Watch the video of the Lions' climb up Mt Humphreys
We went up to around 12,000 feet, which is roughly 4,000 metres above sea level. It was a long trek - it took about four hours - in very trying, and freezing, conditions. It was six miles from the cars to the saddle (top), and the obviously the same back down again - so it was a fair way.
The day pretty much started with an early breakfast in the foyer, where everyone made sure they got a heap of food in. Everyone was comparing what they were wearing (how many layers of thermals, SKINS, socks etc) because we had to make sure we were warm enough.
The conditions were very tough because it had rained and snowed overnight, so we woke up to a pretty frosty morning. It was by far the coldest day I’ve had so far here in Flagstaff, and I arrived five days before the rest of the boys.
 A frosty morning |
We were climbing over wet ground, and there were plenty of slippery rocks and tree branches all over the track. As you got higher up the mountain, there was a lot more snow and smaller rocks so you had to watch your footing.
It got to a stage where you were climbing up this steep incline over rocks, through branches, with snow falling on your face while trying to keep your balance to get to the top.
Your legs are burning - your glutes, your calves - you’re really walking one step after the other.
There was black ice - which is one thing I’ve never really seen before. It’s basically a thin layer of snow and then thick ice underneath that, which makes people lose their footing straight away and slip.
While there was certainly no pressure on getting up the mountain quickly, there ended up being a bunch of about seven players who tended to walk a lot quicker than the rest of the guys. This caused there to be a bit of a breakaway group.
We got to the top, but there was a blizzard going on, so we only hung around for about five minutes - took a few photos, told a few stories, and shared a laugh.
We realised that the other group had lost direction because the snow had covered our tracks, so us first group had to head back down the hill to catch up with them (and to warm up).
For me, in particular, the terrain for my knee was quite testing, especially on the descent coming down.
You have to really concentrate. It sounds silly, but coming down a hill like that in those conditions, no one step is the same as the other. So you really have to concentrate and be not too laxidasical, because with one false move you can slip and crash into a rock.
 The Lions' hiking crew |
I was very impressed with how Joel Patfull and Dayne Zorko went on the climb. Zorko made it to the saddle and he’s only got short legs, so I think he must have done twice the amount of steps it took me to get to the top. I take my hat off to him.
Cooper Cronk - obviously he’s not a member of the Lions - but he really impressed and made it to the saddle also.
Ash McGrath, who was in the back group, had apparently had some Mexican food for dinner the night before, so had some fruitful flavours floating around during their trek. He entertained them back there. Andrew Raines’ jokes probably kept the back group alive also.
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I’m rooming at the training facility with Bam Bam - Daniel Rich.
We spoke with each other a bit leading up to the pre-season and decided to train a lot together in Brisbane. Obviously we felt as though we might as well continue that on the camp.
Richy’s an early bird. He’s in bed pretty early - about 8:30pm every night - watching the golf. He loves it in America because there’s a dedicated golf channel. We separated our room a bit, by transforming the lounge room into his bedroom. I’ve taken the other room so we don’t disrupt each other’s sleep.
I think we both agree that sleep is the most important thing on this camp because you really need to recover and be right to go every day.
Now we’re just really looking forward to the rest of the altitude camp.
- Brent Staker
 Brent Staker takes in the Arizona scenery before his teammates arrive |
