January 25, 2025 • 48 mins
This week I am sitting down with Adventure Professionals trek leader Heidi and we're chatting all things Kokoda, preparation for a double crossing, ANZAC and everything in between.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Apodjay Production. This podcast is proudly brought to you by
Adventure Professionals www dot Adventure Professionals dot com dot au for.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Me, Mission Ridge and Brigade Hill.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
The whole Kakoda campaign more people need to know about it,
or know everyone knows someone who's trek Kakoda, but to
actually understand the stories of what these young guys did,
it's harrowing what they went through.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
They were staunched to the end against odds uncountered and
they fell with their faces to the.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Welcome to the Kakoda Track Podcast. Hosted by former soldier
Glen Asa. This is the place to hear stories from
those who've trecked Kakoda and gained tips of knowledge about
what to expect on the track, or to relive your
own amazing experiences. The Kakoda Track Podcast keeping the spirit
of Kakoda alive.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Hey, Tam Glen As are here back with the Cocada
Track Podcast. As I said, I'm going to try to
do more episodes in twenty twenty five and going beyond
because there's been a demand for it and people have
a lot of questions, and I thought we'll just keep
going over the frequently asked questions and so on. What
an't we to do this morning is I'm going to
chat to Heidi and then she's about to head away
on a camping trip, which is what us adventures style
(01:28):
people like to do. So I'm actually making this call
at nearly four o'clock in the morning Queen's Land, tom
or a bit before and so five o'clock in New
South Wales where Hides is. But just to add that
extra voice, I'd love to have her on once a
month and just be particularly having a female voice, someone
that's tracked the track quite a few times now. She
did the double with me for ANZACK last year. She's
(01:49):
doing the double game for ANZAC this year. So I'm
looking forward to having a chat to her and then being
able to I guess pass on to you guys as
much information as we can now. Any questions that you
have around Kakoda, please feel free to email me Glen
with two ends at Adventure Professionals dot com dot au,
or you can email my daughter Brooklyn from when I'm
away info at Advanced Professionals dot com dot au. But
(02:13):
without further ado, let's chat to Hiding. Hey, I thought
were just ripped straight in. I did an episode yesterday,
just like a little to say hey, we're coming back on,
which was like ten.
Speaker 6 (02:25):
Minutes, and I did see that top up.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
Yeah, just a quick intro back, and I thought it'd
be good to have yourself on even on say once
a month, if we could find the time to sit
and talk about anything you co related or and I said,
I've done an intro to this episode. I just said
to people, feel free to email me or Brooklyn when
I'm away with questions and then even if they're not
checking with us, we don't care. We're more than happy
(02:50):
to answer those questions for him. But obviously you can
have that female perspective coming in as well, which would
be cool. And of course we've got Sammy and other people,
but it'd be kind of good just to be doing
that on a regular basis. So, oh yes, first, since
first you're in the middle of preparation now for your
second double crossing for ens ACSIS, your second ANZAC in
(03:10):
a road doing the double so and you've been charting
that on social media, which I think is really cool
for people. And so obviously what's your social media accounts?
Just so people can jump on and.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Have a look.
Speaker 6 (03:22):
So I have a couple of social medias on the go,
but my main one is at out here living.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
And so you're doing what's the intention behind that? Like
you're I know you're putting up fitness stuff and I
know we've talked about it for people listening. What's the
intention behind doing more on social media and showing people
the journey.
Speaker 6 (03:44):
I think that social media account I set up just
for adventures initially, but it's kind of been a bit
of a collaboration. I do juggle a lot of ball
now and as people keep telling me, so I kind
of tend to have a fair bit of different content
out there, like I guess being a pt and then
being a mom. I run a farm when I'm back
(04:06):
here in Australia as well, so it's kind of it's
a bit of a collaboration of everything. And I guess
it's all about just having a crack at everything and
just just living, you know, actually just getting out there
and having to go with anything. I mean, if you
want to have a crack at how have.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
You found putting all the sort of content together? Because
you said to me, like I need to be more
active on social media this year, which I agree when
we do what we do and we do live interesting lives,
it's good to share that with people. You know, It's
good for people to find positives on social media, which
I talk about on the Building Better Humans project all
the time. Like people think social media is a negative thing. Well,
it can be if you're following the wrong people. But
(04:43):
if you're following if I want to treck Corkoda, and
I can follow people who've checked coacoda a lot and
how they're training and how they're preparing, and well, that's
going to be a positive thing.
Speaker 6 (04:53):
Yeah, absolutely, I think. I mean, training for Kakoda is
it can be pretty overwhelming when you've never been before,
and it's going to be, like you know, probably one
of the hardest things do. And I did take a
huge hiatus from social media, but then after I mean
(05:13):
I treked got three times last year and then and
I just felt like in the general public, people bash
themselves up when they feel like they need to be training,
but then they feel guilty. And I guess putting all
that together and also showing my busy life from how
(05:35):
I try and squeeze it in makes people feel like
they don't need to bash themselves up. So much. You know,
they can you know, they can have a day off
or if something comes up. It's all just about at
the end of the day, it's all about just achieving,
achieving things and growing yourself. So as long as you can,
you know, stay can fairly consistent and keep your training going,
(05:59):
then the intensity for that isn't all that important. You know,
you don't need to bash yourself up about it and
sharing that on social media. From my perspective, because I
am so busy and have so many different things going on,
I guess I can help people. And it's funny, because
I did take such a hiatus from social media, I've
(06:21):
kind of forgotten that that world was even there, those
people that were following me in Then as soon as
I jump back on and started sharing a few videos
and whatever, I've been inundated with little messages of going,
oh my god, it's so cool, You're such an inspiration.
I can't like to follow your adventures this year, and
so there is people out there that want to watch.
It's just learning to shut out the negative as well.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
There's a couple of really good points in there for
anyone preparing for Kakoda or the like. It's one is
the business. Yeah, we're all busy, Like you're going to
have absolutely reasons not to train certain weeks, and the
key is to, like you said the second point, to
be consistent, just keep showing up. So sometimes people have
this idea they've going to train like an athlete because
(07:04):
Kakoda is so hard, because they hear all those stories.
But the truth is you've got to look at where
you're coming from too, Like you live a pretty active
life obviously on the farm. But if I'm twenty years
sitting behind a desk on a computer and then I
go out and try and train like an athlete or
like I did twenty years ago, most likely I'm just
going to end up injured. And then that's going to
as you get older. Like I'm fifty two now and
(07:25):
nearly fifty three. Every time I get an injury, it
just takes a little bit longer to heal, and then
I've got to be a little bit smarter about how
I train. I never choose not training as an option,
but I definitely choose much smarter training than when I
was younger.
Speaker 6 (07:40):
Yeah, definitely, definitely. It's something that I've learned too. You know,
I used to go pretty hardcore in the weights. And
you know, after I closed my gym here in town,
I just I just took a big step back and
looked at what was it that I actually really wanted
(08:00):
to achieve? Was my training? Like did I want long
jeopardy in my wellness? So I and now, yeah, I've
definitely ramped it back up again this year, and I've
got a few personal goals to get that I want
to really chase this year physically as well as mentally.
But I think when it comes to training for a purpose,
(08:22):
you really need to assess what it is you need
to do, because you know, when you train for the CODA,
yeah there's you know, you really need to get the
miles under your legs and and do you know there's
a lot of step ups and step down when you're
on the track. So those sypes of things are important,
but you don't you don't need to train like an
athlete otherwise you will end up injured. It's normally get
(08:45):
people getting injured during their training program all the time
if they're training too hard.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
I have two experiences with all the people I deal with,
because obviously I deal with a lot of people on
an administrative level, like Brooklyn looks after all that, but
I still am tied into it. And I have two
types of people. People that overtrain and get injuries and
then think, well, I can't take a week off, I've
got to train through the injuries. They still end up
out on the track most of the time. Occasionally they
postpone a trip, but most of time, but then they
(09:10):
carry the injury out there, and I don't know that
that's as.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Enjoyable experience as it could be.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
So it's the first type of person that's a real
alpha sort of personality, I guess. And then the other
side is people that just don't train. And then even
at the beginning of the year, I'll get it's still
three months out. By February, you will get people starting
to try and move their ANZACT trip because they haven't
done the work, and it'll be like, oh, but they
won't say that. It'll be I'm just too busy or
(09:35):
something else is going on. But then when you get
in and have a good chat to them, you realize, look,
I just have another work and they just have and
it sneaks up on you all of a sudden. Go
in December, ANZAC feels like a mile away to people.
It doesn't to me because I've been doing other than COVID.
I've done pretty much eighteen and ZAC straight if you
(09:57):
cut out COVID, So it doesn't feel that way for me,
but because I know how quick it gets here and
administratively we've got a lot of work to do. But
it's a common experience for people training to go it's
miles away and you know, four months isn't that far,
and then it's three months and it's two months and
then it's oh crap, maybe I need to postpone. So yeah,
just like you say, just turn up, be consistent, because
training is the most common question that I get when
(10:20):
it comes to Kakoda. And in fact, I typed in
to chat GBT just to up because it can search
the whole internet, and said, what are the ten most
common questions on Kakoda? And you know, training was right
in there with it, so in the sort of top five.
I thought it would have been higher, but it's yeah,
it's just interesting that that comes up a lot. And
(10:40):
so and even when I was spoken people, they said,
you need to talk more about the training, and I think, man,
we talk about the training on every episode pretty much. Yeah,
but again it just goes to show you when people
get nervous, you got to keep reiterating this stuff. And
by watching your social they get to watch how your training,
which is pretty cool.
Speaker 6 (10:58):
Yeah. Yeah, And like I did share a video the
other day, like I have a bit of a goal
this year. I want to run one hundred k ultra.
So I am absolutely putting in a fair few miles running.
But at the same time, when I'm doing that, I'm
very aware of how my body feels. And so if
(11:19):
I do get an injury, I back it off and
I don't and I don't stop at all, but I
just change the way I'm training for a little bit
until that you know, it's I do have a little
bit of a dicky hit. So you know, if that
hit plays up, I just back it off. Am I
just swimming? Or am I just more yoga that week?
Or you know, you just you don't You can stay
(11:40):
consistent without without stopping completely.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
I guess one hundred kultu is a good way. It's
good to let people know too that when they do
come and go across and have a look at your
your Instagram, it might look like GeSe, this looks a
bit extreme, but it's not just for Kakoda.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
That's why I thought I did add that in a
video the other day because I was like, people are
going to be thinking, oh, yeah, she's already like run
in twenty k's a week plus two straight sessions and
a pack walk and that's a huge load on someone's body.
