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Safety: Yes, PNG has a reputation for being unsafe but honestly speaking, would I as a female be still living and working here for the past 30 years if I felt threatened daily with being raped or possibly murdered? Sure, we have to be careful but providing you live within the rules we set down for ourselves you should not experience any problems. This simply means you do not go walking outside the hotel at night; you do not carry large sums of money around and make it visible; you take care of your valuables such as cameras at all times and don?t leave them lying around etc. Simply put, common sense goes a long way. This is a poor country and as such there will always be opportunists out there waiting for you to do something stupid. Keep your wits about you and don?t take any unnecessary risks during your stay and I am sure you will have a great time.
Out on the Kokoda Trail the trekkers I have all spoken to have all said they have never felt threatened at any time. Once again the guides and porters take care of you because they know its their livelihood at stake and they want to bring you back safe and sound. I cannot emphasise local knowledge enough, if in doubt as to what you can and cannot do ? simply ask someone who lives here.
Water: If you take the time to view this subject matter on our website you will see that some trekkers will not even think about drinking the water before purifying it. Others have drank the water and have had absolutely no problems whatsoever. Once again though, I must stress, check with your guide or porter do not just assume it is ok. They know where to drink and fill up and where not to. If you take their advice you can?t go wrong. In the Steve Ovett trek all trekkers drank the water from the stream and said it was great. They all brought with them tablets but never used them.
Joggers vs Boots: We had a future trekker ask this week if you could wear joggers instead of boots on the trail. The answer is yes, some people do, but it is definitely not recommended by us especially in the wet season. Our journalist Alison insisted on wearing joggers although we bought her a pair of boots. However, it was not considered a wet track when she walked and it was not a problem for her. I will copy paste here a message I received from Geoff Trott who with his son Daniel trekked in April 2003. After reading Alison's reply on our kokoda website, I thought he should also hear from someone whose feet I ?saw? after the trek. Geoff and Daniels feet were not what I would want to see anyone of you have at the end of the trek. However, the other three gentlemen who trekked with them had no problems whatsoever and told me they paid top dollar for their chosen footwear.
Quote – Anzac Trek March 2003 – Message from Geoff Trott 13th Feb'04 to a future trekker ? joggers or boots: Basically after the first day or so we got to the stage where we just walked through the little streams. The humidity meant that the boots never dried (even before the first water) and changing socks had little effect. They felt good until they got wet and then they were the same. The wet socks hung on the pack to dry never did. Still wet at the end of the day. So I suggested that he did not get normal work type boots as I did but to go for solid walking/hiking boots…as Dan did.
This was because the track often went across slopes and you spent a lot of time in the sides of your boots. Mine stretched and Dans didn't. So you lose stability and the boots are never really firm again. I advised foot powder to dry them as much as you can in the time that you have and maybe some cream. We did none of this…. They didn't hurt all that much on the walk itself…but as the feet dried out zillions of water cuts came to hurt like hell.
Dans actually flared when he was on the track…mine didn't. So, firm boots, powder and a bit of care will make his trek a lot easier. Dan and I never really had the rest stops that we needed to do this stuff because we were trying to keep up with 3 guys with no packs. They had the maintenance times but we didn't. Also we were Dickheads too but that went with the idea of doing it …you gotta be a little nuts.
Don't regret it for a minute though – not one. So that is about what I told him. Should have told him that Thongs would be OK around the villages for airing the feet but some of the washing areas etc are down Steeeeep tracks and you would need the boots there for sure…unless you were a National in bare
feet. Hope that helps you out….Catch you later……Geoff unquote.When I called to pick up Geoff and Daniel to take them out to the Anzac Dawn service they both walked like 80 year old men due to the bottoms of their feet. So, up to you all, but if it was me heading out on the trail, I would personally make sure my boots and socks were the best quality I could afford and save on other items of lesser importance.
Geoff and Daniel Trott, seen here at the finish line – Ower's Corner. These guys were part of a trek that was completed in 8 days 7 nights. The last thing Geoff said to me before he took off was that he was looking for a challenge and would be disappointed if he did not get one. Guess what…on his return he said he got his money's worth and then some!!!
Geoff___Daniel___Porters_at.jpgANZAC DAY TREK 2004: We have a trek heading out to Kokoda on the 14 April 2004 – 22 April 2004. Murray Jones is on this trek and he has trekked several times before. He has organized to stay on here in Port Moresby until the Saturday and attend the Anzac Dawn Service at Bomana War Cemetery. A bus is being arranged and can be shared between all trekkers wishing to attend the service followed by a gunners breakfast at the Australian High Commission Building in Waigani.
