Going the distance in gear

Got out for another training hike yesterday in a majority of my gear.. I want to make sure that I'm comfortable with everything that I need to take and that I have little or no issues with everything.

This time out I was wearing most of my gear and carrying a full backpack.. not sure how much it weighed in the end, but the advice for the trek is not much more than 15kgs.. especially if you are carrying your whole pack like I am.

Gear checklist: (This was just for this hike, there's a lot more on the checklist to take)

• Pants - thin breathable material that won't get heavy when wet and will dry easily
• Technical trek marino socks - although these have padding in the feet (where needed) these are thinner socks that will dry better
• Boots - My waterproof Scarpa boots, any time in these is great to help break them in
• 2 x 1 litre water bottles - I need to carry water bottles for drinking too, but these are especially for purifying water. I brought some Aquatabs the other day for purifying water and they take up to 30mins in 1 litre of water to work.
• 1 full back pack - Packed fully with random stuff.. just to get the weight. What it did contain that I'll be taking is a sleeping back, travel mat, and a bug bunch of other gear like dry bags and bag covers.
• 1 x Trekking pole - I wasn't going to get one of these, but April is part of the wet season in PNG and I think it's going to help
• Gaiters - I also wasn't going to take these, but given the season, I suspect they'll be extra handy keeping the shoes as protected and dry as possible. Not to mention that I like the idea of them keeping leeches from dropping in my boots.

Next week is going to be the big hike down and Wanda Sand dunes in Cronulla. I'll definitely have all my gear sorted by then and pack like it's the real thing. 3hrs on the sand dunes is definitely going to be a work out.

In the meantime, yesterdays hike was a great training too! Pretty much did the 7 bridges walk around Sydney (not the exact route, but all of the bridges). It ended up being about a 23km/5hr hike and I must say, but the end of it my feet where definitely starting to feel it a bit.

A big thank you to Dawn and Pete for being my training buddies and sticking it out with me on such a long training session. It means a lot to have your support!

Here's the route we took and a few pics - I had a GPS malfunction part way along where I forgot to turn it back on after getting a slurpee.. so missed some of the distance from Gladesville Bridge to Hunters Hill.. None the less the route is complete.

Strava - 7 Bridges Training Hike

 

 

Sharing the experience and being there..

This is all such a new experience to me that I'm not sure what to expect or how to prepare or how I will feel afterwards? So, I'm just going to do everything :) Really my motto is head down, butt up and do it!

People probably think that I go a little bit overboard when I start endeavours.. with enthusiasm, with preparation, with gear, or with thinking, but hey! better safe than sorry right - If you're going to do something you may as well do it right - right?!? (if you don't agree argue with my mum)

Anyway, I do want to try and share as much of this experience with everyone and anyone as possible for a number of reasons, and I will tell you in a minute how I'm going to do that, but for now let's list why? :)

1) Kokoda Track - A massive part of Australian military history and one of the toughest jungle treks there is - I'm willing to take on the challenge. I classify myself a normal (albeit a bit nutty) but if I can do it any one can.

I have posted previously about this experience and it's military history. I truly don't think that I could ever be as amazing as our service men and women that protect our country.. but in my way I'll try.. maybe sometime in the future I'll find more.. but for now, what I can give is to follow their footsteps and live what they lived. Maybe not in the same peril, but the demands are there. I'm sad that only just found out about Rusty (Godfrey Priest) - more so I never knew him, but now I have a connection that will make this all the more special.

2) Sir David Martin Foundation - Their help with disadvantage youths is awesome. If I can help them while I have amazing experiences then I'll be there 110% of the time. I know everyone didn't have what I had growing up, or has been fortunate in their lives as I have.. (that's all relative to everyone to be honest). To be real I might even fall on tough times myself. I'm not the SDMF target market, but I always hope there would be someone for me.

a) because it's just the right thing to do.

b) because you never know you might end up in the same situation on day and hope someone was there for you.



If you got this far, you're interested (as you should be) and this is what I'm trying to do.

I want to share this experience as much as possible with everyone. I think that it's going to be amazing, so if I can get others that feeling too - I'll try my best! :)

This is what I want to do, I'm going to try and capture as much as possible., and to do this.. "magicians exclamation".. ta da.. Here's my gear that I have to sort out before the Trek so that I can share with everyone.

 

 

I started wearing  a GoPro video camera on my motorcycle helmet because I've have a few scenarios with other drivers that weren't so nice.. I always have it on now and it helps me to capture everything that is going on - just in case.

 

It makes sense to me that I can do exactly the same thing for the Trek. The GoPro is ideal to be able to easily capture either photos or videos. Sure I'm not going to have it going all of the time, but if I'm lucky enough to capture some key experiences that I can share I'll be really happy.

 

I'm not sure about internet connectivity, but I will capture as much as possible for everyone.. and I will make sure I share it! :)

 

Finally, I have had a message from the tour administrators saying that the tour lead will be wearing a GPS during the Trek and there will be the ability to look up exactly where we are. So, stay tuned to more information about that before I go - I think it's a little something that will be really neat :)

 

How do you train for Kokoda?

Hmmmm.. Well the short answer is - I don't know! =/

I've been talking to a few people but the general consensus seems to be go practice trekking, in all your gear and in similar conditions so that you're prepared.. All pretty straight forward I guess, but if anyone has any helpful tips please let me know, it'll be very much appreciated! :)

In the meantime, a lot of my focus has been training for a Half Ironman triathlon in Batemens Bay - Tomorrow!.. Eeeeep

Good news is I don't have far to travel to the start in the morning :) Below is a picture outside our apartment door when we arrived at Batemans Bay. In the background (just over my right shoulder) you can see the transition area (start swim area is right there!)

This is the first time I've attempted an event of this kind. With a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride and 21km run, I'm hoping to finish under 6:30hrs, but really I'm just in it to finish. I'm sure it will be an immense challenge and great cross fitness training for the Kokoda Track, although I definitely need to spend some time training in my gear.

Speaking of gear, I've just completed my preparations for the morning and I'm about to head to bed. Here's a picture of everything that I need. I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to fit this all into transition, but I'm sure I'll be able to! :)

Well bring on the morning! Fingers crossed it's beautiful weather, the water temperature is cold enough for wetsuits and that it's all over in less than 6:30hrs.. The quicker and sooner this is all done the better for me! ;)