And obviously I've got it. The Ultra probably won't be
until about October. I haven't actually picked the actual run
(12:19):
that I'm going to do yet, and I'm using all
these ka codas that I'm doing this year as training
as well, you know, just to get those miles, and
I figure while I am so busy doing these the crossing,
it's a great opportunity to use that fitness and those
those crossings as training. So I'd love to do a
(12:40):
Kakoda Ultra. Yeah so they run.
Speaker 5 (12:43):
Yeah, I'm not sure either. There's a lot of issues
around the validity of it and people taking and all
that sort of stuff. So yeah, it's and then when
there's money involved and the rules are a bit lacks
unless you could put proper tracking on people and have marshals,
I guess, which is which is a big thing for
P ANDNG to do.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
So, as you know, I'm looking at.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
Doing Kakoda in thirty nine hour hours, which is for
the thirty ninth battalion, so with a couple of mates
of mine, and I'm definitely not in that sort of
shape right now.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
So I've got to do a bit of work.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
And I've been thinking about made of one years ago
did it in thirty hours, and I had another mate
that did it in forty hours, and they were sort
of forty years of age, really fit guys ex Special Forces,
so you know, and still in good nick. But what
one of them did which I loved is whenever he
led a Kakoda trip he was doing five or six
a year, he would say, you get into a loll
(13:33):
up for us on day two and it's two thirty
three o'clock in the afternoon. He would then go out,
leave his trek to ice there and he would go
out and do another five or six hours. So what
he'd do is he'd go forward all the way through
to or Creek and then come back in the dark,
because doing the thirty nine hour we're gonna have to
trek right through the night, through a whole night. And
he said it was so much different as many times.
(13:53):
I think he'd done sixteen co codas at the time,
so this was early in his career and he was
he says, many times, as I've done it, it looked
very different when you're trekking all night under tea, and
I thought, okay, that makes sense too. So so I'm
thinking about maybe seeking in a few little lectures, like
when I get to a lolder and slipping out to
(14:14):
your creaking back, you know, and just leaving whoever's there,
because you'll have your own trip this hands up, but
who's out with me? Just leaving them with the group.
So I'm thinking about that just as a little what
better way to train than on the ground that you're
going to do the event?
Speaker 6 (14:27):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, absolutely, Yeah, that's I can't wait to
hear about that trip that it'll be. It'll be pretty epic,
I think.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
So you're just for context. You know, you've got three boys.
One of the boys thirteen to sixteen year olds.
Speaker 6 (14:40):
Now, yeah, this year there'll be thirteen, fifteen.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
And seventeen seventeen, okay, and how old are you now?
Speaker 6 (14:48):
I've been a big four to OZ this year because I.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Think that's good context for people, because you know, obviously
our body's changed, and particularly for women as we age,
there's a lot of stuff that we go through. And
I've definitely I've stayed relatively healthy my whole life. I'll do,
you know, seventeen trips a year, not to code of
it to everywhere, and yet still just my body has
all these aches and pains these days and adjustments that
(15:13):
you have to make. That's because I still feel twenty
five in my head, so realistically, you know, as an
active person. So then I think, what about an inactive person?
Like I said before, what if I've spent twenty years
behind a desk, and what if this is a massive
bucket list goal which happens a lot, and I start
to talk myself out of it. Maybe I'm not capable,
And the truth is you are. If you particularly if
(15:34):
you're my age or highly, you're going to have to
put up with a little bit of pain and discomfort
if you haven't kept yourself active, and even if you have,
but you are also capable. And as I've often said,
I've taken as young as eight nine year olds, and
the oldest I've personally taken was a seventy nine year
old lady from Melbourne, and I've taken single and double
leg amputees, and I've taken everyone in between, so everyone's
(15:56):
capable of it. To me, Kakoda or any of these
big adventures comes down to levels of discomfort that you're
willing to put yourself through in the lead up in training,
and discomfort doesn't just mean physical discomfort. It means taking
time away from the family to go and hike for
three hours on a Saturday or Sunday, to get your
cays in. It's you know, two or three training sessions
(16:17):
a week where for months where people start to say,
you know, your family start to go on like this
seems to be taking up your life, but it kind
of needs to. Just I say to people, it's not
a ten day commitment. It's a minimum of a three
month commitment. And it's not again as you've mentioned, intense.
It's just you've got to be really, really consistent to
give yourself. I don't say the best opportunity to complete
(16:39):
the track, but the best opportunity to enjoy it, because
you will complete the track. You can complete the track
under discomfort and pain. And I'm out here now, but
I want people to be able to look up and
take it in and spend time with Killer and the
boys and locals in the village and having chats to
each other rather looking at their feet, going I just
cannot wait for.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
This day to be over.
Speaker 6 (17:01):
I think the biggest challenge for women my age that
have kids especially is the guilt that you get. I
still get it, you know, pulling myself away from the
kids to train consistently. It's tough because the actual trips,
you know, I have a great relationship with my cousin
(17:21):
and so the trips I don't feel so guilty about
going away because I know they're with Josh and and
they have a great time there and they don't you know, right.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
So that you know.
Speaker 5 (17:35):
But I guess the other side is that kids grow
up quick and we know that as well, so you
don't do anything.
Speaker 6 (17:41):
So yeah, you just I think the maternal guilt of
pulling yourself away from the kids daily to train, that
definitely gets you. And and I mean as far as
pushing yourself mentally when you're out there on the track,
I know, you know, it's normally about day two or three,
people start to get a little bit tired and fatigued,
(18:02):
and they think, oh, my gosh, can I do this?
And that's when if you've trained and really pushed yourself
through some mental stuff at home consistently, that it's when
that is when it's really going to matter. You know,
on day three or four, you're going to be able
to put yourself together and be like, you know what,
this is the once in a lifetime opportunity, and I've
(18:23):
already made it this far. I you know, I can
absolutely get through this and take some deep breaths and
actually really enjoy it, because you're right. It's that the
walking just gives you so much time to think and
get inside your own heads that you can literally solve
the world's problems while you're out there. But it's when
(18:44):
you when you stop at the end of the day
and you can have a chat to all the people
that are in the group and really connect with people,
and then connect with the locals over there and play
with the kids and throw football and now that's the
really special stuff that you know, and you can have
time to reflect on the history, and that's the really
special stuff that's just out that you're still remembering forty years.
Speaker 5 (19:07):
I reckon the other thing as a parent to consider,
and it's just another perspective to add in for those
that are going to do this once, which is a
lot of people. How proud the kids will be when
they see you do that for one orhen they see
you have achieved it and you can come home and
show the photos and tell the stories and so on.
And also you're showing them a consistency in an effort
to achieve a thing. And often, particularly in our thirties
(19:29):
and forties, you know, when kids are young, they don't
see a lot of that from us because one they
either don't notice it, or you know, we're just working
so hard being parents and providing to them that we're
maybe not doing all that. They might see it's go
to the gym consistence, consistently, But what's the what's the
purpose for purpose?
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Yeah, and if you can talk to me.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
About, hey, I had to train really hard because this
thing's really hard and I want to make sure I'm
complete it and you come home with all these cool photos.
My experience is that you know, within five or ten years,
parents are being up saying all right, well, you know
little Sally or little Johnny want to come. They've been
they've known about it to the last x amount of
years and now all of a sudden, the kids want
to come as well. That's what a cool thing to
share with your children at some point.
Speaker 6 (20:11):
Yeah, definitely. I get a little bit of that from
the kids, and they don't I guess boys don't probably
vocalize it as much as girls. But even my partner's
five year old, he can't wait to come to jungle, like,
he's all about I just want to come to the
jungle with you, I said, I promise when you're older,
I'll take you to the jungle. And the older kids
will be like, yeah, my teachers think you're so cool.
(20:33):
You know. It's not I think you're cool, but the
teachers already think you're rad, so you know they do.
They definitely appreciate, appreciate what it takes for me to
get there and to do it successfully and take care
of people. And I think one thing this year that
(20:54):
I really wanted to focus on was was pushing pushing
that mental health, taking time out for yourself as a mum,
and take care of your body. I didn't train particularly
hard last year, and I I didn't prioritize my training
and I always had for the last probably fifteen years.
(21:16):
I'd always really prioritized my own personal health, and last
year I didn't, and I think it played a massive
role in my mental health. And I actually stepped away
from training a little bit to focus on business, and
in turn, my business didn't do all that great. I
didn't get the results I wanted because I wasn't where
(21:36):
I needed to be mentally.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
That makes total sense to me, obviously, working in those
spaces that I do of mindset and stuff, and it's
I don't think people understand enough to connection between physical
health and mental health, for one, and that's where having
a big thing to train for, like a kakada is
pretty cool. But when I was in the military and
we deployed, and people think all soldiers are fit, well
that's not the case. Like there's probably fifty percent that
(22:01):
a fit, super fit, fitter than the average humans walk
the street. And then the other fifty percent are very
trade related. And so we'll have people like it. We'll
have a doctor and nurses and medics. As an example.
I'm not saying doctors aren't fit, but not all doctors
are fit. But then we don't get rid of them
because they're not fit. We go, well, they've got a
skill set that we need so we get them fit enough.
(22:23):
And my experience, having deployed in medical teams overseas into
war zones is those that aren't as physically fit definitely
struggled mentally and definitely within weeks, and we might be
on a nine month deployment. And I remember I was
in my twenties when I first started to watch that
and start to notice. Okay, so there's a massive correlation
between physical health and mental health. It's just health, right,
(22:46):
But a lot of us don't attribute the two.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Yeah, absolutely, And whether it's cocoda or whether it's a run,
an ultra or whatever it is that you're training for
to have that, yeah, you might feel guilty about it
at the time, but just to be able to see
the long term goal and what you'll achieve from that.
And that's your kids learn that too. Kids see the correlation.
(23:10):
My kids will be like, Mum, you need to go for.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
A run to day, you know, get out of the house.
Speaker 6 (23:15):
Get out of the house. Yeah, you know. And and
as soon as you start prioritizing that, it's funny because
you'll be at home and you be like, no, I've
got too much to do. I did some bookwork, I've
got to clean the house and get the kids here
and there, And yeah, there is definitely days where you
have to prioritize other things, but in general, as soon
as you go out and get that exercise done, you'll
(23:36):
get all the other jobs done anyway, because you just
feel so much better. You're procrastinating about things. So you know,
it's just prioritizing your own wellness and your own physical
health for your mental health will take you further than
anything anyway.
Speaker 5 (23:51):
I thought, on the days I don't exercise, I feel
more tired. In the middle of the day, you feel
like you need an app. So there's definitely a relation.
So and just to go back on a couple of points,
like what you talk about all of that about your
mental health and physical health and things are trained for.
