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On the 16th April, 70+ trekkers of ours headed off in two different directions.
Trek 91A & 91B flew by chartered aircraft from Port Moresby to Kokoda commencing at 6am and all trekkers were on the ground in Kokoda by 10:am
Congratulations must go to Airlines of PNG for an excellent service yesterday not only for us Kokoda Trekking (KTL) but for all other companies as well who used their services.
Both of these treks, ie 91A & 91B overnighted at Russell (Rusty's) Eroro's family block in Kokoda as their invited guests and planned for an early departure today 17th April at 5am. Their aim was to reach Isurava Village or Battlesite area depending on how all trekkers were travelling. Both treks will camp tonight together in one campsite as its big enough to accommodate this group of trekkers.
Treks 112A & 112B – were picked up from their respective hotels and taken to Ower's Corner. It was all fun and games as three of our vehicles got bogged at some stage or other. The first was on the way out when our Toyota Landcruiser slipped and got stuck in thick mud, however with 30 strong young porters to help push, we were soon on the move again. Trekkers soon realised their adventure actually started when we hit the dirt road just outside Sogeri Monument area.
Most were surprised at the state of the road. Perhaps if we are lucky, the Kokoda Track Authority will use some of all our trek fees that operators pay to grade the road to ease the work on all vehicles that pick up and drop off trekkers in this area.
Photograph: our toyota troopcarrier being pushed uphill by some of our porters…sorry about their brand new shirts!
IMGP1191__Small_.JPGAfter freeing the troopy from the red clay mud, we all moved along slowly as the road was very slippery towards Ower's Corner the drop off point.
Photograph: our vehicles seen here dropping off our trekkers and staff at Ower's Corner:
IMGP1194__Small_.JPGShortly before they headed off, we asked some of our trekkers and porters to pose for a photograph:
IMGP1198__Small_.JPGAnother photograph followed with another group of trekkers and their porters:
IMGP1199__Small_.JPGTrekkers seen here shortly before heading off on the Kokoda Trail. One female trekker on Friday told me she was walking in honour of her father who fought on the Kokoda Trail and survived but who lived with terrible memories which caused her family a bit of anxiety over the years. She was so pumped up and ready to go. Another girl also informed me about her grandfather who fought there. Some trekkers had been to Gallipoli and wanted to come to PNG for Anzac Day and so on….everyone with their own reasons for wanting to walk the Kokoda Trail at this time of the year:
IMGP1200__Small_.JPGTwo trekkers decided to stand next to our dirty Landcruiser Troop Carrier which did the job yesterday it was purchased for in carrying all the trekkers backpacks to Ower's Corner freeing up our 3 tonne truck which previously had been used for this purpose in 2005.
IMGP1201__Small_.JPGUpdate 6pm 17th April: One of our trekkers Hans Egger's backpack got offloaded on the 15th April and turned up yesterday afternoon at 2:30pm. We drove back up to Ower's Corner so that a couple of our porters could run in the backpack for him and catch up to the trekkers. Turned out Goldie River was flooded so they slept there last night and carried on this morning until they met up with his personal porter making his way back down the track hoping to see one of our porters carrying in his trekkers pack.
All our porters then turned around and headed back down towards Goldie River and we picked them up around 2pm today. They informed us they passed over 300 trekkers. They said there seemed to be a race on for the campsites so THANK GOODNESS we headed out yesterday and not today.
The first group they come across was SP Tours….then No Roads….followed by Adventure Kokoda and then finally Executive Excellence! With our trekkers a whole day ahead of these trekkers they will not have to share washing areas with such large groups. We also try and split our treks up and walk from both directions for the very same reason.
Based on what we know, our trekkers walking in the direction of Kokoda to Ower's should run into these large groups including Kochie (Sunrise at 7) at Efogi which should not be a problem as it is a large village.
With the timetable the others have set, it would appear they will spend Anzac Day at Isurava whereas the plan for ourselves is that our trekkers will attend the Bomana Dawn Service at Bomana.
