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Well done Brendan and everyone else who completed the race. An amazing effort, one that most people find hard to do in many days let alone hours! Well done.
I recommend Glasgow Track which starts in Montrose at the base of Mt Dandenong and heads up 1km to the top. Car park is at MELREF 66C1 and you basically head straight up the hill (very steep) crossing over several tracks. See my website for more info. Do this hill up and down 2-3 times to bring yourself up to speed. Happy training. 🙂
I wore gaiters, short length variety. They did help keep mud and stones out of my boots. Suggest you practice before hand in them walking in hot conditions, and then practice taking them off and on with your boots a lot.
I am not convinced either way long or short as I only walked in short. I did not receive extra damage to my lower legs by not wearing them so not convinced long ones are needed.
I took two poles and used both all the time. I found they gave me extra stability and when I did my trek last year in Oct 07 the weather was pretty wet so the track was mighty slippery.
I took some cheap Rays Tent City $49 jobs and they worked well. I also wasn't too fussed if they died, although I would still carry them out as rubbish. All 41 trekkers in our group ended up with poles, most with one but that was because they asked porters to make them for them.
My best suggestion is to test some out before you go on some serious inclines with lots of steps both up and downhill to set your height for both ways and practice with them. Also wear your pack fully packed to see why they help.
As people have said before, it is a personal preference thing but I highly recommend one, and two if you find that gives you extra stability. Have fun!!
I did a trek in early Oct 2007 and whilst it rained for 5 out of 8 days constantly and rained on every other day at around 2:30pm for a few hours, I was never cold, day or night.
I took a sleeping bag and never used it. I did use my silk sleeping bag liner but mainly for mossie protection, which again was not a problem for me. I would seriously consider not taking a sleeping bag next time.
I wore my dry lightweight long pants and shirt at night instead of my wet shorts which kept me warm enough at all times.
Hi all, agree with others, poncho great for around camp when your not active, but during the trek just get wet. I was rained on for 5 days and loved it. My poncho was nice at camp to help keep dry. Note that the extra weight is an issue so in hindsight I would not have taken it, based on my experience anyway. Food for thought anyway.
In Menari I nearly stood on a scorpion whilst walking around in bare feet on the lovely lush grass in the camp site. Make sure you have something to wear that isn't your boots! I was stunned as I hadn't seen a live scorpion before and a little paniced that I nearly stood on it. I didn't bring any anti-death-due-to-sting-from-scorpion tablets or gell. 🙂
Hi everyone,
Did the track and used my Olumpus U780 which worked great. The 5x zoom was useful and being small and light was nice. Didn't take heaps of photos (only about 300) as I was pretty buggered and couldn't be bothered wipping it out all that often. I had it in a pouch on my shoulder strap so that should indicate how tiring it can be. It also rain most days for us so I didn't bother/risk it in heavy rain. The photos I took are all on my web blog at https://kokoda.techrescue.org/ in my diary entries for each day.
Hi again, one day to go before I leave, cool!!
I ended up purchasing an Olympus MJU780 digital camera for around $400. It is a great camera with 5x optical zoom, 7.1 megapixels and splashproof (can be in rain but not underwater). It is very small, lightweight and hardy. This is not the one you see on TV in the dogs mouth, but from the same company.
So far in my trials it has been excellent. Bought a small carry case that clips onto my pack shoulder strap at pecks height. Easy to access and use. I have three re-chargable batteries ready to go and two 2gig memory sticks.
Will keep the camera in my pack in the rain in a bag with some silica gel packs to absorb any excess moisture due to heat or whatever 🙂
Visit my web blog for more info in 10 days or so when I return to see my photos. 🙂
I ended up purchasing a Sea to Summit Poncho that can be used as a tarp also. After Kokoda I hope to use it so I went with this one. Approx $50 which is a lot of a poncho but I am sure it will be great.
I think I am planning to get wet whilst walking and enjoy the rain and use it mainly at camp or if we all need protection for some reason. It can go over my pack but I also have a pack cover so not as essential, but handy to know it can do it.
Thanks for the quick advice everyone.
trk_poncho_sm.jpgI have a pair of crocs now. They have good grip and they are very very light in weight. Attached is a picture of them.
[attachment=3116:crocs.jpg]
crocs.jpgI went to a camera outlet and asked one of the technical/sales guys who listened to my situation and in the end suggested buying a cheap 7.1 megapixel digital camera with optical 3x zoom for around $180.
– if I break it I will be upset but not as much as a $900 to $1500 fancy SLR digital
– will still take great photos and small videos
– usually cheaper cameras use AA or similar batteries and not an expensive reachargable one, which if it did, we might have to take several to last the trip.
– in humid conditions the camera MAY get damaged but the damage might not show up until later in the form of rust or moisture damage inside, so taking a more disposable cheap one is purhaps wiserMaybe someone who has done the trek can advise on how bothered you get wanting to take photos when your dead tierd during the walk anyway – take millions or just a few? I want to enjoy the trip but also record it to show others. So little videos and lots of stills is what I plan to do, but that could be thawted by being simply stuffed 🙂
I am trekking in Sep 07 and now wondering what digital camera (still) to take. I could buy an Olympus camera that is waterproof/shockproof/anti-vibration etc. and that would handle the wet and humidity, but at the expense of not much zoom etc..
Is it worth worrying about the humidity and rain getting a camera like this or just purchase a really good bag/pocket for the camera to protect it and get a better camera?
Very interested in any advice. Thanks.