Kakoda is one of and I'm very biased here, but
it's one of the most ideal situations to put yourself
(24:12):
into it because for the most part, your mobile phone
doesn't work, so for the most part you're out doing
something physical or day people are doing, you know, thirty
thirty five thirty eight thousand steps in a day some
days up and down some pretty big hills in an
amazing country, hanging around with amazing local people, plus the
trekking group and the talking, and like you said, you
(24:32):
get a lot of time to think, a lot of
quiet time just to clear your head around some stuff.
So there's not many places in the world, or really
any places in the world I can think of where
you're totally off the grid for eight days, and I
think Kakoda. That's the addition, is the physical but then
also the fact that you get to switch off.
Speaker 6 (24:51):
Yeah. Absolutely, If people ask me, why do you keep
going back, it's the absolute reset. Like you can just
you go over there and you can close your laptop,
you turn off your phone, and you can just forget
it about the world and you're just in this beautiful
environment where things are so simple.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
It's the ultimately mindfulness, right.
Speaker 6 (25:13):
Yeah, life is just so simple, and you can just
sit and watch the water go by and listen to
the birds. And we just don't take time to do
things like that when we're here, and I guess I
mean some people obviously do, and they've obviously got a
little bit more self control when it comes to but
we're busy, you know, We've like you said, we've got kids,
(25:35):
we've got work and all those things going on.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
The time we get up in the morning, we're reacting
to the world.
Speaker 5 (25:41):
Phones, emails, children, partners, whatever, there's just clients, whatever your
thing is, you're reacting to the whole world. On cokoda,
you're just being exactly where your feet are. You get
up in the morning with one thing to do, have
some breakfast, pack again, and let's get rolling again, and
you know where your stops am and you talk about
your history, and then you get to the night location.
You sit around the fire and you're playing cards or
(26:03):
having your arms or telling jokes. And as a society
we don't get to do a lot of that anymore,
sitting around in groups of people and just learning about
other people and learning about perspectives. And how often have
you been on kokoda where a question comes up and
that no one knows the answer to something really simple. Oh,
we should know the answer, and we want to reach
for Google and we can't, you know, And that used
(26:24):
to be life once upon a time, but these days
it's just you can solve almost anything immediately, And so yeah,
I love it from that point of view. I want
to talk about one other thing that I love and
that I've experienced on Coakoda and tell me your experience
similar or different. But what I love is when people
get to the airport and we meet them at the
airport and you can see the nervousness in them. Now,
(26:45):
some people are nervous energy in a positive they're upbeat
and there y and other people are absolutely deathly quiet.
And then you go through the briefings import Moresby and
people don't sleep well that first night because they're nervous.
And I think nervous is good because I think means
you respect what you're about to do. But then I
love watching that first one, two or three day. Somewhere
(27:05):
around day two or three, you see this realization that
I'm going okay here, like I think I can get
through this. And then that day four, five or six,
where it's they're locked in and it's like I can
definitely finish this, and you can see that difference in
the way they're moving there. The nervouses is gone. They're
actually enjoying the experience. Now they're kicking footage and soccer
balls with the kids. And then that emotional sort of
(27:28):
outpouring that happens to ninety nine percent of people when
they walk through those arches at the end and like, man,
I just did this thing. Like I've been training for
this thing and I just did it. And on top
of the stories they hear and the people and the country,
but it's really the holy crap, I just did this.
I love that whole When you say why do you
keep going back? That's why I keep going back. I
(27:48):
love watching that whole journey that people go through.
Speaker 6 (27:51):
Yeah, it is so special and that the people that
you get to take across just keep it fresh. I
think if you were to hype over and over and
over again with the same people, you absolutely get a
little bit tired of it.
Speaker 5 (28:06):
You know.
Speaker 6 (28:07):
It is when you get to the airport and you
meet That's one of my favorite part is I'm like, oh,
who's going to be on this trip because there's just
so many different types of people and being able to
connect with that many different types of people from all
over the country sometimes other countries as well, you know,
and share that experience with them or let them and
(28:29):
let them have their own experience and just watch that
unfold from that, you know, real scared, quiet person at
the airport or yeah, you definitely get chatters that are
nervous and then just just talk because they're nervous, and
they just ask a hundred questions because they just feel
like they need to know everything right there. And then
and then yeah, you get to the hotel and they're
(28:51):
kind of excited. I always correlate excitement with nervous. I
always tell my kids if they're you can see, you know,
as soon as the kid gets wound up about something like,
have a think about what are you nervous or excited
at it? Because sometimes when you're excited and you're unsure,
you can maybe think you might be nervous, but you're
actually just excited. And so they get to the hotel
(29:14):
and you know, again they don't sleep. And then that
next day when we're all waiting in the lobby to
get on the bus, and they're like, oh gosh, you
can kind of see people going can I back out?
Can I back out? Maybe I could just stay here
at the hotel.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
People start making jokes about that. Oh yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:33):
And then once you're out there, once you get your
feet on the ground and they start hiking and they're like, whoa,
this is actually happening, and you know, and yeah, they
by the end of it. They're all just even you know,
the fully grown men, just a blubbering mess by the
time they get to the end, just because they feel
so accomplished. It is truly just one of the most
amazing things you get to share with people. And to
(29:54):
get to share that with people repetitively a year and
then even year on year, it's just such a special opportunity.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
Absolutely, And I've had people that say, you know, they
think they're going to do it once, they do it twice,
and then three times and four times as we know.
Think of Brenda and Leon. Brenda said it's definitely the
last time she's doing it, But the last message I
got from her, I said, well, there might be one
more in me. It just draws you back, and it's
a place that just draws you back to it time
and time again. I was going to talk about I
(30:25):
think it's important to collect information on what you're about
to do checking comcode. Obviously that's why this podcast exists.
But realistically the podcast exists to give people clear information
because what I want to say to people listening is
you can collect too much information and it can scare
the hell out of you. If you ask ten of
your friends, what's something I definitely need to bring on
(30:46):
the track. You'll end up with ten different answers, and
you can end up carrying way too much stuff. You
can end up having, you know, overfearing it. I've had
people that are super fit who are absolutely fear for
they're not going to make it because they know someone
who struggled or whatever, and or they've heard a story.
And people love to embellish their stories a little bit,
and I think takes away the enjoyment if they spend
(31:06):
the first half of the trip panicking that all these
things might go wrong or you know whatever, and then
they realize, geez, someone so talk this up a bit.
Having said that, I will clarify that or quantify that
by saying people have different experiences. So I took a
maide of mind Andrew Away years ago. This is sort
of he did two thousand and six with me, which
to this day is the wettest ansack I've ever done
(31:29):
in over twenty years. It just bucketed on us from
nine o'clock in the morning till nine o'clock at nine.
It just didn't seem to stop. It was incessant. And
he had set three daughters, two of them were teenagers
at the time, and he said to me, he rings
me up and they were all meant to come, and
I sat down with the family and I said to him, look, mate,
to be honest, like, the kids aren't that interested and going.
(31:50):
You can take him if you want. And he had
plenty of money so that wasn't his issue. But I said,
you're just going to waste experience if they don't really
want to do it. And I just don't sense that
they want to do it, and it might take away
from your experience. So he did it without them anyway
then because it was such a wet trip and such
a hard trip. He rings me up and maybe a
month or so later and said, the older two girls,
Brianna and Daniel, they want to do Cokoda. And they
(32:12):
were fourteen and sixteen at the time. They were athletes,
so they were super fit, and he said, they want
to do kakoda. And I said when he said September school, hoidays,
I said right, And he just stayed on the phone
for a really long time and I said, mate, he
said something else. He goes, yeah, I don't want to
do it with him because of how wet and hard.
That experience was, I think, And I said, oh, that's fine.
His wife's name is Helen. I said, well, so just
(32:33):
Helen coming. He says, yeah, after what I told Helen,
she doesn't want to go either. And I said, what
are you ask you me? So I was wondering if
you would take the girl. So I did. I took
these two girls, and like I said, they're athletes, but
they were a bit scared because of what Dad had
told him and how hard it was, and they saw
the photos, I guess, but he they were training. On
top of their training. They were we get over there.
(32:53):
It was the driest trip I'd ever had. They were
killing it. They were just I remember were sitting up
on top of the Kakoda gap there coming up out
of Brown River, sorry, up out of well, you know.
And then the guys are sitting there and they said
to me, we don't know what Dad was meaning about.
This isn't that hard. So I guess everyone has different experiences.
(33:14):
You can have wildly different experiences and prepare for the
worst and expect and hope for the best. And if
you get hard raining conditions and you know that you've
been well trained and you've done all the right things,
You'll get through it. On that same Anzac experience, I
took a group of doctors and their partners and stuff
for a fundraiser and it was tough on them because
(33:34):
people that love a bit of comfort and I don't
think they realized. And I haven't had rain like that
since I've had rain, but never like that six season
for whatever reason. And I remember getting to the end
of it and people like this, this was terrible and
it was hard and it was But all these years later,
those same people, whenever they run into me, do you
remember our Cacadi trip? It was amazing. So yeah, time
(33:55):
shifts our perspective. I think in time they look back
and said, man, we did something well outside our comfort
zone and we got through it. And that's the key thing,
if nothing else that you'll take away from Kakoda.
Speaker 6 (34:08):
Yeah, absolutely, And like, yeah, the weather can definitely play
a bit of havoc on you and on your mental
capacity to push through. But at the same time, it's
your experience, and it's really important for everybody to have
their own their own experience. And yeah, I do I
do love I do love the diversity that on paper
(34:29):
New guinea can throw at people, whether it's boring with
rain or you know, so humid that you just sweat
on sweat.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
So just tell me how your double lo What did
that feel like last year doing the double? And are
you looking forward to this double this year?
Speaker 6 (34:45):
I can't wait for the double this year. I think
it was really good last year because I've gotten a
little bit comfortable. I think doing the trips, you know,
it's got a little bit like, you know, I can
this is this is easy and backing it up. I
was actually a little bit nervous, so it's kind of like,
(35:08):
how's my body going to do this? And and then
all the rest is the original groups all packing up
and going home, right, so you're like, all right, see
you guys. And we didn't get a lot of I
didn't get a lot of sleep in that little turnover
area because we were you know, out of bed early,
back to the seminary.
Speaker 5 (35:28):
And just cleaning and getting prepped and all that sort
of stuff. That's the killer. It's it's getting where your
gear set to rego again.
Speaker 6 (35:35):
Yeah, you're not just eating and sleeping and then going again.
It's it's hectic. You're kind of in bed late because
you're trying to wash your clothes and then you're up
nice and early and then you're gone. And we did
get that little treat where we came back to the
hotel and had breakfast again play.
Speaker 5 (35:52):
But you know what I love is it kind of
feels cool when people have finished kakata and their and
their bodies of oh jeez, bodies is a bit worn out,
and then they look at you guys, and you guys
are going again. That's kind of It's a cool feeling
to know that you have the physical capacity and the
mental capacity in your body to do that.