Two Way Radios ? Communication on the trail: On another subject matter, last Friday I had a fellow work colleague walk into my office and hand me his two way radio. This bloke was about to head off back home after 14 years here in PNG and said, could you do with this for your Kokoda Trekkers and handed me his two way radio. I offered to pay him but he refused and said glad to help out and help you encourage people to come to PNG to walk the trail and thought it might come in use. What a nice gesture and whilst we already have some radios, some more will not go astray and what a nice man as to buy new they are quite expensive. Now all we have to do is to try and save up for a satellite phone so I can contact Russell even from Australia if I had too. Some other trekkers also like links back home to radio stations for live broadcasts. Mobile Phones do not work out on the kokoda trail.
Training: I have had some emails asking what standard of fitness you have to be at to walk the trail. No, you do not have to be an Olympic athlete but you do need to be able to walk for four + hours during the course of a morning and on most days up and down hills. Last year we had one guy who went out with a broken arm he had hurt during training but was still determined he was heading out with his friends and came to PNG anyway. Guess what, no problems whatsoever. He hired a porter and came back in one piece. It is not a trek however if you are carrying 'too many extra kilos' or are renowned to have 'knee problems' or the like. Russell when he is trying to get prepare porters etc ready for trekking, he makes them ride a bike to build up the particular muscles needed to walk the trail. So if not already, please start peddling your bicycle or an exercise bike.
If you have mountains near where you live than I suggest you practice walking up and down one of them. If you are insisting on carrying your pack…..practice putting a couple of telephone books inside that weigh up to 20kg so you get trek ready before heading out. Please note however, that even when fit, it is not a marathon race. Some trekkers come here as friends and try to out do each other. It is more mind over matter and that if you all pull together as a team both mentally and physically you will make it to Ower's Corner, especially if you have taken the time to prepare your legs for what lies ahead. I have sent off complete strangers and they have all came back good friends sharing email addresses etc. Remember to limit your packs to 15kg including food as your porter will have 5kg of his own gear to carry as well. For those of you hiring a porter, you can bring with you a much smaller pack just to carry your water, snack food, camera or whatever.
Carrying your packs: These guys were born in these parts and to them its wages to feed their families so don?t feel guilty as per above, if you hire a porter as they truly enjoy being the fuzzy wuzzy angels of the kokoda trail in 2004 and to them its like a holiday after working their gardens all year round and pushing wheel barrows with their produce to market. Once in Kokoda you will soon see, there are not a lot of tractors or vehicles around so its usually all manual labour ? hence why they are such fit people. To date I have not had anyone come back and put down the guides and porters. Quite the opposite, everyone has been full of praise and admiration at the way they can walk the hills of the Owen Stanley Ranges. One bloke even told the story how him and his son were absolutely worn out when the porters spotted a bush wallaby. They chased after it non stop until they caught it and then carried it into the next village while all they could do was sit and watch in amazement as to where they found the energy as they were both completely exhausted.
Eric Uwea – Guide from Sogeri: Remember if you want colourful photographs out on the trail, you had better pick your gear to suit. As mentioned in this newsletter, Eric has trekked over 60 times! – Photograph taken by Geoff Trott.
Eric___guide.jpgAverage Age: This may surprise some of you, but to date the average age of our trekkers has been in their late forties to mid/late fifties. Mainly I think due to families off their hands in some case and a time for parents to enjoy something before they get too old to do so. The oldest so far has been 62 and the youngest 20. We have also had an enquiry to take an 80 year old gentleman and his grandson out to Efogi by charter and pick them up the following day in Menari. When I mentioned it was a tough climb around that part of the trail where he wants to hold a service for his fallen mates who didn?t make it back, I received an email saying he knew the area well because he was out there 60 years ago!
Our youngest ever trekker todate, Joey seen here with his porter: Joey carried his own pack and I would say he lost around 10kg during his 8 day trek.
Joey_on_verandah_at_Yacht_C.jpgOur Kokoda Website Front Cover: Some of you may have wondered why we have a female on the front page of our kokoda website. Quite simply, we received an email from a male trekker from Brisbane who said his girlfriend would be accompanying him on the trail. Then a few weeks later she had changed her mind because her parents were worried about her welfare. He phoned me again and I put his mind at rest, that sure, here in Port Moresby we are always alert but in a group on the trail you are probably ?safer? than anywhere in PNG especially in the larger groups. The lady in question is Amelia Peters a lawyer from Brisbane.
