Summitting Mount Kosciuszko in a Wheelchair – Krazy Kosci Klimb 2017

Mount Kosciuszko National Park is on the list for anyone who has even the tiniest spark of adventure. Paul had a raging bonfire’s worth of adventure in him so he set out with his team to summit Mount Kosciuszko for the Krazy Kosci Klimb 2017 for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

All photography by Danny Avalos

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In February, a team of determined explorers from the Rotaract Club of Western Sydney University  and the Rotary Club of Campbelltown were led by Paul Bowman to conquer the highest point in Australia.

Let me introduce Paul.

The first time I met Paul, he had a fierce determination in his eyes and a smile that wanted to taste victory. It was clear that he would stop at nothing to make his dream of summiting Kosciuszko a reality.

However, this was not just a personal goal; Paul was fundraising for a cause close to his heart. Paul is a loving brother, and well known to his friends for his great sense of humour and unwavering spirit to match. Paul, being one of 34,000 Australians living with Cerebral Palsy, is also wheelchair-bound.

The Big Day

We made the 450 kilometer journey from Sydney to begin our adventure with a welcome dinner in Jindabyne. Then on the morning of our big day, we set out earlier than the sun to Charlotte’s pass – our start and our finish.

With our bellies filled with coffee and our souls filled with excitement, we strapped ourselves into the harnesses to begin our mission. The first 4 kilometers of our journey was mostly flat so after managing some minor hiccups, our team began chugging away along the beautiful alpine path.

Upon reaching Seaman’s Hut at the 6 kilometre mark, the weather shifted, with increasingly howling winds, a drop in temperature, and storm clouds looming in the distance. Nonetheless, we battled on up the incline to Rawson’s Pass at 7.6 kilometers. We took a break to refuel our bodies and revel in the glory of the highest toilet in Australia. By this stage, everyone was starting to feel the exhaustion, but we were determined to conquer the last 900 metres to the top.

The Top of Australia: Mount Kosciuszko

Up until this point, the road was mostly well worn, enabling our husky harness system to run smoothly. The last leg tested our persistence and teamwork, forcing us to navigate over rocky boulders and narrow platforms.

Suddenly all of the sweat, aching muscles and lack of sleep  didn’t matter. We had made it to the top of Australia, and there could not be a more beautiful experience than seeing the joy on everyone’s faces.

Our team had made it to the top, but we were only halfway through our mission. We still needed to return to Charlotte’s Pass to celebrate our victory with all the other teams involved. It was a quiet trek back, with everyone exhausted and hungry. Then, almost 9 hours after we had left it, we ran to a cheering crowd awaiting us at the finish line. Team Paul Bowman had completed the Krazy Kosci Klimb.

Video recap of the 2017 Krazy Kosci Klimb

2018 Krazy Kosci Klimb

The 2018 Krazy Kosci Klimb will run from the 16 -18 February.

Know someone who would make a great participant or volunteer? Let them know and get involved!

Registrations for the 2018 Krazy Kosci Klimb are now open.

If you are curious contact the Cerebral Palsy Alliance to get all the support you need with training, equipment and preparation leading up to the event!

Distance Covered / Elevation Gain​

18.6km / 611m

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