Before daybreak, guided by headlamps and surrounded by swarms of insects, Geoff Pike and mate Shane Dare pound the desert plains of south-west Queensland with one goal in mind — to conquer the Kokoda Track.
The pair hopes that the demanding training regime in their hot, dry hometown at Thargomindah — more than 1,000 kilometres west of Brisbane — will prepare them for the humid, mountainous conditions of one of the most gruelling treks in the world.
More than just a "bucket list" trip, this adventure is about connecting to family — both past and present.
The eight-person Thargo Team includes Mr Pike's 14 and 16-year-old sons, who are training at their boarding school nearly 900 kilometres away in Toowoomba.
"They're bush kids, pretty tenacious, but one of the things I'll enjoy seeing is how the boys handle themselves when they are worn out, hurting, frustrated," Mr Pike said.
"I think they will see some benefits of composure in the hardest times and what it's like to come through the other side.
"That self-accomplishment … they can take that with them on the journey through life."
For Mr Pike, embarking on the Kokoda Track has a special family significance.
His great uncle, Dr Ken Pike, worked as a doctor in Papua New Guinea in the 1950s and often shared stories with his great-nephew of his time there, including the 1951 Mount Lamington explosion which killed almost 3,000 people.
Mr Pike said the stories sparked a lifelong fascination with the region and the role of Australians during World War II battles in PNG.
"It will be incredible to hear those stories and know what they went through," he said.
"We are fortunate enough to be camping at two battle sites, Isurava and Brigade Hill, so it's going to be a bit eerie."
But the gruelling trek is not one he could undertake alone, so he reached out to mate Shane Dare to join the adventure.
"I couldn't say no," Mr Dare said.
"My biggest weakness will be climbing some of those hills when you are from flat country like here."
Fitness foremost
Building the strength to endure the unforgiving terrain of the PNG Highlands in a flat, isolated environment has been challenging for the pair.
"You've just got to look at the opportunities [to train] around you," Mr Pike said.
His regime includes running across the gibbers — the hard rock surface broken down by eons of desert winds polishing it into stones — pulling a tyre while wearing a full pack.
"I don't want to be over there and rolling my ankle, so I reckon with every step over these gibbers, I'm twisting differently; that's got to strengthen my ankles and knees," he said.
While carrying backpacks weighing 17 kilograms, the pair also walk up to 5 kilometres and train at the local gym each day.
Debbie Czislowski, also a Thargomindah local, is an experienced trekker and has one word of advice for the team — train.
"I start to train a least three to four months out, firstly with a light pack and work up to a pack either the same weight or heavier than what I will be carrying," she said.
While most people dread climbing up hills, Ms Czislowski said that going downhill was the "killer" for her.
"There's strain on every muscle, and it's pretty hard to train for going down or even uphill out here," she said.
Soldiering on
The Thargo Team leaves regional Queensland on Easter Monday, before starting the nine-day trek on April 16.
At the end of the trek, they will attend an Anzac Day service in Port Moresby before returning to Australia the same day.
With two former soldiers on the team, Mr Pike said the group intended for the adventure to have a bigger purpose than simply achieving personal goals.
The team is raising funds for Soldier On, a charity that provides support for current and former defence personnel and their families.
"The veterans in our team chose Soldier On because they have moved into civilian life and see the benefits of a charity like this," Mr Pike said.
"I'm ready for Kokoda and can't wait."
