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Trek 74 – Harry's Heroes – Walking for a Cure were in a relaxed mode when I last laid eyes on them yesterday morning as I dropped them at the airport for the chartered flight to Kokoda.
After arriving in Kokoda around 11am they would have spent their day relaxing at Russell Eroro's family block in Kokoda, walking around the Kokoda Station and enjoying a warm Oro Province Sing Sing Welcome.
This morning their guide John Derrick Eroro advised they were walking towards Isurava and would update us by two way radio later today where they planned to overnight. All going well, trekkers indicated to me they would like to make it to Isurava Battlesite area for the night but that was before they sampled the hills of Kokoda….will keep you informed as to how they went!
This is a big group with all 14 trekkers hiring personal porters. Some of our guides and porters recalled back to last year when they accompanied Fraser Ainsworth and put there hands up again this year. John however had the final say and has personally hand picked his staff for this trek as he knows they are friends of Fraser's and wants to give them a great trek.
Trekkers include many successful businessmen from Adelaide, South Australia:
Chris Codling; John Pascoe; Bruce Carter; Stephen Duncan; Peter Altman; Christ Altman; Arthur Robertson; Dr Erik Eriksen; Dr Peter Malycha; Andre Killey; Peter Gregg; James Porter; Peter Johnston & Michael Slee.Photograph: Gateway Hotel during a pre-briefing the night before their departure after a few hours of drinking at the Yacht Club:
100_3443.jpgTrek 120 – Pam Christies PNG Trekking Group were heading for Efogi when they decided to make camp last night. All were a little tired but were doing well. One of my ex workmates is in this group – namely James Kruse a Partner with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. When I spoke to him last he was a little nervous and I am left wondering now how he is feeling as a 6 day trek would test the best of us.
James Kruse and his daughter at a DTT Christmas party:
DCP_0014_james_kruse.jpgUpdate 19th May, 2005;
Trek 74 ? Chris Codling?s Group.
Due to the overcast weather and heavy rain yesterday, the track was muddy and slippery and there was no way the group was able to move on to the Isurava Battlefield. The only option they had was to spend the night at Isurava Village.
The group of trekkers, porters and guide were all soaking wet, but everyone was ok and they all did great. Even though their plan of spending the night at Isurava Battlefield didn?t work out on the first day of their trek, it was worth climbing the test mountain of Hoi to Isurava.
If you start walking from Kokoda and head towards Owers' Corner, the 'Test Mountain' is the very first mountain you will climb. Its a pretty big mountain to start off with on the first day, that is why they call it the Test Mountain.
This morning the trekkers headed out for an early start, their current location is now at Isurava Battlefield. The weather is still not looking good, but it doesn?t bother them at all. All trekkers are ok at the moment they are looking at the monuments and taking pictures.
UPDATE FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2005
There were no radio calls from this group yesterday . We understand there is no clear reception from thier side due to bad weather conditions. After several attempts yesterday we couldn't get them on the radio but believe they would have left the Isurava Battlefield and headed onto Eora Creek where they supposed to camp for the night.
Still no calls or response per our attempts this morning, but we are hoping and praying that the weather turns a little friendly today. It is looking good, a bit sunny here though, so they should get a share of that today. This morning should see them off from Eora Creek and heading towards Templeton's Crossing.
We'll keep you inform if they call and let you in on how everyone in the group is coping with the weather and the rough terrain.
Meanwhile, Pam Christie's group is on its way to completing the trek today at Ower's Corner. It seems everyone is looking forward to the ending.
100_3444.jpgAt around lunch time today we received a radio call from the guide leading Trek 74 – Harry's Heroes Walking for a cure. John Derrick Eroro who himself has walked Kokoda Track more than 300 times is the guide leading this group.
Despite the fact that they were having reception problems on their side John called and we could only make out a sentence from what he said. John stated their location was at Templeton's Crossing.
They should be heading up to Mt Bellamy now….
And heading up, they are about to…… The group left Templeton's crossing already. John confirmed they are at the foot of Mt Bellamy after having walked past Alola.
Everyone on the trek he confirmed are coping well with the trek and weather and are getting ready yet to do another grinding & exhausting ascension to Mt Bellamy – the highest point along the trail.
"The weather on our side is okay and the trekkers are still looking very fit. Road conditions are all right. Couldn't get in touch with you people earlier because the reception was not good. It is very very cloudy around here," John said on the radio
Good thing though, as that spare them from battling with more than just the trek itself. And all the trekkers must be relieved there's no rain…at least not today.
It seems they will camp over night at Myola junction before getting ready yet for another uphill and downhill battles along the way.
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