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Its been a worrying few days for us as we knew we had a trek heading out today and doom and gloom was everywhere as a village just outside of Kokoda township decided to close the track. All the food for this trek was sent over to Kokoda earlier and staff were advised of their trek. However right up until 3pm yesterday when we were at the Kokoda Track Authority Office they could not assure us the track was open.
We then made a decision to commence the trek from this end instead of flying trekkers to Kokoda in case the village would not let them pass by. Last night we repacked food so it would be ready for this morning and a group of guys were told they would be walking with trek 507 from Owers' Corner to Kokoda. Several of these men had only just returned from a five day trek mid yesterday and I wondered how they would take the news.
Our KTL staff are just great, they did not even bat an eyelid before they all wholeheartedly agreed to turn back as they knew the situation we were facing besides it meant double pay for them. Two of the guys in the group from yesterday are renowned as some of the fittest guys on the track. Wayne Urina is one of them and he holds the record as the second fastest man ever to cross the Kokoda Track in a time of 18 hours +. The track record is held by Brendan Buka in 16 hours 34 minutes but Wayne has done 18 hours on two different occasions so is not too far off the mark. Another guy Cyprian is a 20 hour runner. Both promise not to take them at their pace!
So after we met with the trekkers at the Gateway Hotel, we returned to base and along with the boys we packed until around 8pm. I cooked dinner for them and they were lucky as the only meat I had in the freezer was some tender beef slices so it was a bonus for them after eating the meals on the track. Before and afterwards they tucked into some vanilla icecream which I had purchased to send to Kokoda but hey for these boys to turn back, they could have eaten the whole 16lt box and I would not have cared.
The guide for this trek is now Clyde Guvero:
List of Trekkers include :
Daryl Greenham & his three sons, David, Paul & Bryce; Friends Dawn Rolfe & Leanne Mahe; Luke Foster who hails from Port Moresby and two young guys all the way from the UK, Chris Wolff & Dominic Ryan
As for our porters they are walking with five returning home and five fresh porters who were at our house waiting to fly back to Kokoda. The boys returning home walked in with three trekkers yesterday and I have heard from Emma one of the trekkers that the boys are just wonderful. Apparently she is well travelled and could not stop raving about their trek.
So go trek 507 – I know you are all going to have a fantastic time!
9th May: This morning we agreed to meet with trekkers at 9am to pick them up and to drive them to Bomana War Cemetery before they headed out on to the Kokoda Track. Everything went almost to plan. When I arrived the two women were missing along with the two younger guys from the UK.
A quick visit inside the Gateway Hotel found the two women booking out but no sign of the two UK lads. I started to think, I hope they woke up when one of the women said; Gail they were in the restaurant earlier having breakfast so they should not be too far away. So out to the car we went and not too long afterwards around 9:15 the boys appeared….but hey its ok, they are in PNG now and on PNG time.
Daryl then realised he needed some new batteries for his camera so a quick detour was organised via a supermarket so he could purchase them. I followed some time later and found the majority had popped into the supermarket and were just boarding our truck to head out to Bomana War Cemetery. I have since heard that our vehicles managed to get them all the way to the archway at Owers' Corner so I am sure there would have been some relieved people knowing they did not have extra km to walk. However, its 4:35pm our time as I write this and our two vehicles are yet to return as our truck got bogged a few times on the way back and with no boys to push, well its been slow progress with the 4wd towing the other vehicle from time to time to get off the road and back to the bitumen. I can just imagine how muddy they are going to look once back at base.
Before I met up with our trekkers this morning I made sure our Cessna 206 was ready to take a representative from the Kokoda Track Authority (Chairman) and another person from the Tourism Promotion Authority to Kokoda so they could try and reconcile the problems currently being faced down that way. All going well by the time this trek walks off the track in 8 days time, it will all be resolved. No-one is being aggressive so you do not all have to worry, its just that the village in question was promised money which they still have not received and they want action!
