Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Kokoda Track Memorial Walk and 1000 Steps...

Yesterday, Steve and I headed to the Dandenong Ranges Fern Tree Gully National Park and did their Kokoda Trail, which just so happens to be 100% uphill from the minute you step out of your car. Not only that but it involves 1.5 km of steps...I thought I was going to die. Clearly, I'm not in the greatest shape. While I walk everyday with Jesse, mountain bike on weekends and do yoga once a week, I was not prepared for this hike! Steve on the other hand, he practically skipped to the top. It was quite depressing, really.
Click this image and make it big to read why they have such a trail in existence. It's hard to imagine soldiers traveling and fighting on a trail like this during WW2. It was a very steep climb!!!

They have interesting plaques along the way with information of what took place during the Second World War. I liked reading them, it was the perfect excuse to stop and catch my breath!


The top was a little bit of a let down. It had....benches. No look off or impressive anything really. I guess you're just meant to enjoy the fact that you made it to the benches without taking a heart attack. The forest along the way was pretty though.
I thought going up was tough and couldn't wait to go down, but I honestly I think that was harder! We took a different trail down, which involved walking down a VERY steep hill for 2 km. Do you know how much walking down a steep hill for 2 km hurts??? I can hardly walk today...my poor bum muscles!

If you want to know about the hike from someone who clearly has more physical endurance than I do, visit this blog. He seems to know what he's talking about.

Meanwhile, I might go take a hot bath with Epsom salts and try to recover from our adventures yesterday...

1 comment:

Clotilde said...

Nice walk! :)

I'm actually surprise Steve hasn't made a personal goal to go hike the real Kokoda Track in PNG. In true spirit, it is done with a massive backpack to commemorate the gear the soldiers had to carry up the track...