2018 Soldier On Training Hikes on the build up to Mt Kilimanjaro Campaign

The following are taken from my Jet setting Josh Facebook page and personal Facebook page, of all the training hikes I completed for the Mt Kilimanjaro campaign that I did in 2018.

20 July 2018 – Granite Tors

First hike in the training for my Soldier On Mt Kilimanjaro campaign was completed with a 6 kg backpack in 2 h 15 min with an elevation gain of 400 m over 9 km, on my day off work, in 3 degree temperature and raining but if you wait for perfect conditions you’ll never get anything done. Saw several wallabies and kangaroos, one as tall as me but no other humans down in the deep south of Canberra, Australia.

4 Aug 2018 – Stockyard Spur

Second hike in the training for my Soldier On Mt Kilimanjaro campaign was completed again with a 6 kg backpack in the south of Canberra, near Corin Dam. This hike took 3 h 15 mins with an elevation gain of 800 m over 12 km. Was steep at the beginning and got very windy from roughly halfway up even with all the tree cover. Snow covered 2/3 of the hike and sometimes was deeper than my ankles even on the track but my SCARPA GTX Terra hiking boots and Macpac gaiters kept my feet warm and dry. I wasn’t feeling 100% when I started the hike but the view assisted the recovery.

11 Aug 2018 – Mt Majura

Third hike in the training for my Soldier On Mt Kilimanjaro campaign, this time was up my local and completed going up twice in 3 h 20 mins with an elevation gain of 550 m over 15.5 km. Quite a few other’s enjoying the great winter weather this morning in Canberra and I had a sweat going on, thankfully my trusty 3 litre EPE hydration backpack was still up for the challenge.

17 Aug 2018 – Legoland

Fourth hike in the training for my Soldier On Mt Kilimanjaro campaign, this time I parked at the campground and hiked the 11 km, 2 hour return dirt service road, to what is commonly known as Legoland, to the locals. Elevation gain was only 280 m but did quite a bit of boulder scrambling and exploring around these amazing rock formations. Was a nice place to enjoy the views of the valley over lunch for around 30 mins. The remains of the Orroral Valley Tracking Station is still here, which assisted in the NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration Apollo-Soyuz mission and Columbia mission in the 1970’s and 80’s. Hiking in winter in the Namadgi National Park is the best time to get out and enjoy what this park has to offer.

25 Aug 2018 – Booroomba Rocks

Another hike in the training for my Soldier On Mt Kilimanjaro campaign completed. Like last weeks hike, I parked at the Honeysuckle campground but this time hiked the 3 hour, 12 km return track to Booroomba Rocks, taking the longer version and a couple of breaks along the way. Elevation gain was 380 m and there were a number of other people doing this hike too, but the shorter version. Some boulder scrambling is involved at the cliff edge if you want to get to the highest point but once there, you will not be disappointed as it is a stunning view. What are you waiting for? Take the first step in achieving your goal.

1 September 2018 – Big Monk and Mt Rob Roy

What a great adventure day. Went on another hike this morning in the training for the Soldier On Mt Kilimanjaro campaign. This time it was up Big Monk and Mt Rob Roy in one of the most southern suburbs of Canberra. Took 2 h 45 mins with elevation gain of 500 m over 12 km. In the evening, it was my first ever attempt at snowboarding. Didn’t work out that well so went skiing instead, which I can do, sort of, been a long time. Next time I will have a lesson. Was great to share the experience with Susanah Hogan. Corin Forest, has a great set up for beginners.

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If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you – Fred DeVito.

8 September 2018 – Mt Franklin and Mt Gingera Having had to change plans for this weekend, I ended up doing a rather big bike/hike which I started from the Mt Franklin carpark, rode up to the top of Mt Franklin via the chalet. As you can see it was pretty foggy up here so early on a winters morning but the drive up from Canberra on Brindabella Road was worse. I then rode to the locked gate at Mt Ginini carpark then hiked it to the top of the A.C.T’s second highest mountain Mt Gingera via Pryor’s Hut, as your not supposed to ride past this point. Didn’t expect so much snow, should have bought along my gaiters, oh well, next time.   The new Shimano XM700 shoe and SPD-M324 pedal set up I was testing worked well except that the tongue on the shoe is not long enough and the laces cut right on the anterior ankle and after a while it starts to hurt. If you weren’t doing a long hike, then I would say that they would be fine. Shoutout to 99 Bikes for supplying the pedals.   All up I biked/hiked 30 km in 5 hours with an elevation gain of 700 m in the Bimberi Nature Reserve, training for the Soldier On Mt Kilimanjaro campaign.   Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going.  

15 September 2018 – Gibraltar Peak

For the last hike in the training for the Solder On Mt Kilimanjaro campaign, I chose Gibraltar Peak as I hadn’t been here since last year when I was training for Mt Everest base camp. This time, I did a little bit more exploring of the area, looking for the best photo opportunities. Still such a great view of Canberra. Tidbinbilla is an magnificently managed nature reserve and is a must for avid hikers or people wanting to expand their environmental education of the area. Took 2 hours, over 7 km with 350 m elevation gain with a 10 kg backpack.

Go as far as you can, then take another step.