‘I think you need to make the most of it while you can’
EVERY parent wants to spend quality time with their kids, but a trip to Mount Kosciuszko is going to be extra special for Paul and Nick.
SURELY the hardest thing about hiking up Mount Kosciuszko is spelling it correctly on all your social media accounts. Right?
(Just wait a second while I Google it to make sure I got it right. Phew. For the remainder of this article, let’s just call it Kozzie).
Considering Australia is the flattest continent on Earth, our highest mountain pales in comparison to the likes of the Himalayas, Alps or Andes.
It’s 2228 metres above sea level, for goodness’ sake.
How difficult could it be?
Well, if you choose to skip the chairlift from Thredbo Village to Eagle’s Nest Mountain Hut, you’ll find yourself climbing stairs for the better part of three hours.
The first four kilometres - known as Merritts Nature Track - are pretty hard yakka.
Unlike other mountains, where you’re putting on layers to insulate yourself from ice and snow, Kozzie is blasted by the sun for large portions of the day.
However, once you get past that, it’s a piece of cake.
Paul Brown, from Adelaide, is preparing to climb Kozzie for the first time.
The 47-year-old finance broker has stage four lung cancer, and he plans to hike the whole thing next month to raise money for Rare Cancers Australia.
“This year has been a bit of a turnaround in my health, I’ve been feeling on top of my game, and I think you need to make the most of it while you can,” he said.
He told news.com.au he also tested positive for ALK, which is an acronym for anaplastic lymphoma kinase — basically, a malignant lung tumour with an abnormal configuration of DNA. It’s spread to most places in his body, and only six months ago started metastasising in the brain.
“Once I was diagnosed, I started chemotherapy. They tested for the ALK gene mutation, and that opened up a new line of treatment. At the time, it was extremely expensive, it was about $7500 a month before it was listed on the PBS.”
“When I was looking for a way of doing that, I think it was my dad who stumbled across Rare Cancers. We read about another guy in the paper who’d raised money with them, so we got in contact with the guys there and they’ve been brilliant.”
Aside from raising money, the hike is also providing an opportunity to create memories with his wife, Dianne, and eight-year-old son, Nick.
“My wife’s not completely on board,” he laughed, “but she has been walking on the streets and improving her fitness. She’s not an outdoors person.”
“We once went on holidays to Antarctica, and on the way we stopped in Patagonia, at the base of Argentina, and we went on a day trek through one of the forests. She was like: ‘This is not my idea of a holiday!’
“I went on a camping trip recently with my son, but there’s no way she was coming. We went to the Grampians, and hiked the Pinnacle. I thought he did pretty well for an eight-year-old, I was very proud of him.”
Paul said at this stage of his health, he’s feeling “as good as any normal person”.
“My cancers are no more than a centimetre big each, so they’re not impacting on anything. My breathing is perfectly fine.
“We’re really looking forward to it!”
Rare Cancers Australia is hoping more than 300 people will join Paul for the Kosciuszko Challenge 2017, working toward a goal of raising $200,000.
However, you don’t have to be super-fit to participate.
According to Thredbo’s Susie Diver, most people opt for the chairlift.
The scenic ride saves 565 vertical metres of climbing, swooping you up and over the tree line to the start of the Mount Kosciuszko Track.
You can stop for a toilet break, pick up a coffee, and start the six and a half kilometre hike to the summit on a smooth mesh and paved track with a gentle ascent.
“It’s doable for most people if you have an average level of fitness,” she said.
“My father-in-law took his granddaughter out there, he’s nearly 80 and she’s six, so it’s definitely accessible for all ages.”
She told news.com.au this time of year is pretty special, because late snowfall delayed the wildflowers, and there are still pockets of colour dotting the range.
“There’s also still a bit of a snowdrift just below the summit, so people are going up in shorts and a T-shirt and having the best of both worlds,” she said.
Her recommendation is dressing in layers, such as a T-shirt, jumper and windbreak, so you can add and remove clothing as required.
“Weather does change quickly on the mountain, so check the forecast beforehand, and take water, lots of sunscreen and nice snacks to eat along the way,” she added.
Donate to Paul’s page here or find out more about the Kosciuszko Challenge 2017.