Rock Climbing with Duncan Chessel: Andrew McLeod and Simon Goodwin test their climbing legs in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia

Andrew McLeod: There are pivotal moments in life when the clock is ticking and you have to step up to the plate. An AFL game has it's peaks but when it comes to gut wrenching personal achievements - nothing compares to that of Adelaide adventurer and expedition leader Duncan Chessel. This bloke has reached the top of Everest - not once but twice.

Each year Duncan Chessel takes the super fit and committed to the top of the world. But one of his tour group's increasingly popular challenges is the famous Kokoda Track in the jungle highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Simon Goodwin: Kokoda is something I've talked about with Andy for years. It certainly pushed our World War Two diggers to the limit and so too does Duncan's preparation for one of his team building exercises. Rock climbing is not part and parcel of a Kokoda trip, it's just Duncan's way of getting us out of our comfort zone - especially for me because I don't like heights. Soon I'm teetering over the edge of a forty-metre drop.

Andrew: I've done this a few times before so I know the trick is to guide yourself over the first few tentative steps and then let the carabeena or friction device do the work. The biggest leap is the leap of faith. You've got to believe in your gear and with ropes weighted to about three thousand kilos there's little than can go wrong.

Simon: Duncan's team building exercises are all about pushing the envelope. Hanging off a cliff face at Morialta is pretty much what it's all about - taking participants to a "personal space" they've never been before.

Duncan Chessel: "You often here people say 'Oh, I'm too old to do something' and I say to them 'as soon as you think you're too old to do it - you are'. You're never too old to challenge yourself or do something different."

Andrew: In recent years, that "something different" has involved Kokoda - a place burnt into the national pysche. Today, mums and daughters, dads and sons are all training for the 110 kilometre trek across terrain our diggers made famous.

If you want to push the personal envelope on a one of Duncan's programs - or head off to Kokoda, Everest or wherever log onto his website: If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au

Dcxp Group Ph 8232 4433

Published 31st August 2008