Photograph: our KTL boys who were amused with watching the boys push our vehicle out of the mud, seen here perched on top of our Mazda Dyna:
IMGP1196__Small_.JPGUpdate 7:30pm 17th April re Trek 91 A & 91 B:
All trekkers have made it to Isurava Village where they will stay tonight. According to Nikki George, a couple of trekkers had to dig real deep today. Melinda apparently was one who carried her pack and did really well and tried her best to climb the first test mountain. Nikki seemed really proud of her and said today she got the gold medal.
Ric and Jayson yelled for help and they employed two porters to carry their packs.
They plan on spending tomorrow night at Templeton's Crossing and then push through to Kagi for the third night. If they arrive early enough they will push on down to Efogi. For those of you who are not familiar with the trail, I will copy paste a map here so you can follow their movements.
Apparently all were very tired and almost all trekkers were already in their tents ready to call it a night.
Jason was very talkative yesterday and today but I believe he is very quiet at the moment due to his exhausting day. He celebrated his 18th birthday yesterday and is the youngest of our Anzac trekkers. He is also travelling on his own as a birthday present from his family as he is a mad keen collector of army uniforms from all over the world and really wanted to walk KOKODA.
Photograph: Map of the trail:
kokoda_300_trail_map.jpgUpdate 20/04/06: 91A & 91B stayed last night in Kagi and all trekkers are ok. The message is that they are covered in mud….all have not washed because they say the water is too damn COLD. Apparently the girls are going really strong and Nikki is really proud of them.
Trekkers moved off today heading for Efogi and met with out other group at Kagi River.
Update 20/04/06: 112A & 112B overnighted last night at Efogi and headed off this morning in the direction of Kagi. Per above they ran into 91A & 91B as they crossed over Kagi River.
Unfortunately the Kokoda Track Radios have been out of order and it has only just been restored today. We have however kept in touch with out trekkers by sat. phones which each treks are carrying.
We are standing by now for a radio call from our KTL guide Kingsley Boropi to give us an update on his trekkers.
Am now hearing from our guides in Kagi, they are calling themselves COMPANY A & COMPANY B.
We have asked the guides to tell our trekkers that they can write messages for their families back home.
So now is your chance to post some messages that we can read out to your loved ones out on the trail.
stay tuned for further updates:
Messages from 91A & 91B:
Mel carried her pack all the way to Kagi.
All trekkers stayed in tents last night and stood around standing fires to dry out their boots.
Messages start below:
Still love ya Kevin
Hi mum from andrew and les.
Sue – boys not dead yet from dave.
Brett. Hi sharon kate and rebecca. having good time.
Missing you sally love turtle
happy birthday glenys from all at camp
liz and nat are alive and loving it.
Nick gill and gaven still alive so far. only one set of tears (gav)
To smurfette going well still alive, love pinchy
End messages Update from Nikki – 91 A & 91 B
templeton's crossing was full up.. got into camp at 5:15pm some got in at 6:15pm
almost a slight bridge collapse last nite.. KTL boys were on hand to sort it out.
Templetons crossing was flooded.. mostly muddy.
Football field at Kagi is a swamp
The girls are making a huge effort. Nicki says that they are going so well.. mel, jill, vicki, rebecca and Jo a huge effort. really pulling together and enjoying it heaps.
River_Scene.jpgMessage from Fiona: Hi Phill, we are all well: Lucy says we love you and come home soon, James says he loves you and he misses you and Will says he wants to say nothing !!! I hope it is everything you thought it would be – so be careful and come home in one piece after you have had a shower (please)
love you
fiona
thanks for the update on the groups – my husband is in trek 112a (Phill Irish) so it was great to hear the news and be able to show the kids dad – Our 5 year old is missing him terribly
Message for Jo & Max in 91A!
Hope you're both ok with the mud and sludge & enjoying the leeches.. ha ha. All is well at home & Korea. Missing you both.
Looking forward to seeing you soon when you're all cleaned up!
love Pete, Ross, Bill, Susie & Mr Snickers.
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