GO! Smell The Adventurer
June 9th, 2008 by angesbizI was thinking it’s great to hear from Jim and Emma and their adventure on the ranch in Canada and asking about our own bucket lists. Well one the things I am going to do in just over a week from now is trek the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea and we, that is the team I’m a part of, will be leaving very cold Melbourne on the 20th June to head over to a tropical environment where the temperatures range between 85 Farenheit/30 Celcius during the day and 75 Farenheit/23 Celcius at night with around 77% humidity.
The last four months I have spent training in the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne climbing the 1000 steps and the Glasgow Rd trek which is a rugged mountain of uneven steps and can be very slippery coming down. This is the suggested training in preparation for the Kokoda Trail (this link is a map of the trek), as well as sessions in the gym and a weekend away trekking mountains for five and three hour sessions one day after another.
The track itself is a 96km single footpath with unrelenting climbs and slippery steep descents. It was the scene of a very horrendous battle between the Aussie soldiers - nicknamed “chocos” and the Japanese which the diggers managed to stave off and prevent from invading Australia along the northern coast during WWII. There is a lot of history on that track and oh… it’s VERY muddy too. I will be right out of my comfort zone as I have never hiked or camped away from civilization and once you are on the track, there’s no getting out except via the finish line.
We will be camping in villages for the most part, maybe get a hot shower at the end of the night, there will be plenty of river crossings and I will definitely employ a personal porter to carry the bulk of my belongings. I will carry my essentials of 4 litres of water per day, my snack packs made up mainly of sugar fixes and cup of soups for lunches. I will also have an emergency medical kit in my pack and my camera. The rest which is made up of a couple of changes of clothes (one for night and one spare), towel, sleeping bag and mat, spare socks, running shoes just in case, a journal for writing my experience, pen, some toiletries, a head torch and spare batteries and that’s about it! Very basic for the 8 day trek!
I should explain that the reason I chose to go on this trek is because it is a great personal challenge and a good way of finding out exactly what I am made of. I think I am mentally tough and this trek will show me just how much! As my journey progresses through my personal development, this kind of challenge will only help me on my way. After all, if I don’t put myself out there and get out of my comfort zone, how else will I know what I am capable of?
Has anyone here done any trekking like this before? Would you like to be adventurous and get out of your comfort zone or are you comfortable with yourself as you are? Do you think you will attempt this or something similar? Am I crazy leaving two young kids and my partner behind to take this on? Yes I want some feedback… good and/or bad. Let me know your thoughts on this.
PS: I forgot to mention that this is some of the most pristine rainforest around and I’m glad I don’t have to fly all the way to Brazil to experience this… not yet anyway… maybe next time.
Ange respect to you..
Hubby wants to do this one day… I would but I dont know if I could handle it…
most folks here would not now what the track is like…
please take loads of photos.. and a before you leave from the track and a when you arrive at the other end photos..
it is suppose to to be one of the great pilgrimages for aussies and the most challenging….
Hubby is jeolous… and I am a little too..
I promise to take all the photo’s I can. I am also planning to take my camcorder to take footage. Not sure how I will go on the actual track while trekking, but definitely film the beginning, the villages, and the finish. I will be taking heaps of notes and will put together something for you when I return.
Tell hubby to put it in his diary and work towards it. If he’s used to walking up and down mountains already, he’s already ahead with the training! Thanks Aussie.
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Ange Hubby and I look forward to reading and viewing when you get back…
its a heck of trek though…
be careful, dont forget your aeroguard or rid mate…
keep it up the trip I have heard is worth all the work you have to do before you go… I keep thinking our guys didnt get the chance to train for the trek they just had to do it or die so many did the latter…
Wow!! You are awesome. I’m not an outdoorsy type of person and I hate bugs, heat and humidity. I really admire those who can do what you do.
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Hi CC… I hate bugs too and we will encounter leeches I believe as well as some mozzies. As I said in my post, I am about to find out what I am made of and I am going with some really great people ranging from mid 20’s to mid 50’s so it will be a very interesting trip. There’s 12 of us so a nice intimate group and we are trekking the opposite way to the norm for the track so we will say a quick hello to others going the other way. It will be a great adventure all round.
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Yikes!!! I’m outta here. Be safe have a good time. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!!!!!!
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Hi Ange - well good for you - this is a must and YES on all counts - you sound well prepared with the right kit (assuming you’ve broken in your boots and have a really decent poncho) aswell as the physical and mental prep you’ve already done just by the tone of your energetic post!
We did the 7 day Inca trail which was 3 days horseback and 4 days on foot ata nominal altitude of 2600m at the most. One week before that we did a 4 day Amazon trek in Northern Peru and the hardest part was the mosquitoes (they bit through light layers of clothes) and the constant thirst.
What altitude are you doing this at - we’re assuming around the 2000m mark??
Jim climbed Kilimanjaro at 5950m so altitude hit hard.
Other tips:
1) Decent sunscreen and lip balm.
2) Insect repellent.
3) Any injections needed? Mozzie repellent perhaps.
4) For sugar fix are you gonig for the likes of mints & dextrose?
5) Baby / handiwipes work well and if used sparingly will last the trip.
6) For water to hand from your 4 litres consider a litre camel-pack that’ll fit into your day pack.
7) Salt tablets to combat the humidity as you’ll shed salt from your sweat.
8 Swiss Army pen knife can come in handy - although your guides will probably trudge on ahead clearing the way.
That’s about it for now - we’re sure you’ll hammer this and do it and half the battle is the preperation and the belief that you’ll make it every step.
GO! Ange! GO! - Do keep us posted here at flowers on the run up to and after the trek - it’ll help inspire plenty of others.