Speaker 6 (36:10):
Definitely, yeah, it was, but I guess at that stage,
I'm still a little bit unsure, like I I and
I guess everyone I'm not used beause you've done it
so many times. But in that situation where I hadn't
done it before, there was a little bit of doubt.
It was like, geez, this is going to be intense,
Like can I I'm sure I'll push through, but how
(36:31):
comfortable am I going to be doing this? And obviously
once we got back out on the track, and because
we're going back the other way for that trip as well,
we got to good Water that first night and it's
barketed down, absolutely bucketed down, and it was the group
and the good camp site was already full as well.
(36:51):
So we camped down the bottom there on the river,
underneath that chanty, and I was like, oh gosh, these
poor people are going to think this trip is going
to be a long week. But once I did that,
once we got through that night, and even just sitting
there in that rain, it's just so peaceful that you
(37:11):
you just forget about everything else. It's kind of like, okay,
well I'm out here again. Technology has gone and like
just grab hold of this opportunity and run with it.
And it was wonderful being a trip that, you know
that I got to run, and you know, having that
experience and.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
Because you ran that full trip and I just I
was there, but I just kind of stayed up the back.
Sometimes I was twenty minutes behind you guys. Just chatted
to Killer and so I really wanted you. It was
a good group.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
You know.
Speaker 5 (37:38):
Actually I was just taking to Angus. You know, young
Gussi's at school. I just chatted to him a couple
of days ago, and I stayed really well connected to him.
He's a great young kid. Like, you meet so many
good people when on the track, and obviously Ricky's dad
and toughy and like, it was just, you know, it
was a good little group that just and it wasn't
too busy out in the track for the second time
(38:00):
through on Czantic generally is pretty busy. But you know,
I think it was a good opportunity for you to leave.
And you're, now, how many trips have you done?
Speaker 2 (38:07):
Now?
Speaker 6 (38:09):
True, it's done seven, so do eight.
Speaker 5 (38:14):
Nine back to back? So you know you're like, I
remember leading trips. I started leading on my fifth trip
and I wasn't quite ready and plus no one had
really taught me anything, to be fair, I just got
told one day I was don the Army. The guys
I was doing it just said okay, you're leading this trip,
and I was like, oh crap. And because I look
back now and I think it's a disservice if you
(38:35):
haven't learned the history properly. And I was into the history,
but no one had really showed me how to put
it on the ground or how to do a briefing.
I had to come up with all of that and
and I'm very very good at it now, but it's
taken years to hone and with you guys, as you know,
before I teach you anything, I just keep harping on
on how to do the briefing because it's such an
important part. Anyone can treck Cokoda, of course, anyone can
(38:57):
run Kakoda companies. I've got leaders that are bringing me
these days of saying I've done one trip as a
client and now the company's offer being a leadership and
I don't really know what I'm doing, and you go, okay,
I think that's I think that's irresponsible, not on the
individual's behalf and on the company's behalf. And I'm not
going to name companies. I'm not here for that, but
(39:17):
I just don't think it's the right thing to do
because a lot of people will have their one experience,
and I want that one experience to be as best
we can make it. And part of that is the
physical journey which the track gives you, the journey that
the country gives you itself, and the local people. But
really our role is putting that history, that emotional journey
on the ground of what these young soldiers went through
(39:40):
in nineteen forty two. And that's as a former soldier
I think that's really important. As an Australian, I think
that's really important. And so that's what I harp on
with you guys, and you're nailing that. And this Anzac
you've got your your leading again the same time as me,
but not in the same group. So that's going to
be cool because we'll be able to track at the
same time and we'll cross paths probably you know, almost
(40:00):
on a daily basis. But you've got your own group.
I've got my own group, and then we'll come back
to get that was a group. We we'll do that together.
So that'll be really cool because we'll be able to
talk about all the experiences you had as a trek
leader out there and then come back again.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (40:15):
Yeah, it's definitely well, I guess. I mean, I love
the history and I'm super passionate about that as well.
So it's been it's been a journey learning and listening
to them, to the briefings, you know, for that many
trips now for seven trips, and then obviously we come
home and we study them like crazy, and I chat
(40:38):
with the other eventual leaders that are coming along as well,
and we just you know, throw things off each other.
If we don't quite understand the situation. We'll chat about it.
And you definitely see you definitely see it out on
the track. In nearly every trip that I've ever been on,
you see groups going hold on like their briefing is amazing,
(41:04):
like or they're leaving me like.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
What is this?
Speaker 6 (41:07):
What is the guys doing?
Speaker 5 (41:09):
I had that one. This guy said what are you doing?
And so I'm just doing briefing is yeah, but what's
it for? And that's what it's because we're on Brigade Hill.
He goes, no, but like, is this a special trek
And I said, no, this is just what we're doing
on the tracks that we're putting the battles on the
ground so people understand why they're trekking over here. And
he said oh, and he said, we're not doing any
of that. And some companies are local leg which makes
sense you pay a lot less and it's local lean
(41:30):
And I said, are you going to Australian leading you?
And he said yeah. I said okay, And what are
they doing? He said, well, he just tells us what
time were getting up, what time we're going to be moving,
and what time we should finish.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
And that's his whole job. I think now now that
would bore me, you know, if that's all I was doing.
Speaker 6 (41:46):
Yeah, yeah, So it's it is really cool, and I
guess that that's probably the most cool thing that happens
for that is actually it's the biggest deal for me.
With running that Brigade Hill ceremony for the first time,
I was definitely a monumental moment in like trekking career
and in my life. Guess to be able to be
given the privilege to run that ceremony is an incredibly special,
(42:11):
special thing.
Speaker 5 (42:12):
So I've personally done ninety three kakotas and that is
the first time and the only time that I've not
given the Brigade Hill briefing. So that was a big
deal for me too to let go. And because even
when I bring other track leaders along and I let
them do all the other briefings, I do Brigade Hill
because that's that's my thing and I so this time
I thought, nope, I'm going to let hide to do it.
(42:33):
And it was massive for me to take that step
back and I need to do that because you can't
be doing everything. But also it was about giving you
the confidence to say, hey, I'm ready for this, like
I've done the work and I'm ready for this.
Speaker 6 (42:45):
Yeah. Yeah, it was a very cool experience and I
just can't wait to do hundreds more.
Speaker 5 (42:51):
So we probably should wrap up because we're forty minutes
deep where you're going away camping with the fan. But
when we do our next episode and when you get back,
let's do another one. I would like to answer get
your answers and mine on the open discussion on the
ten most common questions that people ask on Kokoda and
I chacked GBT this because it was able to search
(43:14):
the whole incident.
Speaker 2 (43:15):
So these are the ten most common things. What do
you think Some of them would be.
Speaker 6 (43:20):
Definitely how fit do I need to be? Ye, there's
definitely what do we eat?
Speaker 2 (43:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (43:26):
What are the bathrooms like?
Speaker 5 (43:28):
So do you know what number one was? Which kind
of surprised me and I think it's because we go
there a lot. It was number one. The most common
asked question is is the Kakoda track safe? So that
was interesting. We won't answer that now, but obviously were
thinking is Number two was what level of fitness is required?
Three was what's the best time of year to track?
Four was what should I pack. That's a good one.
(43:49):
Five was doing in the porter and what is their role?
Six was which direction is better? Seven was what accommodations
are available along the track? How do I handle emergencies
was number eight, which is obviously our role. What is
the historical significance of Kakoda was number nine, So that
highlights why it's important for us to do the briefings
and that the way we do. And the tenth one,
(44:09):
which is an interesting question, is is there a code
of conduct for trekkers? So we'll talk about all of those,
just those things in an upcoming episode, but for now, yeah,
it was just a chance to get back on air.
And you know, we've had a lot of people message
in me saying, you know, we really like the episodes.
Even people have already track cor Coder and asking me
to do more and on time poor as we all know.
(44:31):
But part of what I'm trying to do this year
in adventure professionals, just so people know, and obviously you
and I have discussed this, HIGs, is you're going to
play a bit of a bigger role in even on
our social media and stuff. Because I run three different
businesses and I've got a lot going on, So obviously
just trying to make sure that we keep the information
out there because first and foremost my role in the
(44:54):
whole of the Kakoda thing is to keep the story alive.
That's my main thing, which is why I love it
when kids learn about it and want to come on
the tripment this podcast is about. It's not about getting
more people on tracks with us, although I would love
you to come with us. It's about people going over
there having the best experience they can because I know
a lot of people don't get the right information and
(45:15):
that's no reflecting on the companies they go with. It's
whether they're collecting too much information from too many people,
whether they're going with something that's a bit blas a
and hasn't given them an up. And I've been there
over the years, so that's really what this podcast is about.
If you decide to check with us as a result
of that, great you know myself Hides, Brian, people within
the company, Mick, we'd love to take you, but ideally
(45:37):
this is just about giving you as much information as
you can so when you get back Hides, we will
rip in and we'll do the ten most frequently asked
questions but if people have other questions that aren't on
that list, or you know, down the track, we'll do
more different questions. Please feel free to drop us an
email and we'll do those for you as well. So
if you Hights, thanks for coming on today and I
guess enjoy your camping trip. The hard part's probably done,
(46:00):
which is a packing and then packing to come home again.
Speaker 6 (46:03):
And the second hard part in the come home is
always worse.
Speaker 5 (46:06):
It's the absolute worst. All right, Well, you have a
good trip at all. I'll tutch you when you get.
Speaker 7 (46:12):
Back, all right, So yeah, rights, Harmuzotube, Fee.
Speaker 3 (46:26):
Racing Bond Mvisars.
Speaker 4 (46:40):
The bond between Ossie's and the people of Papu and
New Guinea was forged in war and it endures in peace.
We've felt that friendliness, that special connection in the comforting
presence of our porters and in every small community along
the Kakoda Track.
Speaker 2 (46:58):
W we are okay, guys, thanks for tuning in.
Speaker 3 (47:19):
It would be awesome if you'd share this with anyone
you know that's going to the Kakoda Track or that
has been and has a keen interest in the track.
Speaker 2 (47:26):
It's people and those that choose to track it.
Speaker 3 (47:28):
The Pillars of is Sharaba say, courage, endurance, makeshif and
sacrifice great words to live by, and this podcast will
offer makeshift and a place for those that live and
love the co Coda Track experience until next episode, live
a life that inspires you and those around you, and
remember to take time out to think about what's really important.
Speaker 2 (47:46):
What's really important, What's really important?
Speaker 1 (47:50):
Thanks fellowstak to the Kakoda Track Podcast. To get it
touched or stay up to date, go to Kakoda Track
Podcast on Facebook or email Glen at Adventure Professionals dot
com dot a here. Don't forget to subscribe and share
with your friends. Let's keep the spirit and the stories
of Kakoda and the P and G people alive.
