Trek the Kokoda Trail Travel Blog

Posts Tagged ‘kokoda fitness’

On Tue 22nd June I was at the Brisbane International Airport to meet the members from Team 5 as they arrived home. It was great to see them  and to hear that they  all had such a good time. Weather conditions were perfect and the trails were not busy at all. Good feed back from our trekkers on our trek crew.  This is just great to hear that our trek crew are really doing a good job.  This year most of our crew is knew accept for the key staff.  Many of the younger porters are working so they can finance the cost of a trip to the Gold coast later on in the year where they will be ‘auditioning’ for a  possible contract with the National Rugby league Club, the Gold Coast Titans.

 This morning I was at the International Airport once again to say good bye to Team 6 and their leader Spencer  as they head  off on their great adventure. It is wonderful to see all our Teams depart in such high spirits and then return in even better cheer.

If  you haven’t walked theTrack, give it some serious consideration. It wont change your life necessarily, however, it will make you think a little more on just how fortunate we are to live in such a  wonderful country.

It was great to see the Channel 7  presentation and the subsequent news paper stories referring to the latest  ‘discovery” along the Kokoda Track.

The story was a welcome change to the recent  negative articles  regarding trekker’s health and safety issues. Hopefully exciting and interesting stories such as this will only encourage Aussies to get  up and get out on the Track.
Back Track trek leaders would like to point out to all interested in trekking the Kokoda Track, that this lost battlefield is included in all  2011 trekking itineraries.

Carry your own pack  on the Kokoda Track?
The Pros:
*  The achievement factor – doing it tough like the diggers
*  Possible increase in your level of fitness by the end of the trek
The Cons:
*  Be fit; be very very fit. Train hard to get results. Have you got the time and inclination to do this ?
*  Consider the following scenario: The trek is well underway, your pack is too heavy; you’re not enjoying it. You begin to even hate it. Your Kokoda experience has turned decidedly sour.
Hire a porter to carry your pack on the Kokoda Track ?
The Pros:
*  The trek isn’t easy. But it’s a hell of a lot easier with a personal porter.
*  You’ll have a great trekking companion who is there to support you.
The Cons:
*  nil

Our trekkers health and safety are a major concern for us all. The Track is a remote location and if any problems are encountered along the Track it is essential that we have systems in place to handle any emergency situation.

The most important requirement is that our trek leaders have ready access to outside assistance should it be required.  Just a quick call on the satellite phone will put the Leader in contact with a Doctor back here in Australia and if there is a real medical emergency,  systems are in place to arrange for a helicopter evacuation.

From the moment one of our trekking teams departs Australia, our back up emergency operations  plan comes in to play.  24 hours a day, our operations managers  in Australia and in Port Moresby carry with them  mobile phones  linked through to our Trek leader’s satellite phone on the Track. If a call is received at any time the Operations manager carries with him a complete list of all the details of each trekker from their insurance details right through to their emergency contacts.  From back in Australia the Ops manager is therefore able to  assist the Trek leader in any emergency situation.

A team of Doctors, in conjunction with the Kokoda Track Authority, have recently returned from the Kokoda Track with a wealth of research information.

Over 185 trekkers on Anzac Day treks  volunteered to give a blood sample to the research teams who were strategically placed  at Iorobaiwa and Isurava .

The study data is yet to be statistically analysed, but the general message to come from the study is in keeping with similar research in competitive endurance events. Put simply to drink when you feel thirsty. The Kokoda Track places the body under significant physiological stress and a consistent, sensible fluid intake is required. Trekkers need to avoid dehydration but must resist the temptation to force themselves to drink too much fluid while on the Track.