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Hey Guys,
I'm planning on doing the trek in late October, but I don't intend to go through a company. I'm planning on taking everything I need on my back – and hiring a porter when I get there! I'm looking for someone who is interested in sharing this kind of kokoda experience?
Kass
Please make sure you have a back up plan as this month there was a couple of trekkers who did what you are planning to do and one got sick. A local guy from Naduri Village was constantly on the radio for days trying to get the KTA office to get him air lifted off the track. As the call came in on a Friday afternoon and the office did not open again until Monday, well lets just say, he is lucky he did not have to get out in a hurry!
We can only assume his mate got off the track and then organised the pickup of his fellow trekker as after Monday the radio contact stopped.
Hi Kass
As my family and friends will tell you they are always having a go at me for I am often off doing things alone when I do they do know almost exactly where I will be at a given time and able to get to me in a few hours if need be.
Even though I have trekked Kokoda before I most certainly would not go alone as I personally feel it would be foolish to do so, its no picnic and if you get into any trouble at all even the slightest of problems there is no one there to help you even with a guide you are virtually well and truly on your own.
You will save a little money by not going with a reputable company but one problem and it will cost you far more than you have saved certainly going alone is not a sensible option in my opinion.
Think it over before you do.
Brian
Off camping and walking at Mt Warning for the coming weekendhi kass, I think that you should reassess the strategy of walking the trek "carrying everything on your back" and "picking up a carrier/porter when you arrive". Confidence is a good thing as is independence, however Kokoda is not your average walk/ trek and there are good reasons to put a bit more planning into it. Have you thought about the possibilities of illness/ injury? Will you have a Sat/phone with you,will you have medical/first aid support and supplies. What happens if you become ill/ injured/ have a fall say with head strike/ unconscious period. ? how is your carrier going to contact and organisea chopper for a medivac? I think you are getting consistent advice from boss meri, brian and others to rethink and replan. Whimsical planning can have bad outcomes. commonsense says grater planning and support should go into your trek. your choice!
I agree with the others. I couldn't imagine doing Kokoda without a reputable group and/or with a kind of "just wing it on the day" thinking. I'm training for an August trek (the full 150km military trek, G-d help me haha!) and can't imagine doing my training on my own, let alone the real thing.
I think if it's cost you're worried about, it might be prudent to save up and go at a later date. You'll need a sat phone and a well pumped up credit card in case of emergency, as well as all the necessary first aid equipment etc, if you go on your own….which might make a cheap trip turn out to be major false economy if something were to go wrong on the way.
I hope you take on board what's been said by the others above. Regardless, best of luck and I hope you have a great experience.
Hi Kass
All I can say is DON'T! Don't underestimate the word remote! With my nurse hat on- you are too far from any proper medical support. You may start to get dehydrated & lose the plot. With experienced group guides around you that will be recognized & treated & that is the easy stuff.Don't forget that 2 young people died on that track in April with support structures in place.Ok you want a challenge but being sensible is just plain smart! Such a responsability for the porter you engage.
Reconsider.
SueHi.
I had a mate who did the track solo almost 23 years ago. Half way through the trek he woke up in the middle of the night and realised just how isolated and alone he was.
It would be a great adventure, but please give it some proper thought before you commit.kassie,
dont go it alone, worth spending a bit extra as:
you will miss out on experiencing the whole effect the track has on a group, everyone is affected differently and the conversations each day and every night are an eyeopener when every trecker shares their images and recollections of their day
safety in the numbers a group provides,
walking with a good guide , you will see more than on your own, if you can finish each day a bit earlier each village you stay in will be able to show you something a little special – a Jap plane on a mountain above Isuarava II , the jap weapons pits overlooking Eora Creek, Myola lakes ,
the fellowship you will experience with a good group is something you will carry with you forever, the intense feelings everyone has after seeing Brigade Hill and the impossible positions the aussies defended so well
enjoy the trip, well worth it
Up date 12th July: Earlier this morning I was at the airport saying goodbye to trek 521 when I received a phone call from the Manager of the Gateway Hotel saying there were some trekkers up there stranded and did not know what to do.
As the flight to Kokoda had departed, I drove up to see what I could do for them.
Turns out they were four brothers who had arrived and thought they had hired a guide to walk them on the Kokoda Track. They got ready and then waited and waited for him to turn up. When he did not arrive thats when they went and spoke to the Manager.
As I am PNG based and felt sorry for these nice young blokes, within a few minutes I had them organised with a guide and a personal porter from a couple of my KTL boys. Our driver drove them out to Owers' Corner and they were soon on their way after first stopping at a shop to purchase some food for them to eat.
So a win win situation. Our boys ended up with another job to accompany these nice young boys to achieve their dream of following in their grandfather's footsteps and our boys walked home instead of flying but got to earn some extra money.
However, I am sure there are people who come like these guys and get stuck not knowing what to do when their faith is destroyed by their guide not turning up to meet them even though they thought they had it all planned perfectly.
I wish them well and hope they enjoy their trek.
Good on you Gail, KTL to the rescue once again.
Whilst I have perhaps foolhardy done some walks alone that perhaps I should not have done but every one has known where I was and would be at a particular time and could within a few hours get to me. But most certainly having trekked it would I ever consider trekking Kokoda without a guide and his porter team for without them one would very quickly find himself with major problems and without help if anything went wrong.
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