Apodjay Production. This podcast is proudly brought to you by
Adventure Professionals www dot Adventure Professionals dot com dot au for.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Me, Mission Ridge and Brigade Hill.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
The whole Kakoda campaign more people need to know about it,
or know everyone knows someone who's trek Kakoda, but to
actually understand the stories of what these young guys did,
it's harrowing what they went through.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
They were staunched to the end against odds uncountered and
they fell with their faces to the.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Welcome to the Kakoda Track Podcast. Hosted by former soldier
Glen Asa. This is the place to hear stories from
those who've trecked Kakoda and gained tips of knowledge about
what to expect on the track, or to relive your
own amazing experiences. The Kakoda Track Podcast keeping the spirit
of Kakoda alive.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
Hey, Tam Glen As are here back with the Cocada
Track Podcast. As I said, I'm going to try to
do more episodes in twenty twenty five and going beyond
because there's been a demand for it and people have
a lot of questions, and I thought we'll just keep
going over the frequently asked questions and so on. What
an't we to do this morning is I'm going to
chat to Heidi and then she's about to head away
on a camping trip, which is what us adventures style
(01:28):
people like to do. So I'm actually making this call
at nearly four o'clock in the morning Queen's Land, tom
or a bit before and so five o'clock in New
South Wales where Hides is. But just to add that
extra voice, I'd love to have her on once a
month and just be particularly having a female voice, someone
that's tracked the track quite a few times now. She
did the double with me for ANZACK last year. She's
(01:49):
doing the double game for ANZAC this year. So I'm
looking forward to having a chat to her and then being
able to I guess pass on to you guys as
much information as we can now. Any questions that you
have around Kakoda, please feel free to email me Glen
with two ends at Adventure Professionals dot com dot au,
or you can email my daughter Brooklyn from when I'm
away info at Advanced Professionals dot com dot au. But
(02:13):
without further ado, let's chat to Hiding. Hey, I thought
were just ripped straight in. I did an episode yesterday,
just like a little to say hey, we're coming back on,
which was like ten.
Speaker 6 (02:25):
Minutes, and I did see that top up.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
Yeah, just a quick intro back, and I thought it'd
be good to have yourself on even on say once
a month, if we could find the time to sit
and talk about anything you co related or and I said,
I've done an intro to this episode. I just said
to people, feel free to email me or Brooklyn when
I'm away with questions and then even if they're not
checking with us, we don't care. We're more than happy
(02:50):
to answer those questions for him. But obviously you can
have that female perspective coming in as well, which would
be cool. And of course we've got Sammy and other people,
but it'd be kind of good just to be doing
that on a regular basis. So, oh yes, first, since
first you're in the middle of preparation now for your
second double crossing for ens ACSIS, your second ANZAC in
(03:10):
a road doing the double so and you've been charting
that on social media, which I think is really cool
for people. And so obviously what's your social media accounts?
Just so people can jump on and.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Have a look.
Speaker 6 (03:22):
So I have a couple of social medias on the go,
but my main one is at out here living.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
And so you're doing what's the intention behind that? Like
you're I know you're putting up fitness stuff and I
know we've talked about it for people listening. What's the
intention behind doing more on social media and showing people
the journey.
Speaker 6 (03:44):
I think that social media account I set up just
for adventures initially, but it's kind of been a bit
of a collaboration. I do juggle a lot of ball
now and as people keep telling me, so I kind
of tend to have a fair bit of different content
out there, like I guess being a pt and then
being a mom. I run a farm when I'm back
(04:06):
here in Australia as well, so it's kind of it's
a bit of a collaboration of everything. And I guess
it's all about just having a crack at everything and
just just living, you know, actually just getting out there
and having to go with anything. I mean, if you
want to have a crack at how have.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
You found putting all the sort of content together? Because
you said to me, like I need to be more
active on social media this year, which I agree when
we do what we do and we do live interesting lives,
it's good to share that with people. You know, It's
good for people to find positives on social media, which
I talk about on the Building Better Humans project all
the time. Like people think social media is a negative thing. Well,
it can be if you're following the wrong people. But
(04:43):
if you're following if I want to treck Corkoda, and
I can follow people who've checked coacoda a lot and
how they're training and how they're preparing, and well, that's
going to be a positive thing.
Speaker 6 (04:53):
Yeah, absolutely, I think. I mean, training for Kakoda is
it can be pretty overwhelming when you've never been before,
and it's going to be, like you know, probably one
of the hardest things do. And I did take a
huge hiatus from social media, but then after I mean
(05:13):
I treked got three times last year and then and
I just felt like in the general public, people bash
themselves up when they feel like they need to be training,
but then they feel guilty. And I guess putting all
that together and also showing my busy life from how
(05:35):
I try and squeeze it in makes people feel like
they don't need to bash themselves up. So much. You know,
they can you know, they can have a day off
or if something comes up. It's all just about at
the end of the day, it's all about just achieving,
achieving things and growing yourself. So as long as you can,
you know, stay can fairly consistent and keep your training going,
(05:59):
then the intensity for that isn't all that important. You know,
you don't need to bash yourself up about it and
sharing that on social media. From my perspective, because I
am so busy and have so many different things going on,
I guess I can help people. And it's funny, because
I did take such a hiatus from social media, I've
(06:21):
kind of forgotten that that world was even there, those
people that were following me in Then as soon as
I jump back on and started sharing a few videos
and whatever, I've been inundated with little messages of going,
oh my god, it's so cool, You're such an inspiration.
I can't like to follow your adventures this year, and
so there is people out there that want to watch.
It's just learning to shut out the negative as well.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
There's a couple of really good points in there for
anyone preparing for Kakoda or the like. It's one is
the business. Yeah, we're all busy, Like you're going to
have absolutely reasons not to train certain weeks, and the
key is to, like you said the second point, to
be consistent, just keep showing up. So sometimes people have
this idea they've going to train like an athlete because
(07:04):
Kakoda is so hard, because they hear all those stories.
But the truth is you've got to look at where
you're coming from too, Like you live a pretty active
life obviously on the farm. But if I'm twenty years
sitting behind a desk on a computer and then I
go out and try and train like an athlete or
like I did twenty years ago, most likely I'm just
going to end up injured. And then that's going to
as you get older. Like I'm fifty two now and
(07:25):
nearly fifty three. Every time I get an injury, it
just takes a little bit longer to heal, and then
I've got to be a little bit smarter about how
I train. I never choose not training as an option,
but I definitely choose much smarter training than when I
was younger.
Speaker 6 (07:40):
Yeah, definitely, definitely. It's something that I've learned too. You know,
I used to go pretty hardcore in the weights. And
you know, after I closed my gym here in town,
I just I just took a big step back and
looked at what was it that I actually really wanted
(08:00):
to achieve? Was my training? Like did I want long
jeopardy in my wellness? So I and now, yeah, I've
definitely ramped it back up again this year, and I've
got a few personal goals to get that I want
to really chase this year physically as well as mentally.
But I think when it comes to training for a purpose,
(08:22):
you really need to assess what it is you need
to do, because you know, when you train for the CODA,
yeah there's you know, you really need to get the
miles under your legs and and do you know there's
a lot of step ups and step down when you're
on the track. So those sypes of things are important,
but you don't you don't need to train like an
athlete otherwise you will end up injured. It's normally get
(08:45):
people getting injured during their training program all the time
if they're training too hard.
Speaker 5 (08:50):
I have two experiences with all the people I deal with,
because obviously I deal with a lot of people on
an administrative level, like Brooklyn looks after all that, but
I still am tied into it. And I have two
types of people. People that overtrain and get injuries and
then think, well, I can't take a week off, I've
got to train through the injuries. They still end up
out on the track most of the time. Occasionally they
postpone a trip, but most of time, but then they
(09:10):
carry the injury out there, and I don't know that
that's as.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Enjoyable experience as it could be.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
So it's the first type of person that's a real
alpha sort of personality, I guess. And then the other
side is people that just don't train. And then even
at the beginning of the year, I'll get it's still
three months out. By February, you will get people starting
to try and move their ANZACT trip because they haven't
done the work, and it'll be like, oh, but they
won't say that. It'll be I'm just too busy or
(09:35):
something else is going on. But then when you get
in and have a good chat to them, you realize, look,
I just have another work and they just have and
it sneaks up on you all of a sudden. Go
in December, ANZAC feels like a mile away to people.
It doesn't to me because I've been doing other than COVID.
I've done pretty much eighteen and ZAC straight if you
(09:57):
cut out COVID, So it doesn't feel that way for me,
but because I know how quick it gets here and
administratively we've got a lot of work to do. But
it's a common experience for people training to go it's
miles away and you know, four months isn't that far,
and then it's three months and it's two months and
then it's oh crap, maybe I need to postpone. So yeah,
just like you say, just turn up, be consistent, because
training is the most common question that I get when
(10:20):
it comes to Kakoda. And in fact, I typed in
to chat GBT just to up because it can search
the whole internet, and said, what are the ten most
common questions on Kakoda? And you know, training was right
in there with it, so in the sort of top five.
I thought it would have been higher, but it's yeah,
it's just interesting that that comes up a lot. And
(10:40):
so and even when I was spoken people, they said,
you need to talk more about the training, and I think, man,
we talk about the training on every episode pretty much. Yeah,
but again it just goes to show you when people
get nervous, you got to keep reiterating this stuff. And
by watching your social they get to watch how your training,
which is pretty cool.
Speaker 6 (10:58):
Yeah. Yeah, And like I did share a video the
other day, like I have a bit of a goal
this year. I want to run one hundred k ultra.
So I am absolutely putting in a fair few miles running.
But at the same time, when I'm doing that, I'm
very aware of how my body feels. And so if
(11:19):
I do get an injury, I back it off and
I don't and I don't stop at all, but I
just change the way I'm training for a little bit
until that you know, it's I do have a little
bit of a dicky hit. So you know, if that
hit plays up, I just back it off. Am I
just swimming? Or am I just more yoga that week?
Or you know, you just you don't You can stay
(11:40):
consistent without without stopping completely.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
I guess one hundred kultu is a good way. It's
good to let people know too that when they do
come and go across and have a look at your
your Instagram, it might look like GeSe, this looks a
bit extreme, but it's not just for Kakoda.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
That's why I thought I did add that in a
video the other day because I was like, people are
going to be thinking, oh, yeah, she's already like run
in twenty k's a week plus two straight sessions and
a pack walk and that's a huge load on someone's body.
And obviously I've got it. The Ultra probably won't be
until about October. I haven't actually picked the actual run
(12:19):
that I'm going to do yet, and I'm using all
these ka codas that I'm doing this year as training
as well, you know, just to get those miles, and
I figure while I am so busy doing these the crossing,
it's a great opportunity to use that fitness and those
those crossings as training. So I'd love to do a
(12:40):
Kakoda Ultra. Yeah so they run.
