Briggs Bluff - Grampians National Park

Briggs Bluff - 10.3kms, 4hrs 10mins

Not an overnight but worth mentioning, Briggs Bluff walk.

Beehive Falls

The path starts out flat and meanders 1.4kms to Beehive Falls. After enjoying the lovely falls the path quickly climbs to the top of the range. It is a constant rock hop until you hit the ridge, from here you get views to Mt Stapylton, Mt Difficult and Briggs Bluff. The path levels off for a while before once again climbing all the way to the Bluff, once again you are rewarded with 360 degree views of the surrounding area including Langi Ghiran, Bungador and Arapiles.
We stopped for lunch but quickly cooled off and head back to the car. All up an excellent energetic walk well worth doing!






Fast Forward on the Summit!





















LESS THAN 10 WEEKS TO GO!

Holy crap, this time in nine weeks we will be boarding a plane to Kathmandu and commencing the journey of our lives (so far)! The training is progressing, although a slight set back with a strand calf has stopped me from running which I was really enjoying.

Our VISAs have been approved, thanks to Liz who shouted us entry into Nepal!
It is great having both Richard and Liz as our personal tour guides/support crew. Given, they are returning with enthusiasm and knowledge, we are more than happy to be lead around holding their hands! While we might have considered a trip to Kathmandu we may never have taken on the challenge of EBC and Gokyo Lakes if they hadn't have asked!

We are comfortable with the level of training we are doing and the plan to slowly increase the intensity over the coming weeks. We will begin altitude training 6 weeks prior to our departure with the goal of developing some level of understanding of the effects of altitude on our bodies as well as prepare ourselves physically. 



In terms of walking, our training revolves around finding hills to walk up and down. We have completed the 1000 Steps, a variety around our streets as well as Mt Lofty - Warrandyte. Most recently we covered near 25kms in the Grampians National Park over 3 days.
I have found the Strava App really useful in tracking our walks, especially with the graphics available. You can use it for running, walking, bike riding etc... and it can also measure split times and improvements in time taken.
I will be using it while on the trek to keep track of each day distance and elevation gain. Certainly saves buying an expensive GPS. Also download and altitude app.

Our doctor is pleased with our training and we will be finalising necessary injections and planning the veritable pharmacy that we will be taking with us, mostly just in case.

There is no doubt that we both are excited albeit a little anxious about the forthcoming experience. So many people have asked us, "Why?" But, an equal number have expressed their desire to complete a similar trek at some time in their lives! There is part of me that can't really believe it is happening, that will change as I start taking photos of the mountains of Sagarmatha National Park!

So for now we continue to train, plan and get more and more excited as the departure day approaches.

For the record we commenced altitude training today 18/07. To bring us up to coping with the reduced O2 at 5560 metres the training is designed over 8 weeks and 24 sessions. Our first session saw us training around 2750 metres.  Thanks to Jan and Jason at Vibromania - http://www.vibromania.com.au

Check out the chart for the reduction in oxygen saturation at altitude, we will be working our way down to <10% before departure. Our first session had us training at 2750 metres - 14.5% O2.

http://www.higherpeak.com/altitudechart.html

Cheers
Mark

Everest - Gokyo Lakes planning and training intensifies!

So, when Liz and Richard said, "we are going to Gokyo Lakes in Nepal does anyone want to join us?" There was no doubt in our minds (Andrea's and mine) that we would be on that trip. We have both done some serious thinking about the challenge since buying the plane tickets!

The trip plan has been modified as we have further investigated what is possible in the four weeks we have for the adventure. After landing in Kathmandu we will fly to Tenzing-HillaryAirport, Lukla. Check it out, it is one of the most dangerous airports in the world, so if we make it through the landing and safely walk the trip we have got to go through taking off and surviving!

I won't bore you with the route details until we return, as there is no telling what will happen on the trip! Our basic plan is to head to Namche Bazaar to begin our first acclimatisation day. The route travels over three pass: Kongma La - 5535m, Cho La 5420m and Renjo La 5465m. With three significant hills to master: Chukkung Ri 5550m, Kala Patthar 5500m and Gokyo Ri 5357m, plus of course, EVEREST base camp 5364m.

Training is slowly picking up with goals being set by both Andrea and I. I tried the gym but couldn't handle the boredom so have turned to running. My July goal is to complete The Age Melbourne Fun Run - 10kms in July. Andrea still pushes herself at the gym with circuits that continue to increase her aerobic capacity. Once we hit August we are planning on completing altitude training at the local gym two days per week and intensifying the hill training leading into the trip in September.

So, for now, we increase the workload. Oh, did I mention the 30 day AB challenge that we both are killing ourselves with!!!

The end goal is completing, what will quite possibly be the biggest physical challenge of our lives........so far!

 Oh, and seeing this with our own eyes!

Mt. Everest from Gokyo Ri November 5, 2012 CroppedCC BY-SA 3.0Rdevany at the English Wikipedia 

Three Passes Trek - Planning takes shape

Sample trip Itinerary

With flights booked planning begins to take shape. With 9 months to go we have plenty of time to prepare ourselves both physically and in terms of schedule planning. As usual the internet provides us with plenty of information and advice.