Yes! Take all the bug repellent you can with you! It’s amazing how much mosquitoes can ruin a trip.
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My boots are broken in and I am wearing them everyday now so I will be used to having them on. I even managed to find some pink hiking socks to add a splash of colour although I don’t think they will stay pink on the track! Hopefully the gators will protect them a little. (wondering)
I believe that 2000m is the highest point so no worries about altitude. There is no communication of any sorts other than a satellite phone and that’s if there is no cloud cover. No phone, no internet, almost what you and Emma endured on the ranch being out of touch!
The Inca trail and the Amazon trek sound awesome and something I would consider doing. The mozzies are pesky and I will have the malaria meds to take as well as some kind of repellent although I hear that the mozzies are immune to most kinds. Perhaps tea tree oil will do the trick!
I hadn’t thought of mints… is there something special in them that I am not aware of?
I have the camel-pack for water and need to get a couple of flasks as well. Water purification tablets are also recommended for those that don’t have guts of steel
I must admit that the preparation in so far as the medical side of things go is driving me crazy as I am not that fond of taking any drugs. I did travel to Barbados last year and didn’t have any of the recommended vaccinations or meds. It never occurred to me to check what was recommended to have before leaving Oz. I think that the Kokoda trail is different in that we will be trekking through mud for one thing and that there is no medical help along the way apart from our medical kits, so the scenario is a little different.
Well there are 10 sleeps to go so it is coming up quickly. Thanks for the encouragement and I look forward to getting home and telling you all about it
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Great stuff and it seems you’re well on the ball - mints are just great for sugar release and that feel good factor which mints can often give!
Lots of water purificaton tablets on the market but if you do drink from a stream make sure you know what is in the water course 100m up (like a dead jungle type thing) otherwise always use the tablets.
ANGE dont forget you TETNIS shots.. if you dont get any others get that…
Hi Ange…
I just came across your website and see you are off to Kokoda very soon. Good on you. I trekked Kokoda last year in October. It was fantastic and, apart from childbirth, it is the MOST amazing thing I’ve EVER done. Like you, I’d backpacked, but never ventured out of my comfort zone too much. I also left my young daughter with my husband to trek with a friend who was far fitter than me.
I’m still on a high and often dream about it and I’d be back there in a heartbeat if time and money was permitting. It is an AMAZING journey and I surprised myself that I did it relative ease. (I’m 48 and average fitness). I found the first few days the toughest as my body adjusted to the humidity and living conditions after that I got into the zone of eat, sleep, medicate and walk.
A few words that always come to mind when I remember Kokoda “relentless tangle of jungle” and “torrid weather” and “beauty”.
Your post reflects a lot of how I felt before I left, a tad apprehensive. I’d done as much as I could physically to prepare and mentally I had no idea what I was in for. It is physically tough but not impossible. It is emotional, on lots of levels. As one ex-trekker said to me before I left “You will cry” and I did. Hey! If you’ve got kids you’ll know what I mean! (smile)
My advice, is drink plenty of purified water before you get thirsty, don’t push it, just keep putting one step in front of the other and don’t worry about how far it is to the top of the hill…you will get there. I was never happier than trekking Kokoda, the scenery is amazing, the history is intriguing and the experience is extraordinary. I wish you all the very best and I am envious.
My credo from Kokoda: ‘life will never be half-lived again”..cheers Susie
PS: Your feet are your most important asset so look after them.
If you want more details I’m happy to share my little journal of survival tips. email me at susie@juliettedavies.com
Hi Kokodachic/Susie
Thanks for your comment and inspiration! Your experience sounds awesome and so does your advice. You certainly got a lot out of it and I love your credo from Kokoda: ‘life will never be half-lived again” … feet ARE the most important thing. Look out for my email… cheers, Ange
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Great stuff Ange and good luck,i’m going to set myself a few challenges once i’ve got married and seen this working year out,probably a bike-ride in Thailand now Gareth is living there.
That’s great to hear BO! Your wedding is coming up pretty soon from what I hear. A bike ride in Thailand sounds fantastic. Remember to let us know about it when you do. Cheers
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Let me know what you have in mind. Could plan to Ankor Wat and back or something like that, although knowing us we won’t get passed the bars in Jomtien.
Good luck on the trek Ange, for mosquitos Citronella oil is very good compared to DEET based potions. DEET merely confuses the little swines, as they get closer they think they are getting further away so they still buzz around you. Citronella is something they don’t actually like (least I think thats the explanation). Covering ankles with socks should help and getting a couple of fabric wrist bands soaked in Citronella tends to cover the other favoured area. I chose that ploy when on a day trek through some jungle terrain in Bali and was fine whilst a few others looked like mad, psycho, wino, tramps punching the air and shouting madly on the side of the mountain as the little mozzies feasted on them.
However nothing really works 100% so consider getting a piezo bite zapper, a bit like a ciggy lighter but you shock the bite and they don’t drive you mad itching.
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I’ve enjoyed a 6 day cycle tour from Bangkok to Ankor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia a couple of summers ago.
Bo - its a must.
Well worth the bumps - roads are way better in Thailand, which is saying something and I’ve never seen poverty like the river people in Cambodia…..well worth the saddle sores Bo but its not 100% on that you’ll meet Lara Croft at the end to raid any tombs.
wow amazing photo
yeah… it is amazing… can’t wait to climb it… yikes!! I will be taking many of my own and hopefully, they come out just as amazing!
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Great photo ! - Re the bugs - i never have a problem - perhaps i’ not tasty enough???
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Yep… bugs are going to be like my best friend on the track. I won’t be able to stay away from them. Hopefully, others will be tastier than me
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