Speaker 5 (12:43):
Yeah, I'm not sure either. There's a lot of issues
around the validity of it and people taking and all
that sort of stuff. So yeah, it's and then when
there's money involved and the rules are a bit lacks
unless you could put proper tracking on people and have marshals,
I guess, which is which is a big thing for
P ANDNG to do.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
So, as you know, I'm looking at.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
Doing Kakoda in thirty nine hour hours, which is for
the thirty ninth battalion, so with a couple of mates
of mine, and I'm definitely not in that sort of
shape right now.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
So I've got to do a bit of work.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
And I've been thinking about made of one years ago
did it in thirty hours, and I had another mate
that did it in forty hours, and they were sort
of forty years of age, really fit guys ex Special Forces,
so you know, and still in good nick. But what
one of them did which I loved is whenever he
led a Kakoda trip he was doing five or six
a year, he would say, you get into a loll
(13:33):
up for us on day two and it's two thirty
three o'clock in the afternoon. He would then go out,
leave his trek to ice there and he would go
out and do another five or six hours. So what
he'd do is he'd go forward all the way through
to or Creek and then come back in the dark,
because doing the thirty nine hour we're gonna have to
trek right through the night, through a whole night. And
he said it was so much different as many times.
(13:53):
I think he'd done sixteen co codas at the time,
so this was early in his career and he was
he says, many times, as I've done it, it looked
very different when you're trekking all night under tea, and
I thought, okay, that makes sense too. So so I'm
thinking about maybe seeking in a few little lectures, like
when I get to a lolder and slipping out to
(14:14):
your creaking back, you know, and just leaving whoever's there,
because you'll have your own trip this hands up, but
who's out with me? Just leaving them with the group.
So I'm thinking about that just as a little what
better way to train than on the ground that you're
going to do the event?
Speaker 6 (14:27):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, absolutely, Yeah, that's I can't wait to
hear about that trip that it'll be. It'll be pretty epic,
I think.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
So you're just for context. You know, you've got three boys.
One of the boys thirteen to sixteen year olds.
Speaker 6 (14:40):
Now, yeah, this year there'll be thirteen, fifteen.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
And seventeen seventeen, okay, and how old are you now?
Speaker 6 (14:48):
I've been a big four to OZ this year because I.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
Think that's good context for people, because you know, obviously
our body's changed, and particularly for women as we age,
there's a lot of stuff that we go through. And
I've definitely I've stayed relatively healthy my whole life. I'll do,
you know, seventeen trips a year, not to code of
it to everywhere, and yet still just my body has
all these aches and pains these days and adjustments that
(15:13):
you have to make. That's because I still feel twenty
five in my head, so realistically, you know, as an
active person. So then I think, what about an inactive person?
Like I said before, what if I've spent twenty years
behind a desk, and what if this is a massive
bucket list goal which happens a lot, and I start
to talk myself out of it. Maybe I'm not capable,
And the truth is you are. If you particularly if
(15:34):
you're my age or highly, you're going to have to
put up with a little bit of pain and discomfort
if you haven't kept yourself active, and even if you have,
but you are also capable. And as I've often said,
I've taken as young as eight nine year olds, and
the oldest I've personally taken was a seventy nine year
old lady from Melbourne, and I've taken single and double
leg amputees, and I've taken everyone in between, so everyone's
(15:56):
capable of it. To me, Kakoda or any of these
big adventures comes down to levels of discomfort that you're
willing to put yourself through in the lead up in training,
and discomfort doesn't just mean physical discomfort. It means taking
time away from the family to go and hike for
three hours on a Saturday or Sunday, to get your
cays in. It's you know, two or three training sessions
(16:17):
a week where for months where people start to say,
you know, your family start to go on like this
seems to be taking up your life, but it kind
of needs to. Just I say to people, it's not
a ten day commitment. It's a minimum of a three
month commitment. And it's not again as you've mentioned, intense.
It's just you've got to be really, really consistent to
give yourself. I don't say the best opportunity to complete
(16:39):
the track, but the best opportunity to enjoy it, because
you will complete the track. You can complete the track
under discomfort and pain. And I'm out here now, but
I want people to be able to look up and
take it in and spend time with Killer and the
boys and locals in the village and having chats to
each other rather looking at their feet, going I just
cannot wait for.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
This day to be over.
Speaker 6 (17:01):
I think the biggest challenge for women my age that
have kids especially is the guilt that you get. I
still get it, you know, pulling myself away from the
kids to train consistently. It's tough because the actual trips,
you know, I have a great relationship with my cousin
(17:21):
and so the trips I don't feel so guilty about
going away because I know they're with Josh and and
they have a great time there and they don't you know, right.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
So that you know.
Speaker 5 (17:35):
But I guess the other side is that kids grow
up quick and we know that as well, so you
don't do anything.
Speaker 6 (17:41):
So yeah, you just I think the maternal guilt of
pulling yourself away from the kids daily to train, that
definitely gets you. And and I mean as far as
pushing yourself mentally when you're out there on the track,
I know, you know, it's normally about day two or three,
people start to get a little bit tired and fatigued,
(18:02):
and they think, oh, my gosh, can I do this?
And that's when if you've trained and really pushed yourself
through some mental stuff at home consistently, that it's when
that is when it's really going to matter. You know,
on day three or four, you're going to be able
to put yourself together and be like, you know what,
this is the once in a lifetime opportunity, and I've
(18:23):
already made it this far. I you know, I can
absolutely get through this and take some deep breaths and
actually really enjoy it, because you're right. It's that the
walking just gives you so much time to think and
get inside your own heads that you can literally solve
the world's problems while you're out there. But it's when
(18:44):
you when you stop at the end of the day
and you can have a chat to all the people
that are in the group and really connect with people,
and then connect with the locals over there and play
with the kids and throw football and now that's the
really special stuff that you know, and you can have
time to reflect on the history, and that's the really
special stuff that's just out that you're still remembering forty years.
Speaker 5 (19:07):
I reckon the other thing as a parent to consider,
and it's just another perspective to add in for those
that are going to do this once, which is a
lot of people. How proud the kids will be when
they see you do that for one orhen they see
you have achieved it and you can come home and
show the photos and tell the stories and so on.
And also you're showing them a consistency in an effort
to achieve a thing. And often, particularly in our thirties
(19:29):
and forties, you know, when kids are young, they don't
see a lot of that from us because one they
either don't notice it, or you know, we're just working
so hard being parents and providing to them that we're
maybe not doing all that. They might see it's go
to the gym consistence, consistently, But what's the what's the
purpose for purpose?
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Yeah, and if you can talk to me.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
About, hey, I had to train really hard because this
thing's really hard and I want to make sure I'm
complete it and you come home with all these cool photos.
My experience is that you know, within five or ten years,
parents are being up saying all right, well, you know
little Sally or little Johnny want to come. They've been
they've known about it to the last x amount of
years and now all of a sudden, the kids want
to come as well. That's what a cool thing to
share with your children at some point.
Speaker 6 (20:11):
Yeah, definitely. I get a little bit of that from
the kids, and they don't I guess boys don't probably
vocalize it as much as girls. But even my partner's
five year old, he can't wait to come to jungle, like,
he's all about I just want to come to the
jungle with you, I said, I promise when you're older,
I'll take you to the jungle. And the older kids
will be like, yeah, my teachers think you're so cool.
(20:33):
You know. It's not I think you're cool, but the
teachers already think you're rad, so you know they do.
They definitely appreciate, appreciate what it takes for me to
get there and to do it successfully and take care
of people. And I think one thing this year that
(20:54):
I really wanted to focus on was was pushing pushing
that mental health, taking time out for yourself as a mum,
and take care of your body. I didn't train particularly
hard last year, and I I didn't prioritize my training
and I always had for the last probably fifteen years.
(21:16):
I'd always really prioritized my own personal health, and last
year I didn't, and I think it played a massive
role in my mental health. And I actually stepped away
from training a little bit to focus on business, and
in turn, my business didn't do all that great. I
didn't get the results I wanted because I wasn't where
(21:36):
I needed to be mentally.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
That makes total sense to me, obviously, working in those
spaces that I do of mindset and stuff, and it's
I don't think people understand enough to connection between physical
health and mental health, for one, and that's where having
a big thing to train for, like a kakada is
pretty cool. But when I was in the military and
we deployed, and people think all soldiers are fit, well
that's not the case. Like there's probably fifty percent that
(22:01):
a fit, super fit, fitter than the average humans walk
the street. And then the other fifty percent are very
trade related. And so we'll have people like it. We'll
have a doctor and nurses and medics. As an example.
I'm not saying doctors aren't fit, but not all doctors
are fit. But then we don't get rid of them
because they're not fit. We go, well, they've got a
skill set that we need so we get them fit enough.
(22:23):
And my experience, having deployed in medical teams overseas into
war zones is those that aren't as physically fit definitely
struggled mentally and definitely within weeks, and we might be
on a nine month deployment. And I remember I was
in my twenties when I first started to watch that
and start to notice. Okay, so there's a massive correlation
between physical health and mental health. It's just health, right,
(22:46):
But a lot of us don't attribute the two.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
Yeah, absolutely, And whether it's cocoda or whether it's a run,
an ultra or whatever it is that you're training for
to have that, yeah, you might feel guilty about it
at the time, but just to be able to see
the long term goal and what you'll achieve from that.
And that's your kids learn that too. Kids see the correlation.
(23:10):
My kids will be like, Mum, you need to go for.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
A run to day, you know, get out of the house.
Speaker 6 (23:15):
Get out of the house. Yeah, you know. And and
as soon as you start prioritizing that, it's funny because
you'll be at home and you be like, no, I've
got too much to do. I did some bookwork, I've
got to clean the house and get the kids here
and there, And yeah, there is definitely days where you
have to prioritize other things, but in general, as soon
as you go out and get that exercise done, you'll
(23:36):
get all the other jobs done anyway, because you just
feel so much better. You're procrastinating about things. So you know,
it's just prioritizing your own wellness and your own physical
health for your mental health will take you further than
anything anyway.
Speaker 5 (23:51):
I thought, on the days I don't exercise, I feel
more tired. In the middle of the day, you feel
like you need an app. So there's definitely a relation.
So and just to go back on a couple of points,
like what you talk about all of that about your
mental health and physical health and things are trained for.
Kakoda is one of and I'm very biased here, but
it's one of the most ideal situations to put yourself
(24:12):
into it because for the most part, your mobile phone
doesn't work, so for the most part you're out doing
something physical or day people are doing, you know, thirty
thirty five thirty eight thousand steps in a day some
days up and down some pretty big hills in an
amazing country, hanging around with amazing local people, plus the
trekking group and the talking, and like you said, you
(24:32):
get a lot of time to think, a lot of
quiet time just to clear your head around some stuff.
