The Kokoda Track Podcast: Your Questions Answered

Are you preparing for the adventure of a lifetime on the Kokoda Track? In this informative episode, host Glenn Azar addresses three critical questions from a future trekker that many potential hikers wonder about but rarely ask. From the practical aspects of food and meal timing on the track to managing illness in the jungle and surviving the infamous "Chiropractor Express" truck ride, Glenn shares insights from his impressive 98 crossings of the Kokoda Track. This episode offers valuable preparation tips that go beyond physical training, helping you prepare mentally and practically for this life-changing journey.

Timestamps and Key Takeaways:

**1:15** - Food on the track: Glenn explains the 24-hour ration pack system that allows trekkers to graze throughout the day rather than having set meal times
- Packs include a variety of foods: rolled oats, canned goods, noodles, snacks, and beverages
- The grazing approach helps those who can't exercise on a full stomach

**4:30** - Managing illness on the track: What happens when trekkers get sick?
- Stomach issues are less common than expected due to sealed food packages and hygiene practices
- When illness occurs, the group continues moving but at a slower pace
- Proper hydration and basic medications usually resolve issues without major delays

**6:15** - The "Chiropractor Express": Surviving the truck ride from Popondetta to Kokoda
- Despite the bumpy ride, motion sickness is rarely an issue due to open-air seating with good airflow
- The scenery and interaction with locals provide a welcome distraction
- Front seating options available for those particularly concerned about motion sickness

**9:45** - Glenn's invitation for listeners to submit their own questions and his commitment to keeping the Kokoda spirit alive

Ready to take on this incredible journey? Glenn's expert advice will help you prepare properly and approach your trek with confidence. Listen now and take the first step toward your Kokoda adventure.

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1-ON-1 MENTORING SESSION WITH GLENN

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The Kokoda Track Podcast dives into the experiences of those who have trekked this iconic trail in Papua New Guinea. In this episode, host Glenn interviews Caine, an adventure leader in training, about his perspectives from completing the track multiple times.

Get an inside look at Caine's evolving journey on the Kokoda Track, from his first trek for mental health to leading groups and passing on the diggers' stories. Learn how the history and emotions woven into the land continue to draw him back.

Timestamps:
00:01:30 - Caine's overview of his Kokoda Track experiences
00:08:15 - Handling adversity and challenges on the track
00:12:30 - Connecting with the military history
00:18:45 - Caine's advice for first time trekkers
00:23:00 - The impact Caine hopes each trek has on people
00:26:00 - Rapid fire questions

Key Takeaways:
- Training is crucial, but take the steep hills slowly
- it's a mental challenge as much as physical
- Connect with the local people and culture to get the most out of the experience
- Everyone is capable of completing the track with the right mindset and preparation
- The stories of the diggers must continue to be told to new generations

The Kokoda Track is an emotional, perspective-shifting journey. Are you ready to take on the challenge and become part of the story? Tune in to hear Caine's experiences and wisdom for your own upcoming trek.

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This episode is different. It's not about Australian battalions, tactics or commanders. It's about the people who walked beside the diggers. The quiet heroes. The ones who didn't carry rifles, but carried lives. Today, we're talking about the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.

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Today we sit with Heidi for Part 2 of our ANZAC Leaders Reflections.

🌿 Connection to History and Culture

1. What does the military history of Kokoda mean to you personally?

2. How do you help others connect with the story of Kokoda while they’re trekking?

3. What do you think trekkers should know before they come to understand Kokoda beyond the physical challenge?

🌍 Advice for Future Trekkers

1. What advice would you give to someone preparing for their first Kokoda trek?

2. What’s the biggest mistake you see trekkers make when they come to Kokoda?

3. What’s one thing you think everyone should do or experience while on the track?

🔥 Leadership and Impact

1. What does it mean to be a leader on Kokoda—not just logistically but emotionally and culturally?

2. How has leading people through Kokoda shaped your own leadership style or philosophy?

3. What impact do you hope each trek has on the people who join you?

❤️ The Deeper Why

1. Why do you personally continue to walk Kokoda?

2. How does Kokoda affect you long after each trek ends?

3. What legacy do you want to leave through your work on the Kokoda Track?

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I sat down with Adventure Leader Heidi and asked her these nine questions:

🔍 Experience and Motivation

1. What first inspired you to trek the Kokoda Track?

2. What keeps bringing you back to Kokoda year after year?

3. How has your view of Kokoda changed from your first trek to now?

🧠 Lessons and Growth

4. What’s one of the biggest lessons Kokoda has taught you—about yourself or about life?

5. What moment on the track stands out as a turning point in your career or life?

6. How do you handle adversity or challenges on the track—physically, mentally or emotionally?

🌿 Connection to History and Culture

7. What does the military history of Kokoda mean to you personally?

8. How do you help others connect with the story of Kokoda while they’re trekking?

9. What do you think trekkers should know before they come to understand Kokoda beyond the physical challenge?

TREK THE KOKODA TRACK

KOKODA FIT

ADVENTURE WITH US

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In this episode, we’re going to take a deeper dive into the terrain, geography, and physical demands of the Kokoda Track—arguably one of the most formidable battlegrounds in Australian military history. For anyone preparing to walk this track today, or simply seeking to understand what our soldiers endured in 1942, this episode will give you a real sense of what they were up against. It’s one thing to read about it, another to stand in the mud yourself. But for now, I want to take you there through story and description.

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KOKODA FIT PROGRAM

TREK THE KOKODA TRACK

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Hey Everyone,
I finally got to take my partner, and PNG national, Mili Saul to Kokoda. This is her experience.

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ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS

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It's easy to think if the Kokoda Campaign as a chapter in a history book. But when you walk the track - when you feel the mud under your boots and the weight of history in the air - you realise this story is alive. It lives in every ridge, every village, every monument.

It lives in the people.

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FITNESS FOR KOKODA

ADVENTURE WITH GLENN

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