Me Being me – Heavy Trekking
An interview with London’s Venture magazine
Geoff Martin led informal yachting and diving trips around the South Pacific for ten years before suggesting to some friends that they might like to come with him to Nepal. Since then, he has run more than a dozen tours all over the world, often using Kumuka’s tailor-made service. Venture talked to the traveller turned tour leader down the line at his home at Hallidays Point on the north coast of New South Wales.
Q What got you hooked on travel? When I was 13, Dad took me to New Zealand. Just me and him. My brother was living there at the time. I thought it was amazing, I mean culturally you could hardly distinguish it from Australia, then, but in terms of scenery and the whole outdoor experience. . . Rotorua, Mount Cook, walking on the glacier, I remember hobnail boots. My goodness. It made a deep impression.
Q Tell us about the Kumuka relationship, how did that come about? I was at Flight Centre, looking at brochures for South America. And I picked up the Kumuka one, and it looked good, it looked a bit better than the other down and dirty operators. They gave the impression that they knew their stuff, and really knew the actual culture. So, me being me, I asked around at the club and got 12 or 14 people straight away. So I rang Kumuka and Helen Dwyer came up to talk to us in my camping shop that I run. And everyone turned up. And she told us so much. And since then we’ve become great friends. It just works really well.
Q So you’re a self-taught tour leader? Yes, I am. I discovered I had a bit of an aptitude for running trips. It was Nepal that got me started, raising money for the Fred Hollows foundation to cure eye problems in developing countries. I flew into Kathmandu, my first trip abroad really, not counting the Pacific regoin. Stayed in the Radisson, which was a mistake, totally insulated. But I got really hooked on heavy trekking, and I conquered a couple of personal targets, 5200 metres and then a trip I led with a dozen of us and a 6400 metre pass, and that one was a bit over the top. We got waylaid by the Maoists and spent five days negotiating a little ransom to be allowed to carry on. We had a sherpa down a crevasse at one stage. It’s not for everybody, but in terms of trekking, that was my peak, that was my personal Everest. I wouldn’t want to actually climb it, but everyone has the need to be challenged, I believe. And I’m very pleased I did that.
Q That’s a serious responsibility, do your clients know what they’re signing up to? It’s more informal than that on my trips. They each take responsibility themselves, and if we’re on a Kumuka trip, then the company obviously looks after the group. But I’m always very careful to make sure everyone knows what to expect. Group dynamics are important, and plenty of free time. That’s another big plus point about Kumuka, they programme in so much free time, and when I’m doing my trips I’ve learned that’s the one essential item. Give people space and freedom, and never over-promise, and always over-deliver. You can gather a group together like a clutch of chickens and they’ll follow you, but they’ll be pecking each other in no time. Personality dramas will rise up. Give them some freedom and it works.
Q What’s the next trip you’re planning? My next adventure is a combination of Kumuka and a private trip to China, trekking part of the Great Wall, to Xian then on the new rooftop of the world train across the Tibetan plateau to Lhasa then to the Nepal/Tibet border for a ten day trip to the Kanshung. (Hidden) face of Everest and hopefully to Sir Edmund Hillary’s Tibetan base camp before continuing on to Kathmandu then home. After that we have a number of wonderful trips planned to Tasmania, Nepal and many other amazing places.
Geoff Martin
Profession Company Director, Consultant to the Camping Industry, has Owned Taree Camping / Barbeques Galore store for 30 years
Scariest moment Toss up between diving in a volcanic tube under a live volcano, in the Solomon Isles and sharing my air with a buddy, also in a volcanic tube, when he blew an o-ring.
What languages do you speak Only enough Italian to get me into trouble. I find it’s better to stick to English.
Food – I love all foods and have tried most around the world, my favourite overall would be all food in Italy. ( I call it death by Deli )
Music – I play a little guitar and love Blues. My favourite artists are Eric Clapton, The Eagles, James Morrison and Pete Murray
Movie – The Ghost and the Darkness, Da Vinci Code and all Super Hero movies like Zorro, Phantom etc.
You’re suddenly rich, where would you live? I’d stay where I am, but I’d spend more time in Italy and Germany. And I’d visit Africa more.