So there's not many places in the world, or really
any places in the world I can think of where
you're totally off the grid for eight days, and I
think Kakoda. That's the addition, is the physical but then
also the fact that you get to switch off.
Speaker 6 (24:51):
Yeah. Absolutely, If people ask me, why do you keep
going back, it's the absolute reset. Like you can just
you go over there and you can close your laptop,
you turn off your phone, and you can just forget
it about the world and you're just in this beautiful
environment where things are so simple.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
It's the ultimately mindfulness, right.
Speaker 6 (25:13):
Yeah, life is just so simple, and you can just
sit and watch the water go by and listen to
the birds. And we just don't take time to do
things like that when we're here, and I guess I
mean some people obviously do, and they've obviously got a
little bit more self control when it comes to but
we're busy, you know, We've like you said, we've got kids,
(25:35):
we've got work and all those things going on.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
The time we get up in the morning, we're reacting
to the world.
Speaker 5 (25:41):
Phones, emails, children, partners, whatever, there's just clients, whatever your
thing is, you're reacting to the whole world. On cokoda,
you're just being exactly where your feet are. You get
up in the morning with one thing to do, have
some breakfast, pack again, and let's get rolling again, and
you know where your stops am and you talk about
your history, and then you get to the night location.
You sit around the fire and you're playing cards or
(26:03):
having your arms or telling jokes. And as a society
we don't get to do a lot of that anymore,
sitting around in groups of people and just learning about
other people and learning about perspectives. And how often have
you been on kokoda where a question comes up and
that no one knows the answer to something really simple. Oh,
we should know the answer, and we want to reach
for Google and we can't, you know, And that used
(26:24):
to be life once upon a time, but these days
it's just you can solve almost anything immediately, And so yeah,
I love it from that point of view. I want
to talk about one other thing that I love and
that I've experienced on Coakoda and tell me your experience
similar or different. But what I love is when people
get to the airport and we meet them at the
airport and you can see the nervousness in them. Now,
(26:45):
some people are nervous energy in a positive they're upbeat
and there y and other people are absolutely deathly quiet.
And then you go through the briefings import Moresby and
people don't sleep well that first night because they're nervous.
And I think nervous is good because I think means
you respect what you're about to do. But then I
love watching that first one, two or three day. Somewhere
(27:05):
around day two or three, you see this realization that
I'm going okay here, like I think I can get
through this. And then that day four, five or six,
where it's they're locked in and it's like I can
definitely finish this, and you can see that difference in
the way they're moving there. The nervouses is gone. They're
actually enjoying the experience. Now they're kicking footage and soccer
balls with the kids. And then that emotional sort of
(27:28):
outpouring that happens to ninety nine percent of people when
they walk through those arches at the end and like, man,
I just did this thing. Like I've been training for
this thing and I just did it. And on top
of the stories they hear and the people and the country,
but it's really the holy crap, I just did this.
I love that whole When you say why do you
keep going back? That's why I keep going back. I
(27:48):
love watching that whole journey that people go through.
Speaker 6 (27:51):
Yeah, it is so special and that the people that
you get to take across just keep it fresh. I
think if you were to hype over and over and
over again with the same people, you absolutely get a
little bit tired of it.
Speaker 5 (28:06):
You know.
Speaker 6 (28:07):
It is when you get to the airport and you
meet That's one of my favorite part is I'm like, oh,
who's going to be on this trip because there's just
so many different types of people and being able to
connect with that many different types of people from all
over the country sometimes other countries as well, you know,
and share that experience with them or let them and
(28:29):
let them have their own experience and just watch that
unfold from that, you know, real scared, quiet person at
the airport or yeah, you definitely get chatters that are
nervous and then just just talk because they're nervous, and
they just ask a hundred questions because they just feel
like they need to know everything right there. And then
and then yeah, you get to the hotel and they're
(28:51):
kind of excited. I always correlate excitement with nervous. I
always tell my kids if they're you can see, you know,
as soon as the kid gets wound up about something like,
have a think about what are you nervous or excited
at it? Because sometimes when you're excited and you're unsure,
you can maybe think you might be nervous, but you're
actually just excited. And so they get to the hotel
(29:14):
and you know, again they don't sleep. And then that
next day when we're all waiting in the lobby to
get on the bus, and they're like, oh gosh, you
can kind of see people going can I back out?
Can I back out? Maybe I could just stay here
at the hotel.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
People start making jokes about that. Oh yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:33):
And then once you're out there, once you get your
feet on the ground and they start hiking and they're like, whoa,
this is actually happening, and you know, and yeah, they
by the end of it. They're all just even you know,
the fully grown men, just a blubbering mess by the
time they get to the end, just because they feel
so accomplished. It is truly just one of the most
amazing things you get to share with people. And to
(29:54):
get to share that with people repetitively a year and
then even year on year, it's just such a special opportunity.
Speaker 2 (30:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (30:03):
Absolutely, And I've had people that say, you know, they
think they're going to do it once, they do it twice,
and then three times and four times as we know.
Think of Brenda and Leon. Brenda said it's definitely the
last time she's doing it, But the last message I
got from her, I said, well, there might be one
more in me. It just draws you back, and it's
a place that just draws you back to it time
and time again. I was going to talk about I
(30:25):
think it's important to collect information on what you're about
to do checking comcode. Obviously that's why this podcast exists.
But realistically the podcast exists to give people clear information
because what I want to say to people listening is
you can collect too much information and it can scare
the hell out of you. If you ask ten of
your friends, what's something I definitely need to bring on
(30:46):
the track. You'll end up with ten different answers, and
you can end up carrying way too much stuff. You
can end up having, you know, overfearing it. I've had
people that are super fit who are absolutely fear for
they're not going to make it because they know someone
who struggled or whatever, and or they've heard a story.
And people love to embellish their stories a little bit,
and I think takes away the enjoyment if they spend
(31:06):
the first half of the trip panicking that all these
things might go wrong or you know whatever, and then
they realize, geez, someone so talk this up a bit.
Having said that, I will clarify that or quantify that
by saying people have different experiences. So I took a
maide of mind Andrew Away years ago. This is sort
of he did two thousand and six with me, which
to this day is the wettest ansack I've ever done
(31:29):
in over twenty years. It just bucketed on us from
nine o'clock in the morning till nine o'clock at nine.
It just didn't seem to stop. It was incessant. And
he had set three daughters, two of them were teenagers
at the time, and he said to me, he rings
me up and they were all meant to come, and
I sat down with the family and I said to him, look, mate,
to be honest, like, the kids aren't that interested and going.
(31:50):
You can take him if you want. And he had
plenty of money so that wasn't his issue. But I said,
you're just going to waste experience if they don't really
want to do it. And I just don't sense that
they want to do it, and it might take away
from your experience. So he did it without them anyway
then because it was such a wet trip and such
a hard trip. He rings me up and maybe a
month or so later and said, the older two girls,
Brianna and Daniel, they want to do Cokoda. And they
(32:12):
were fourteen and sixteen at the time. They were athletes,
so they were super fit, and he said, they want
to do kakoda. And I said when he said September school, hoidays,
I said right, And he just stayed on the phone
for a really long time and I said, mate, he
said something else. He goes, yeah, I don't want to
do it with him because of how wet and hard.
That experience was, I think, And I said, oh, that's fine.
His wife's name is Helen. I said, well, so just
(32:33):
Helen coming. He says, yeah, after what I told Helen,
she doesn't want to go either. And I said, what
are you ask you me? So I was wondering if
you would take the girl. So I did. I took
these two girls, and like I said, they're athletes, but
they were a bit scared because of what Dad had
told him and how hard it was, and they saw
the photos, I guess, but he they were training. On
top of their training. They were we get over there.
(32:53):
It was the driest trip I'd ever had. They were
killing it. They were just I remember were sitting up
on top of the Kakoda gap there coming up out
of Brown River, sorry, up out of well, you know.
And then the guys are sitting there and they said
to me, we don't know what Dad was meaning about.
This isn't that hard. So I guess everyone has different experiences.
(33:14):
You can have wildly different experiences and prepare for the
worst and expect and hope for the best. And if
you get hard raining conditions and you know that you've
been well trained and you've done all the right things,
You'll get through it. On that same Anzac experience, I
took a group of doctors and their partners and stuff
for a fundraiser and it was tough on them because
(33:34):
people that love a bit of comfort and I don't
think they realized. And I haven't had rain like that
since I've had rain, but never like that six season
for whatever reason. And I remember getting to the end
of it and people like this, this was terrible and
it was hard and it was But all these years later,
those same people, whenever they run into me, do you
remember our Cacadi trip? It was amazing. So yeah, time
(33:55):
shifts our perspective. I think in time they look back
and said, man, we did something well outside our comfort
zone and we got through it. And that's the key thing,
if nothing else that you'll take away from Kakoda.
Speaker 6 (34:08):
Yeah, absolutely, And like, yeah, the weather can definitely play
a bit of havoc on you and on your mental
capacity to push through. But at the same time, it's
your experience, and it's really important for everybody to have
their own their own experience. And yeah, I do I
do love I do love the diversity that on paper
(34:29):
New guinea can throw at people, whether it's boring with
rain or you know, so humid that you just sweat
on sweat.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
So just tell me how your double lo What did
that feel like last year doing the double? And are
you looking forward to this double this year?
Speaker 6 (34:45):
I can't wait for the double this year. I think
it was really good last year because I've gotten a
little bit comfortable. I think doing the trips, you know,
it's got a little bit like, you know, I can
this is this is easy and backing it up. I
was actually a little bit nervous, so it's kind of like,
(35:08):
how's my body going to do this? And and then
all the rest is the original groups all packing up
and going home, right, so you're like, all right, see
you guys. And we didn't get a lot of I
didn't get a lot of sleep in that little turnover
area because we were you know, out of bed early,
back to the seminary.
Speaker 5 (35:28):
And just cleaning and getting prepped and all that sort
of stuff. That's the killer. It's it's getting where your
gear set to rego again.
Speaker 6 (35:35):
Yeah, you're not just eating and sleeping and then going again.
It's it's hectic. You're kind of in bed late because
you're trying to wash your clothes and then you're up
nice and early and then you're gone. And we did
get that little treat where we came back to the
hotel and had breakfast again play.
Speaker 5 (35:52):
But you know what I love is it kind of
feels cool when people have finished kakata and their and
their bodies of oh jeez, bodies is a bit worn out,
and then they look at you guys, and you guys
are going again. That's kind of It's a cool feeling
to know that you have the physical capacity and the
mental capacity in your body to do that.