The plan today for our trek was to head to a place by the name of Goodwater where they planned on spending the night.
10th May: Sorry still no pics as our 4wd vehicle after all the hard work of pulling the truck up and down some of the hills ended up with a problem of its own. The end result was that both vehicles did not get back to base until the early hours of the morning and the camera unfortunately went home with the driver. I am led to believe they took quite a few pics so stay tuned for further up dates.
After walking through the archway their first descent would have been similar to what you see in the pic below. Quite steep, single file track down to Goldie River.
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DSC_0286__Small_.JPGTell Dominic and friend that 9:15 is not good enough.
Jo and Doug
PS We are enjoying hearing of the trip and say good luck
10th May: We have not heard from them today but by now they should have reached Ofi Creek. It looks like its raining up in the hills and the track radio has been working on and off all day as its the battery is recharged from solar power but if they were in need of help they would have used the sat phone to call us. Tomorrow they will head up towards Naoro and then down to Agulogo. Will keep you posted as soon as we hear from them.
Photographs should be posted tomorrow when our driver returns to work as he has the camera.
Hope all goes to plan!
Thinking of you and looking forward to more news
Lots of love from Veronika, Pat and Imogen
Hey Leanne and Dawn we are keenly monitoring the progress of Trek 507 here and waiting for photos hope all is well Love Maureen
11th May: Sorry, the long awaited photographs cannot be posted as someone conveniently stole my camera out of the camera case it seems as today the driver turned up with the camera case but no camera inside.
It seems strange someone would take the camera and not the camera bag so something sounds a bit fishy, but hey this is PNG and stranger things have happened. Inside the motor vehicle was also two pairs of boots, car radio etc. To just snatch the camera and not boots is even more strange!
When they finish I will try and ask one of the trekkers for their memory stick and upload on to my computer.
Thanks for the update Boss Meri, shame about the camera. Dawn and Leanne are the topic of conversation in the work place everyone is thinking about them and very interested in how they are going. We shall just have to imagine them on the big trek, smiling and in good spirits but I should think they are probably a bit smelly by now LOL… Love to them both if you happen to be in contact
Cheers Maureen
We are sure people would be as relieved as we were to see the report that the trail has been reopened.
See link below.http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25459918-23109,00.html.
To the trekkers we are all thinking of you, keep up the hard work. We do hope that the news that the trail is open gets to them sooner rather than later.
Best wishes
Tony and BernieSorry about the camera but is there any news on where they are and how they are doing.
We'd love to hear that Dominic and Chris are doing fine.
11th May: We heard from the track today that the first night they spent at Uberi (Goodwater). The second day they pushed up to Ioribaiwa where they spent last night.
Today when we spoke to their guide Clyde, they were heading towards Naoro. The plan was to walk through Naoro Village and then down to Agulogo to spend the night. Trekkers are doing well however Dominic is struggling at the back. When we talked Clyde was at the back with Dominic and Cyprian his assistant took the others ahead while they played catch up.
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D6_NAURO_VIEW2__Small___Small_.JPGYes Tony, confirmed the track was re-opened this morning following negotiations yesterday. We still feel we made the best decision at the time to turn the trek around in case they would not have been allowed to pass by the first village.
This morning we were at the airport getting away our Cessna 206 to fly out to Kokoda to pick up the Kokoda Track Authority Chairman James Enaga and a representative from the Tourism Promotion Authority.
On behalf of Kokoda Trekking we would like to thank them for their help in talking to landowners and coming to some kind of understanding to help solve the problems of last week. By providing the transport we helped in our own way to enable both parties to sit down and discuss the situation.
After our pilot returned from Kokoda he flew again only this time into Efogi the half way point to drop off supplies for trekkers and porters when they reach there. All went according to plan and tomorrow they should walk into Efogi and relax in one of the nicest villages on the track. Its also a part celebration as you know you have reached half way.
IMGP6179.jpgBelow a map of the track so you can follow their progress.
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