Anne Graham and friends, training for … the hardest thing they’ll ever do!

1,000 Steps Kokoda Walk (or 956 steps if you want to be pedantic)

The day had finally arrived – it was time to test the hiking boots! Given we’ll be climbing the world’s tallest free-standing mountain and hiking for 7 days we know it’s important to have the right equipment –  and boots are right up there.

Our first test was to walk the very beautiful 1,000 Steps Kokoda Walk in the Dandenongs. This is a popular spot for tourists and Melbournians alike and it was crazy busy when we arrived on a clear and fresh Sunday morning. We met our group of other Inspired Adventurers and after introductions, Emma, our team leader gave us a briefing and we were off.

The people in our group were different ages, sizes, fitness levels and this hike wasn’t going to be a race or even a cardio workout. The plan was to experience what it will be like working as a group, on a challenge, learning how to pace ourselves and listen to the leader.

The 1,000 Steps is a gradual climb on rough steps through lovely bushland. We stopped a couple of times along the way and had a longer break at the top of the hill (not really a mountain) in the picnic area. We then made our way down the steps and a number of us found the going very slippery, requiring reasonable concentration. I narrowly avoided skidding and taking out a tourist or three – sadly this is not unusual for me.

Of course that wasn’t it for the day, and Emma decided to take us up a parallel track called the Lyrebird Trail. This paved track was quite wide, the steady incline was somewhat challenging and the break at the top was welcomed. The way down was actually harder on my knees, and the stairs to the side of the track came in handy.

Emma has been with Inspired Adventures for a while and she’s taken on many challenges including our own, Mt Kilimanjaro. It was with some apprehension I asked questions hoping for answers along the lines of “it won’t be as hard as you think”; “do the 1,000 steps a few times and you’ll be fine”; and “it’s easy to do the fundraising” etc.

No – Emma was adamant that the climb was by far the hardest thing she’s ever done but on the flip side, it was also the most rewarding experience she’d had. The difficulty for her was the mental challenge of pushing on when every fibre of her being just wanted to stop. She particularly mentioned the last night before reaching the summit which entails waking at midnight and hiking for hours and hours.

I don’t want to take on this adventure, only to get there and not make it to the top. (I nearly wrote chicken out but I don’t think it’s as simple as that). Having said that, David and I have made a pact with each other that if one of us can’t go on, the other will. Clearly this means I’ll just have to work on increasing my levels of stubbornness and determination!

The other reason it’s so important for this adventure to be a success is so I don’t let down our wonderful supporters who have been donating to Future2. Colleagues, friends, family and clients have all been giving generously. We aren’t quite halfway to our target but I know we’ll make it.

Please continue reading my posts and more importantly, donate to the Future2 Foundation at: http://future2kilimanjaro2016.everydayhero.com/au/anne-david-climb-kilimanjaro-for-future2

Anne Graham (and David Graham)

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Read more about Anne’s preparations here:

11 June: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Boots and birthday

27 May: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Oh, what the hell have I done?

12 May: Future 2 Foundation, Mt Kilimanjaro Climb 2016 – Want to climb a mountain? Of course I do…

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