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Double dome swag sounds way too cumbersome for Kokoda. Think light or ultra light weight tent, good quality waterproofed material,well seamed. You should look for something with a weight no greater than 2.5 kg all up including fly cover and pegs.
Enjoy.Congratulations to the Kokoda Track Authority and to the Governments of Austalia and PNG for funding the study of such an important area of research. Well done to the researchers for such an innovative project. Evidence based research on such an important topic has been needed and has the capacity to give important information about the health and fitness on a cohort of Kokoda trekkers.
The study also highlights that it is important for trekkers to drink when they are thirsty(or when they feel they need it). Prescriptive fluid volumes every 15 or 30 minutes or excessive fluid intakes are inherently dangerous and unnecessary as pointed out in the research summary.
In hot and humid conditions trekkers are losing sodium through sweating.Elecrolyte imbalance is further worsened when large amounts of water is consumed by someone who is already sodium depleted.When the body is losing sodium ,ADH(anti diuretic hormone) is released at increased levels.The kidneys are producing concentrated urine but the body is retaining as much water as possible. The result is not good for electrolyte balance. Serious electrolyte imbalance can lead in its most extreme form to cardiac arrest.
Evidence based research that may assist in the management of fluid/electrolyte balance for people undertaking arduous treks in harsh climates has to be a plus.Previous research has shown that appropriate levels of elecrolyte supplements and foods higher in sodium can assist those people whose sodium level is depleted.
Hyponatraemia is not going to be diagnosed clinically for any trekker without a blood test. Not possible in most Kokoda situations.
Myth busting is not necessary in looking at this issue. Whilst the anecdotal opinion of sports trainers/coaches/physios may be of interest to some, evidence based research supported by previously published research lierature hold much more credibility.
Well done to all associated with the projectPete
Any commments regarding the actual cause of death in the latest incidents that have occurred on the Kokoda Trail are indeed premature and inappropriate until coronial inquests are held.
Having said that, sudden cardiac death happens every day in every major city in Australia. Deaths occur at safeway, at the railway station, at borders, at the Shrine, at the MCG, in officeblocks,whilst driving etc., etc.,. Why should Kokoda be exempt?
People are walking the streets everyday not knowing the state of their coronary arteries. They do not know how occluded they are and are often unaware or oblivious to the multitude of other risk factors that are impacting on their health. It is not just your fat Bart Simpson or Bertha Butt lookalikes who are collapsing but often the regular fit and healthy looking person who displays no signs of cardiac illness.
People die every day in a variety of settings. In melbourne in the late 1990's a survey found that the rate of sudden cardiac arrest was 0.72/1000/year. Given these ratios the number of deaths at Kokoda may be lower than exopected for a normal population distribution.
During a ten year period at the MCG there were 28 cardiac arrests at major even ts held at the venue and of those 26/28 walked out of hospital/ rehab facilities and returned to mainstream life. Not suprising really. Rapid basic life support/CPR, Early Defibrillation,Rapid advanced life support including intubation and drugs and rapid/expedient hospital transportation.
Kokoda is different. If you arrest you will in all probability die. definitive assistance is a long way away. People do die. It is part of the life cycle. People should not be shocked by this. It happens in the city to surf, the melbourne marathon, to young adolescents at swimming and athletic carnivals often due to long QT syndrome.
People should not be too zealous in thinking that they can solve this problem by developing better training programs, for this is far too simplistic a view. Are people suggesting PTCA(coronary angioplasty for all Kokoda trekkers to check the state of their coronary arteries.)