Amelia came, she conquered and plans to return some day with her sister. At no time did she feel threatened and when we asked if we could put her photograph on our website she agreed wholeheartedly. Many other women followed and not once has anyone of them said they did not feel safe on the trail. In fact just last night when I was putting together all the email addresses to send this newsletter off to?..I was staggered by the number of females who have enquired about trekking. I would go so far as to say at least half the enquiries I have received are from women. From one female to another?.Way to GO ? great News!
amelia_porters__2_.jpgFamily Trekkers: Tom Polley and his family have signed up for a trek 27th June to the 5th July, 2004 and wonder if any other families or other trekkers would like to join them. He assures me him and his children are fun to be around and welcomes other trekkers to join their group.
Bob McDonald: When I travelled down south recently I met up with Bob on two occasions. For those of you who have not come across him, you might like to know that he spent most of his life living at McDonald?s Corner located near Ower?s Corner – the official finish point when you trek from Kokoda. Bob is naturally very passionate about this particular area of PNG which is understandable. Last year he decided to walk the trail with his son Nathan and grandson Duane.
Many questions were asked and although he thought he should know the answers, at times he was left wondering. For the next 7 months he put his heart and soul into researching information about the Kokoda Trail and released for the first time a Kokoda Diary. I have a copy and it is quite light in weight but full of all kinds of information, designed to be carried in your backpacks.
It is full of details pertaining to the trail and has some blank pages at the back which you can use as a diary to record your special moments whilst trekking. These diaries sell for A$ 26.00 including Postage and handling in Australia. If you would like to read what the diary contains, please click here:
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ONLINE:
He has also produced an album which for those of you who can afford to purchase one, a nice addition to your trek. Approximately half the book is filled with details and photographs relating to the World War II and other old personal photographs of the Sogeri region and the remainder of the album is left blank for you to be able to put your own photographs inside that you took on the trail during your trek. The album sells for A$515.00, including Postage and handling in Australia and you can purchase by clicking on the following:
Charter as opposed to RPT (Regular Passenger Travel): I was asked this week for the cost of a charter from Port Moresby to Kokoda in case the usual Wednesday and Sunday flights did not suit some trekkers. I put this question to the airline and their quotation was: Twin Otter charter to kokoda is K3930.00 – just in case anyone is considering this option. I also was asked this week if we could take up to 25 out on the trail. Airlines of PNG have assured me they will take as many trekkers as I can muster together and will just put on extra flights if necessary. We are also not limited to numbers as we do not have to send porters and guides from this end on the same flight as with the exception of Eric, all others come from Kokoda and surrounding regions and meet you on arrival in Kokoda.
This is also where a trek briefing is done. I make sure you all get away ok. From the time you touch Kokoda soil, you are in the hands of Russell and his 100% nationally owned trekking company. He is so proud to be running his own company and I can assure you, I have now worked with him over quite a few treks and he really does know the trail. He is very professional and if anyone of you were to point out a problem with his staff, they would be terminiated immediately. He wants his business to succeed so he can pass it onto his son, and future generations.
The prices quoted on our website include RPT services. Charter are an added extra but can be organised at your request to suit your preferred date of travel:
DCP_0037.JPGOur Staff: Myself, founder of the pngbd & kokoda websites. Friend and mentor to the people of PNG and to the people of Kokoda and surrounding areas in the Oro Province including Tufi.
Pictured here with my namesake – Gail daughter of Trevor David Warupi who I employed in my video library in Lae for many many years. This picture taken at the Lae International Hotel when I finally got to meet the little girl who was named after me. Trevor was a very loyal employee and when I left Lae in 1986 to return to Australia for two years, Trevor came and joined our family down there for 6 months and played soccer for the Palm Beach Soccer Club. He came back and joined Huon Gulf Pharmacy in Lae where he remains to this day.
Gail_and_Gail500.jpgAlison Anis: Papua New Guinea Journalist who hails from Bougainville. Alison joined our firm mid last year when quite frankly I was not keeping up. With a full time job and two websites to update plus answer many emails on almost any subject you can think of in PNG, I needed help. However, she did not know what she was in for, as not long after joining our firm, she was out on the Kokoda Trail.
Alison seen here out on the Kokoda Trail during her trek in September, 2003: Left to Right: Ross Eason, Geoff Campbell, John Thompson, Alison Anis & Eric Uwea.
Ross_Jeff_John__me_and_Eric_our_guide.jpg
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