The link provides an outline of the trip similar to the one we are planning (thanks Richard) but we will be bussing into Jiri and commencing our walk to assist with our acclimatization. This is considered the Everest expedition route and climbs in and out of numerous ridges and river valleys.

Duration: 7-9 days
Length: approx. 120 km
Max. Elevation: 3440m
Difficulty: hard

This gets us to Namche Bazaar our first rest and acclimatization day.

Just as a matter of interest if you calculate all the uphill climbing from Jiri to Everest Base Camp it comes to 10000m of elevation gain! 
So for now training begins in earnest, the one thing we can do is build a solid base of fitness. This will be essential as we push our bodies to work at altitudes above 5300m, Each of the three passes, Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La will push us to that extreme. I remember Tim Macartney-Snape in his book "Everest From Sea To Summit" talking about being cautious and using good judgement to reduce the likelihood of an accident. Much of his focus was on his preparation and planning as the key to being able to achieve his goal. We can not afford to have any doubt about our fitness leading into the trek. I know for me, nursing my body through sprains and strains will be the biggest challenge. Already a slight calf strain has slowed me down (bloody body!)


As of today - 4/1/2014 there are 259 days until our departure, but who is counting?

Gokyo..... FACT OR FICTION?

FACT!
With flights booked in the last day or so, the reality of what we have set in motion is starting to sink in!
The Gokyo Lakes region is at the head of the Dudh Kosi Valley. All reports suggest it is a tranquil trek which provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy the mountain panoramas. The highlight of the trek is the ascent of Gokyo Ri. At 5550m at the summit we will enjoy awesome views of Everest as well as the peaks of Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu.

So what is ahead? 9 months of training and preparation, reading and developing the plan?
Plus....

Ever since I was a young the thought of climbing Mt Everest was prominent. Through out Uni days the challenge was in the back of my mind. I had a friend that I went through school with who experienced a base camp journey as a part of his training at Bendigo. Talking to Tony lit a tiny fire inside me. When Liz and Richard mentioned the opportunity, there was absolutely no doubt of my and Andrea's desire to complete the Trek! Nine months time the dream becomes a reality, not climbing Mt Everest, just looking! 

I'll keep you informed!

  

GOKYO - September 2014

Training Begins for Gokyo - Wilsons Prom

Wilsons Prom 4 day hike slightly modified.

So the plan was to complete the walk over four days!

Day 1 - Telegraph Saddle to Sealers Cove

Wind, wind and more wind! At least, the sky was mostly blue! The damage to the track from the March 2011 storms and landslides was evident in several locations both up to Windy Saddle and down through the rainforest to Sealers. Great gouges out of the earth hundreds of metres long crossed the path with a great deal of work having to be completed to rebuild the track.
We timed our arrival at Sealers for low tide to ensure only our feet got wet getting to the campsite. Lack of use was evident as the bracken had taken over and campsites were limited. Especially with the water seeming to fill most of the sites available. We spent the afternoon lazing around, eating and taking pictures.

Weather looks fantastic!





Lunch out of the wind!





Settled for the afternoon!



Sunset!





twilight provides an opportunity to experiment.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2 - Sealers Cove to Little Waterloo Bay

Having not done any training prior to our departure all our muscles where feeling the pain as we commenced the walk up the hill towards Refuge Cove. The wind had been having fun all night and it seemed to increase as the day went on. We rested at Refuge Cove before marching up to the summit of Kersops Peak. Certainly a fun climb with packs but we seemed to manage alright. After dropping our packs and heading to the summit we decided to get down out of the wind to have lunch. An hour or so later we were on the beach in shelter enjoying the view across to Waterloo bay. While you seem so close to the campsite the intervening walk up and down hill makes for a rather long journey. To make matters worse the weather decided it was time to be windy and rain! By the time we walked into Little Waterloo bay the rain was making its mark! What ensued was the next 15 hours being spent in our tent, eating and sleeping and listening to the rain and wind!

 

 

Day 3 - Little Waterloo to Oberon Bay (not!)

Overnight nothing had changed... Wind and more rain. We stayed dry even though we had a river running under our tent. Ironically, when we were at Little Waterloo last - 20 years previous, it rained just as hard! Breakfast and packing up in the tent went well and with wet weather adorned we walked off into the rain and wind. Fortunately, the wind got worse! I say fortunately because the decision was made to cut our journey short and return to Telegraph saddle rather than risk another night out in this weather. The initial report was for the worst weather to be coming through on the last day of our walk but this was pretty bad! The walk up to Telegraph saddle is long and boring, the only good thing was that the rain eased and we were a little more sheltered from the wind. We arrived back at the car shoved our gear in the boot then headed for a shower prior to heading home.

While the trip was cut short the 36kms covered signalled that we had a lot of training to get back to reasonable fitness! This was our first sojourn back into the bush with packs so we didn't expect to get it easy! Unfortunately the weather made things much worse!