, and now sits at home as a souvenir of my trek.
Gail, do you still provide walking poles for your trekkers?
Cheers
MaryGail, you have done a brilliant job. I am noted as a "big eater", but I had rations left over every day (mind you, fewer leftovers towards the end!). I loved the hot chocolate before bed, but I also loved the beef jerky to snack on when we got into camp. It also helped to keep salt levels up.
When I go on long walks now, I fashion my own ration packs on the sorts of things we had on Kokoda (because now I have to carry my own stuff!)
Cheers
MaryThanks for alerting us to the link … I've just read the article. I actually found it quite funny, and not so insulting as I had thought it would be.
He's probably right about "If they want some street cred, Kokoda trekkers should embark on a famine a month before, give themselves a dose of dysentery, only attempt the journey at the height of the wet season, carry a bren gun and wear heavy army parade boots" – however for most of us it is challenging enough without re-living the wartime added extras And someone should probably remind him that July to November 1942 was the DRY season – just an unseasonably wet one.
However I do agree with you that the Track is sacred, and should be treated as such. Also, I'm not sure that anyone has actually died doing the Stinson Trek. My daughter did it with her father when she was 15, and when she was 31 she walked Kokoda with me. Guess which one was harder!
That's my piece … I'll shut up now
MaryWell said, Dave.
The reality is that the amount of training required just to get over the track is more than most people are prepared to do. Therefore the 'overweight middle aged person' is likely to die in the attempt, or as in my case, lose a large amount of that extra weight in the training!
Let us know if he responds …
Cheers
MaryI haven't seen the article, but take it that it is a little insulting(?) to Kokoda trekkers?
I don't think anyone who hasn't been there can possibly judge the physical and emotional affect that the track can have on trekkers. Just seeing the remains of the weapon pits, and old shells and helmets along the way, can give rise to quite strong emotions and thoughts of what our boys had to deal with. For me, my full concentration went on where I was putting my foot next – I was so glad not to have to look out for someone who wanted to shoot me or slit my throat at the same time!
It's easy to cast aspersions from an armchair. A bit more difficult to get off your **** and actually trudge up those gruelling mountains for seven days straight. Not that I wouldn't do it again at the drop of a hat …
Maybe it was written to stir up some discussion – in which case, it has worked.
My thoughts go out to Russell, John and the Eroro family for the loss of Kingsley one year ago today. Gail, please convey my deepest commiserations to them.
To the families of the trekkers who died, my thoughts are with you also. It is two years today since our group walked off the track, and so I feel for those who did not get to enjoy the experience before they were taken from us.
Jack, you can book with KTL on this very website (choose your trek dates from the list of treks provided), and pay by credit card. You will also need to book your hotel (we stayed at the Gateway) some months in advance. That way by the time you get to PNG everything will be well and truly organised.
I tried to convince my porter that he would be much more comfortable if he used the waist straps, but he didn't want to. Considering that they take the weight of the pack off your shoulders and onto your hips, I can't understand why they don't use them …
Hi Marion n Norm
Welcome to the forum. You will find lots of good advice in these pages.
As you haven't settled on a provider yet, I would strongly encourage you to trek with KTL. We trekked with them in August 2008. I have spoken with friends who have trekked with other companies, and they were amazed that we didn't need to take extra rations (I challenge anyone to eat their whole KTL ration pack each day!) and that we had only eight trekkers in our group. We had a very experienced guide (over 400 treks under his belt) and had a brilliant time.
I am hoping to return to PNG maybe next year, and I would not even consider another trekking company. There, that's the plug over with …
Keep up the training. Trust me, the more it hurts now the less it will hurt on the track. Look forward to the absolute best experience of your lives. You won't be disappointed.
cheers
Mary