Sad as it is , sudden cardiac death happens, but it happens everywhere and whilst we would like it to be different , in the real world it is not the case.Life is about living, death comes soon enough.
regards
Pete Dowlinghi fluppy
I took some jelly babies and jelly snakes in about six mini plastic seal bags. not a lot probably about 300 grams. As we went through each village fresh fruit was plentiful and we would each put in about 5 kina and you had more fruit than you could imagine. and also the odd can of coca cola was able to be bought . meals were good and water was plentiful supplemented with some gatorade or staminade so whilst the odd lolly snack was appreciated after peaking a long climb you could easily survive without them.Also in buying fruit from the locals you felt it was a fair exchange and you were not simply doling out a handout. enjoy the training and soak up every minute on the track even the tough bits. regards peteIn response to Eve, I too have been on one of Charlies treks and whilst his treks have a good military historical perspective to them, the size of the group can be a problem. If as you say, the basis of a large number of trekkers is to create a platoon size, remember that there are almost double that number as well in porters and carriers . suddenly you are no longer looking at platoon size, you are more likely looking at company size and in the case of 25+ trekkers closer to 100 people all up . way too big. size on a trek creates problems. it becomes more like a route march with the trekkers spread out like 'browns cows'. sensible limits not economic imperatives should dictate trek size.
cheers
PeteWe would like to express our condolences to the family and friends of all of those killed in this terrible accident. Like all the people who have trekked Kokoda , I believe there is a wider sense of family and comaraderie shared by all who come to such a beautiful place to walk the track. When a tragedy such as this happens we all project our inner feelings of hurt and loss and reflect upon the sudden loss of so many lives. Each person well loved. Each person so special.We do hold such a transient grip on life and an event such as this reminds us to value each day and love and cherish all those who are dear to us.
Our sincere sympathies to the KTL staff and to the Eroro familyPete and Mary Dowling
hi kass, I think that you should reassess the strategy of walking the trek "carrying everything on your back" and "picking up a carrier/porter when you arrive". Confidence is a good thing as is independence, however Kokoda is not your average walk/ trek and there are good reasons to put a bit more planning into it. Have you thought about the possibilities of illness/ injury? Will you have a Sat/phone with you,will you have medical/first aid support and supplies. What happens if you become ill/ injured/ have a fall say with head strike/ unconscious period. ? how is your carrier going to contact and organisea chopper for a medivac? I think you are getting consistent advice from boss meri, brian and others to rethink and replan. Whimsical planning can have bad outcomes. commonsense says grater planning and support should go into your trek. your choice!
hi peter , you probably will not like to hear the advice that I am about to give you ,but I think it is time for a new pair of boots. The last thing you would want to have to deal with on the track is a pair of boots that have imploded. Think of where you are going , think of eight or nine days solid trekking with combinations of water, mud, tree roots, twisting/torsion stressing climbs and descents. I love my boots too but before kokoda I parted with my 10 year old Salomon boots and bought a new pair of Rossignol's- great decision. No worries and how the comfort technology has changed. I had no feet problems whatsoever.In the end the choice is yours and you have made it, but that boot repairer( who has given you such a glowing endorsement of his own work) is a long way from imita ridge if your boots do crap themselves.
hey in any case enjoy the trek , you will love it. I hope to go back next year.
Peteg'day
japanese encephalitis is a viral disease spread by infected mosquito . It is not transmitted person to person. It is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia mostly in China Korea SE Asia and Indian sub continent There have been a few cases in the Torres Strait Islands and Cape yorke peninsula. PNG is not a high risk area but prevention in the first place is better than the cure. Use repellant(Bushmans or tropical strength Rid),wear sensible clothing and use a net at night if necessary but highly unlikely . The above will also help to prevent against malaria and dengue fever if it is around. Talk to your GP but he will probably say immunization against JE is not necessary. On the other hand anti malarials are essential eg doxycycline. See GP.
Cholera is an acute bacterial enteric disease transmitted through the ingestion of food/water contaminated with human excreta. It is endemic in Asia, Sth America, Central Europe, Africa and sporadically in Nth America and the Pacific. Again chat with your GP but unlikely to immunize.Treat your water with tablets or Steri pen always. Clean hands before eating and after toileting with either alcohol based wipes or liquid anti Bacterial hand cleaner.
Again personal choice re immunization but PNG not high risk for either. Be guided by your GP and warm up your arm for the three JE injections if you decide to go ahead.
Safe travellin' enjoy it all.
