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Hey all, just signed up for trek 408 in mid April and have a few questions which may be a little different, so please bear with me.
I'm one of those people who cannot stand the cold. I live in FNQ and my thick woolen jumper does not come off until it's passed 20 degrees C, so I'm more concerned by the cold at altitude than anything else about the trek. As most people are aware 35 degrees at 5% humidity is a lot diffrerent to 35 degress at 99% humidity. I'm used to the latter, and when I visited Melbourne a year ago they were having their 35 degree days (about 5 in a row), all the while I remained with a light jumper on. People were looking at me like I was some sort of weirdo.
So, my obvious question is "Will I need a jumper and fleecy pants for the evenings?". I'm leaning towards a big "Yes" atm. My other option would be to bring along a survival blanket as they're pretty light. This might sound extreme, but I don't want my trek stuffed by being half frozen.
On to another quiz… How much does a group have to stay together? Are we completely bound by the guide, or can we wander a bit and explore? I've chosen a slightly longer trek in the hope that I am able to wander a touch. OK, maybe a bit more than a touch. I'm happy to do the 10 to 12 hour hikes as they would on a 6 day trek, but taking the 9 day one I think will let me take a few more things in rather than just slog it out each day.
In this regard would I need to bring a cane knife or machete? Or could I buy a half decent one in png if I needed one?
Next question relates to fishing after the trek. I've heard a lot about the New Guinea Black Bass and am keen to trot off somewhere after the trek and spend a couple of days fishing for these notorious brutes. Anybody done this, or know of a good location not too far from base?
Looking forward to a few answers if anybody cares to.
Hi Kez
Like you, I come from the tropics and can't handle the cold. (I also got strange looks in Geelong when I had my jumper on all day). I am trekking in June, and am taking thermals which I purchased at a trekking store (Campco). Cost about $30 per piece (top/bottom) from memory. I wore them when camping last winter, and found them great. They are very lightweight, but toasty warm. I will probably also take trakky daks to wear in the evenings.Moo
Hi Kez,
Firstly, yes you will need something warm for the evenings, especially as you get higher, as Mrs Moo said, thermals are great, they are lightweight and keep you very warm, I took a pair of track pants, and a light jumper, with thermals this was enough. Remember, you will have to keep your weight down, every litre of water weighs 1 kg, as with the food packs, of which you will carry three of I think.Secondly, I would not recommend to go 'wandering' as this would put a lot of extra worry on your trek leader who is charged with your safety and take their responcibility very seriously. To have one trekker wandering off on their own would cause no end of problems for them. You have to remember that this is a third world country and although the guides and trek leaders are the best you will meet, not the sort of country that you can just go hiking around, basically it IS a dangerous country to go off on your own. The bad element don't have much regard for human life, they have basically nothing and view the europeons and most probably trekkers as 'rich', so you would be 'prime meat' for a group of young and lawless locals. While you are with your trek, you would be quite safe. I lived up there for 21 years, and would not recommend it at all.
Your trek would be organised with flights into or out of Kokoda, and if trekking from Kokoda to Owers, transport to take you back to Moresby. There are no mobile phones, and very basic communication of any kind, so you just can't wander somewhere and expect to catch a flight or hitch a ride. Apart from the fact that it would be so easy to get hopelessly lost. It sounds like you are going with KTL, I doubt Gail would condone going off on your own as well. Although I would recommend that you do take your time, stick to the track, but take in the scenery, I doubt you would find a more beautiful place.
As for the fishing, I am sure if you ask Gail, she should be able to recommend someone for you to contact.
NettieQUOTE(Mrs Moo @ 29 Jan 2008, 11:37 AM) [snapback]6146[/snapback]Hi Kez
Like you, I come from the tropics and can't handle the cold. (I also got strange looks in Geelong when I had my jumper on all day). I am trekking in June, and am taking thermals which I purchased at a trekking store (Campco). Cost about $30 per piece (top/bottom) from memory. I wore them when camping last winter, and found them great. They are very lightweight, but toasty warm. I will probably also take trakky daks to wear in the evenings.You certainly get some funny looks when it's 25 degrees and you're shivering from cold down there.
I'll definitely take thermals though. My trek is mid April, so there should still be enough cloud cover around from the end of the wet to keep it a little warmer. I don't think I'd enjoy a cold cloudless night of the dry season at altitude. I'll also most certainly take the survival blanket too.
QUOTE(39thdecendant @ 29 Jan 2008, 01:11 PM) [snapback]6149[/snapback]As for the fishing, I am sure if you ask Gail, she should be able to recommend someone for you to contact.
Nettie
Yep, I have asked, but no reply so far. I was wondering who else may have known, or who else may have done the same sort of thing and so may have a recommendation.Hopefully there is a fisho about who has done so. Seeing as I'm going on a trek renowned for being tough I thought I'd finish it by tackling what is widely regarded as the toughest fish on the planet.
My apologies, as I only just zoomed in on this page. Re fishing in PNG. Check out the following link:
http://www.baiafishingpng.com.pg
I have also posted several 'fish' photographs on my pngbd website as Riccard contstantly floods me with pics of anglers holder BIG FISH. He sounds really passionate and there family are well respected in the Kimbe. His wife Natalie aso runs her own business and specializes in products she sells using bright colourful fish.
http://www.picturetrail.com/leriche
If you want to fish closer to the Oro Province, ie walk from Owers' Cnr to Kokoda and then head out fishing from Popondetta I suggest you contact Dale McCarthy who I believe has taken leave of his day job to grow tourism.
Email: usgdale@global.net.pg
Phone Number c/- USG: +675 329 7768
If you go to: http://www.pngbd.com
and then to the FORUM and click on SEARCH and type in BLASS BASS you should find lots of articles.Then again if you wanted to try your hand at trout – then take along your fishing rod on the track as we have had some trekkers catch some including a young 16 year old who caught a heap.
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