Speaker 6 (36:10):
Definitely, yeah, it was, but I guess at that stage,
I'm still a little bit unsure, like I I and
I guess everyone I'm not used beause you've done it
so many times. But in that situation where I hadn't
done it before, there was a little bit of doubt.
It was like, geez, this is going to be intense,
Like can I I'm sure I'll push through, but how
(36:31):
comfortable am I going to be doing this? And obviously
once we got back out on the track, and because
we're going back the other way for that trip as well,
we got to good Water that first night and it's
barketed down, absolutely bucketed down, and it was the group
and the good camp site was already full as well.
(36:51):
So we camped down the bottom there on the river,
underneath that chanty, and I was like, oh gosh, these
poor people are going to think this trip is going
to be a long week. But once I did that,
once we got through that night, and even just sitting
there in that rain, it's just so peaceful that you
(37:11):
you just forget about everything else. It's kind of like, okay,
well I'm out here again. Technology has gone and like
just grab hold of this opportunity and run with it.
And it was wonderful being a trip that, you know
that I got to run, and you know, having that
experience and.
Speaker 5 (37:28):
Because you ran that full trip and I just I
was there, but I just kind of stayed up the back.
Sometimes I was twenty minutes behind you guys. Just chatted
to Killer and so I really wanted you. It was
a good group.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
You know.
Speaker 5 (37:38):
Actually I was just taking to Angus. You know, young
Gussi's at school. I just chatted to him a couple
of days ago, and I stayed really well connected to him.
He's a great young kid. Like, you meet so many
good people when on the track, and obviously Ricky's dad
and toughy and like, it was just, you know, it
was a good little group that just and it wasn't
too busy out in the track for the second time
(38:00):
through on Czantic generally is pretty busy. But you know,
I think it was a good opportunity for you to leave.
And you're, now, how many trips have you done?
Speaker 2 (38:07):
Now?
Speaker 6 (38:09):
True, it's done seven, so do eight.
Speaker 5 (38:14):
Nine back to back? So you know you're like, I
remember leading trips. I started leading on my fifth trip
and I wasn't quite ready and plus no one had
really taught me anything, to be fair, I just got
told one day I was don the Army. The guys
I was doing it just said okay, you're leading this trip,
and I was like, oh crap. And because I look
back now and I think it's a disservice if you
(38:35):
haven't learned the history properly. And I was into the history,
but no one had really showed me how to put
it on the ground or how to do a briefing.
I had to come up with all of that and
and I'm very very good at it now, but it's
taken years to hone and with you guys, as you know,
before I teach you anything, I just keep harping on
on how to do the briefing because it's such an
important part. Anyone can treck Cokoda, of course, anyone can
(38:57):
run Kakoda companies. I've got leaders that are bringing me
these days of saying I've done one trip as a
client and now the company's offer being a leadership and
I don't really know what I'm doing, and you go, okay,
I think that's I think that's irresponsible, not on the
individual's behalf and on the company's behalf. And I'm not
going to name companies. I'm not here for that, but
(39:17):
I just don't think it's the right thing to do
because a lot of people will have their one experience,
and I want that one experience to be as best
we can make it. And part of that is the
physical journey which the track gives you, the journey that
the country gives you itself, and the local people. But
really our role is putting that history, that emotional journey
on the ground of what these young soldiers went through
(39:40):
in nineteen forty two. And that's as a former soldier
I think that's really important. As an Australian, I think
that's really important. And so that's what I harp on
with you guys, and you're nailing that. And this Anzac
you've got your your leading again the same time as me,
but not in the same group. So that's going to
be cool because we'll be able to track at the
same time and we'll cross paths probably you know, almost
(40:00):
on a daily basis. But you've got your own group.
I've got my own group, and then we'll come back
to get that was a group. We we'll do that together.
So that'll be really cool because we'll be able to
talk about all the experiences you had as a trek
leader out there and then come back again.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (40:15):
Yeah, it's definitely well, I guess. I mean, I love
the history and I'm super passionate about that as well.
So it's been it's been a journey learning and listening
to them, to the briefings, you know, for that many
trips now for seven trips, and then obviously we come
home and we study them like crazy, and I chat
(40:38):
with the other eventual leaders that are coming along as well,
and we just you know, throw things off each other.
If we don't quite understand the situation. We'll chat about it.
And you definitely see you definitely see it out on
the track. In nearly every trip that I've ever been on,
you see groups going hold on like their briefing is amazing,
(41:04):
like or they're leaving me like.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
What is this?
Speaker 6 (41:07):
What is the guys doing?
Speaker 5 (41:09):
I had that one. This guy said what are you doing?
And so I'm just doing briefing is yeah, but what's
it for? And that's what it's because we're on Brigade Hill.
He goes, no, but like, is this a special trek
And I said, no, this is just what we're doing
on the tracks that we're putting the battles on the
ground so people understand why they're trekking over here. And
he said oh, and he said, we're not doing any
of that. And some companies are local leg which makes
sense you pay a lot less and it's local lean
(41:30):
And I said, are you going to Australian leading you?
And he said yeah. I said okay, And what are
they doing? He said, well, he just tells us what
time were getting up, what time we're going to be moving,
and what time we should finish.
Speaker 2 (41:39):
And that's his whole job. I think now now that
would bore me, you know, if that's all I was doing.
Speaker 6 (41:46):
Yeah, yeah, So it's it is really cool, and I
guess that that's probably the most cool thing that happens
for that is actually it's the biggest deal for me.
With running that Brigade Hill ceremony for the first time,
I was definitely a monumental moment in like trekking career
and in my life. Guess to be able to be
given the privilege to run that ceremony is an incredibly special,
(42:11):
special thing.
Speaker 5 (42:12):
So I've personally done ninety three kakotas and that is
the first time and the only time that I've not
given the Brigade Hill briefing. So that was a big
deal for me too to let go. And because even
when I bring other track leaders along and I let
them do all the other briefings, I do Brigade Hill
because that's that's my thing and I so this time
I thought, nope, I'm going to let hide to do it.
(42:33):
And it was massive for me to take that step
back and I need to do that because you can't
be doing everything. But also it was about giving you
the confidence to say, hey, I'm ready for this, like
I've done the work and I'm ready for this.
Speaker 6 (42:45):
Yeah. Yeah, it was a very cool experience and I
just can't wait to do hundreds more.
Speaker 5 (42:51):
So we probably should wrap up because we're forty minutes
deep where you're going away camping with the fan. But
when we do our next episode and when you get back,
let's do another one. I would like to answer get
your answers and mine on the open discussion on the
ten most common questions that people ask on Kokoda and
I chacked GBT this because it was able to search
(43:14):
the whole incident.
Speaker 2 (43:15):
So these are the ten most common things. What do
you think Some of them would be.
Speaker 6 (43:20):
Definitely how fit do I need to be? Ye, there's
definitely what do we eat?
Speaker 2 (43:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (43:26):
What are the bathrooms like?
Speaker 5 (43:28):
So do you know what number one was? Which kind
of surprised me and I think it's because we go
there a lot. It was number one. The most common
asked question is is the Kakoda track safe? So that
was interesting. We won't answer that now, but obviously were
thinking is Number two was what level of fitness is required?
Three was what's the best time of year to track?
Four was what should I pack. That's a good one.
(43:49):
Five was doing in the porter and what is their role?
Six was which direction is better? Seven was what accommodations
are available along the track? How do I handle emergencies
was number eight, which is obviously our role. What is
the historical significance of Kakoda was number nine, So that
highlights why it's important for us to do the briefings
and that the way we do. And the tenth one,
(44:09):
which is an interesting question, is is there a code
of conduct for trekkers? So we'll talk about all of those,
just those things in an upcoming episode, but for now, yeah,
it was just a chance to get back on air.
And you know, we've had a lot of people message
in me saying, you know, we really like the episodes.
Even people have already track cor Coder and asking me
to do more and on time poor as we all know.
(44:31):
But part of what I'm trying to do this year
in adventure professionals, just so people know, and obviously you
and I have discussed this, HIGs, is you're going to
play a bit of a bigger role in even on
our social media and stuff. Because I run three different
businesses and I've got a lot going on, So obviously
just trying to make sure that we keep the information
out there because first and foremost my role in the
(44:54):
whole of the Kakoda thing is to keep the story alive.
That's my main thing, which is why I love it
when kids learn about it and want to come on
the tripment this podcast is about. It's not about getting
more people on tracks with us, although I would love
you to come with us. It's about people going over
there having the best experience they can because I know
a lot of people don't get the right information and
(45:15):
that's no reflecting on the companies they go with. It's
whether they're collecting too much information from too many people,
whether they're going with something that's a bit blas a
and hasn't given them an up. And I've been there
over the years, so that's really what this podcast is about.
If you decide to check with us as a result
of that, great you know myself Hides, Brian, people within
the company, Mick, we'd love to take you, but ideally
(45:37):
this is just about giving you as much information as
you can so when you get back Hides, we will
rip in and we'll do the ten most frequently asked
questions but if people have other questions that aren't on
that list, or you know, down the track, we'll do
more different questions. Please feel free to drop us an
email and we'll do those for you as well. So
if you Hights, thanks for coming on today and I
guess enjoy your camping trip. The hard part's probably done,
(46:00):
which is a packing and then packing to come home again.
Speaker 6 (46:03):
And the second hard part in the come home is
always worse.
Speaker 5 (46:06):
It's the absolute worst. All right, Well, you have a
good trip at all. I'll tutch you when you get.
Speaker 7 (46:12):
Back, all right, So yeah, rights, Harmuzotube, Fee.
Speaker 3 (46:26):
Racing Bond Mvisars.
Speaker 4 (46:40):
The bond between Ossie's and the people of Papu and
New Guinea was forged in war and it endures in peace.
We've felt that friendliness, that special connection in the comforting
presence of our porters and in every small community along
the Kakoda Track.
Speaker 2 (46:58):
W we are okay, guys, thanks for tuning in.
Speaker 3 (47:19):
It would be awesome if you'd share this with anyone
you know that's going to the Kakoda Track or that
has been and has a keen interest in the track.
Speaker 2 (47:26):
It's people and those that choose to track it.
Speaker 3 (47:28):
The Pillars of is Sharaba say, courage, endurance, makeshif and
sacrifice great words to live by, and this podcast will
offer makeshift and a place for those that live and
love the co Coda Track experience until next episode, live
a life that inspires you and those around you, and
remember to take time out to think about what's really important.
Speaker 2 (47:46):
What's really important, What's really important?
Speaker 1 (47:50):
Thanks fellowstak to the Kakoda Track Podcast. To get it
touched or stay up to date, go to Kakoda Track
Podcast on Facebook or email Glen at Adventure Professionals dot
com dot a here. Don't forget to subscribe and share
with your friends. Let's keep the spirit and the stories
of Kakoda and the P and G people alive.
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com