Petehi there, it is clear that not only do you see the problem but you know the solution. The question is what are you going to do about it? Take on new challenges( Kokoda for a start) and follow your employment dreams. I did and I am so glad that I took the chance of a new career. After a long time as a high school teacher I left and became an ambulance paramedic. Every day I work I am so happy to pull on the navy blue uniform. You describe your job as satisfactory and that in itself says a lot. Take the chance and break free, it is so invigorating. If by chance it does not work out the first time , it is always better to be known as a "has been" rather than a "never wazza".
The ten most powerful two letter words:
If it is to be it is up to megood fortune
PeteIt is indeed sad that another trekker has died on the track. Again I would say that it is too early to speculate on the causes of these latest deaths and they will be subject to coronial inquiries. Certainly people who walk the track must be fit and have put in reasonable training but that does not mean that they will be any different statistically from the population in general and be exempt from suffering sudden cardiac death. USA rate is 1.24/1000 people per year. melbourne rate was around 0.8/1000 people per year.
People arrest frequently with no prior warning, young children and adolescents arrest with cardiac arrythmias after exercise due to long QT syndrome,respiratory failure ,metabolic disorders and electrolyte imbalances. The difference is that in our suburbs emergency help is not that far away and the chain of survival can be initiated and continue right up to the hospital door.
Early emergency service notification/early basic life support including airway and CPR/early defibrillation/early advanced care. Adults as distinct from children arrest in two forms of arrythmia that need to be defibrillated. You can CPR someone for as long as you like but without defibrillation and advanced life support drugs the outcome without exception is death. Why the anatomy and physiology lesson?
Simply to highlight that otherwise normal and apparently healthy people do arrest unexpectedly for a range of reasons and that statistically perhaps we have been fortunate that not more people have died ,given the remote terrain and the unavailability of prompt advanced medical care. If you trek Kokoda you know and must understand that if you have a cardio/ respiratory arrest the outcome will in all likelihood not be positive.
My thoughts go out to all the familes who have lost loved ones on the track. It should reinforce in all of us that we live everyday as if it is our last and treasure those who are close to us.Pete Dowling
I agree with Geoff that it was extremely sad to hear of the death of another trekker on the kokoda track. As geoff points out the track is certainly confronting especially in the early stages from the Owers end with the climb up Imita and Ioribaiwa ridges.
Whilst not commenting specifically on the latest death which will be subject to a coronial inquiry, it is interesting to note that all three recent deaths have been of people aged in their thirties. The first two were individuals who were described as otherwise fit and healthy.
Younger individuals whose first cardiac presentation is a full arrest generally have a worst outcome than those who have over time developed collateral circulation in response to their blocking coronary arteries. Often there is no warning of such catastrophic events.
People simply need to understand that if they suffer a cardiac arrest on the track , in all likelihood there will be not advanced life support of intubation, controlled ventilation, specific drug protocols. CPR whilst valuable will not by itself do the trick.
We all accept risks as part of our decision making process. This very same event of cardiac arrest could occur whilst running, cycling, skiing,walking or sitting at a desk.
My sympathies are extended to the family of the latest person to die on the track.Pete Dowling
Good on you Brian, I followed your blogs with interest coming up your walk and it was clear you were commited and determined to to give it your absolute best shot. Attitude and sheer guts will always get you through when you face adversity and combined with the "never say die attitude" it is a recipe for success. Kokoda is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical challenge. Good on you for giving it your all. I hope to walk kokoda again in 2010 and it would be great to see somewhere along the track.
Best wishes
Pete DowlingI read Bill James book "Field Guide to the Kokoda Track". it gives a great historical perspective about kokoda and New Guinea during ww11. As well it gives to todays trekkers practical information and great maps that are excellent to reference during the trek. recommended.
regards
Pete Dowlinggood on you Jessie to join the group of one percenters of Australians who take on the challenge of Kokoda and then pass on th e magic by story, written or verbal, or by having some great pictures or video grabs to show to family, friends and colleagues. Hopefully your story is a part of the wider kokoda story and you may have motivated others to take up the challenge. Its just on twelve months since I completed the trek and the memory of it is vivid. Well done for telling your story.
regards
Pete Dowling
