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Trek Update Friday night 7th May, 2004.
Our present group of trekkers out on the trail have reached the half way point of the 9 false peaks. They have completed 4 and tomorrow have another 5 to go.
At the present time, the two brothers Matthew & James and brother in law Mark seem to be going really strong, closely followed by the two females and Clay.
Struggling however, is Wayne and Kem. Kem only arrived at the campsite at 9pm tonight after a really long hard day. We normally dont walk trekkers at night but in this instance Kem was exhausted and could only walk a few paces at a time before taking a rest.
Update 8th May, 2004: Have spoken to Russell by two way radion at 7am this morning and both Wayne and Kem recovered during the night and say they are both fit and well enough to continue.
Russell said he was aiming for a 9am departure to allow everyone some more rest time and that today he would keep the distance short and only trek to Ofi Creek.
Update 9th May, 2004: Trekkers are due to be picked up at Ower's Corner tomorrow Monday 10th May around midday.
Update 10th May, 2004: Russell contacted us by radio to say they had all arrived at Ower's Corner. A little earlier we were contacted asking for a carton of beer to accompany the pick up vehicle and the comments…tell Gail WE WILL PAY!
Jimmy (our IT guru), went out to purchase the beer and found the liquor stores did not open until 10am. Hence the pick up vehicle was delayed waiting for the stores to open. Meanwhile, the trekkers had arrived at Ower's Corner and were wondering where the transport vehicle was….YEP, WAITING TO TAKE THE BEER…haha – cant have it both ways I guess! will keep you posted…..
Mark & Ron Henry arrived today in preparation of the Wednesday Kokoda Trek:
Photograph taken on top of the hill in the Talair Compound where they are staying in one of the units.
Mark___Ron_Talair_Compound_.jpgOur trekkers who headed out last Wednesday are all doing ok as at lunch time Sunday 16th May. One trekker Steve Larsen found it tough going up to Isurava with his pack and hired Kingsley to carry his pack. Kingsley, you might all remember was the brave Guide who accompanied our trek record holders, the two Blum Brothers from Australia.
Ron Henry was in good spirits as I spoke to him today by two way radio during the climb up Mt Bellamy. They were on target to spend the night at Efogi.
Photograph – taken at Jackson's airport on the morning of their flight. Trekkers are:
Peter Patterson, Benjamin Patterson, Ronald Henry, Mark Henry, Matt Sampson, Mark Ainsworth, Stebe Larsen, Anthony Lewis & Belinda (Bea) Hallows:
The porters in this photograph were from the previous trek that arrived back in Port Moresby on the 10th May who are seen here heading back home to Kokoda on the same flight as the the above mentioned trekkers.
P1000892_departure.jpgUpdate 17th May, 2004: Unfortunately, today we had to organise Ron Henry to be lifted off the trek. He is back in Port Moresby and ok but has been kept overnight in a private hospital for observation. I popped in on him around 7pm and he is resting but in high spirits and cant wait to get out and return to our compound to await his son Mark and other in the group arriving back on Thursday. Ron informed me tonight that he was a Vietnam Vet.
Ron and Mark brought along with them a photograph of Mark's grandfather (Ron's in-law) and were planning on pinning it to a tree tomorrow in memory of him. Mark will now carry out their wishes as a mark of respect for his grandfather.
Update 18th May, 2004: Peter Patterson came back from the kokoda trail on a flight from Manari suffering from heart problems. He has been checked out and is now fine. Ron is presently resting but is looking ok. Both are very excited knowing tomorrow they will be re-united with their sons and hear all the news from the remaining days of their trek.
However, GUESS WHAT!!! both fathers want to come back and finish the trek….wow! so thats really something isnt it?
Ron Henry – photograph taken the day before his trek:
Ron_Henry.jpg9 trekkers head out on the Kokoda Trail today 19th May for a 6 day 5 night trek:
7 pilots of Emirates in the UAE joined two buddies from PNG, Hans Petersen (pilot with Air Niugini) and his brother Ole Petersen (National Gaming Board) on their 6 day trek. All trekkers were full of smiles this morning as they arrived at Jackson's Airport and really looked forward to their trek. On arrival back in Port Moresby, the Air Niugini guys plan a mumu to celebrate their visit and their hopefully successful trek.
Photograph taken at Jackson's Airport today 19th May before they headed into the departure lounge for their flight to Kokoda:
Granger Narara, Tim Narara, Tim Mayman, Garrie Don, Mike O'Byrne, Andy Grierson, Ian Yu, Hans Petersen & Ole Petersen –
P1010015.jpgCelebration time at the Gateway Hotel Thursday night 20th May, 2004:
Peter Patterson, Benjamin Patterson, Ronald Henry, Mark Henry, Matt Sampson, Mark Ainsworth, Stebe Larsen, Anthony Lewis & Belinda (Bea) Hallows & all their porters and guides
CIMG1798.jpgUpdate 21st May, 2004: Just finished talking to Tim Narara on the radio and the message is :
BOYS ARE FINE AND WISH THERE WIVES WERE HERE TO ENJOY THE TREK WITH THEM – unquote:
Apparently Granger has suffered from knee problems, Hans & Ole have also had their share also but all others are so far coping well.
Tim mentioned they were forced to stay two nights at Templeton's Crossing which is why we did not have radio contact with them due to their location. They have since made up time and hope to make Naoru by tomorrow night.
Naoru also has a base radio so all going well we should be able to talk with them again tomorrow night around the same time, 9:30pm png time.
Tim Narara, giving traffic staff a helping hand on the day of their flight to Kokoda:
P1010003.jpgUpdate 22/5/04: Have just spoken to our guide and he said Tim and Ole had knee problems today but intend to push on and seem to think they will be ok with some rest.
Russell our guide has asked Barry their guide to take them on a shorter trek tomorrow to allow them some rest before the final trek on Monday to Ower's Corner. It will all depend however on how they are all doing tomorrow.
P1010007.jpgToday 23rd May our porters took off for Kokoda at 7am. Surprisingly, at 10:00 am one of the porters Noel arrived at our doorstep.
Turned out the flight could not land at Kokoda due to heavy fog and the pilot had kept circling seven times before making the decision to return to Port Moresby and try again later.
At 12:50 we were advised to take our porters back to the airport and this time hopefully as at the time of writing, they will this time arrive safely in Kokoda.
Photograph taken just before they entered the departure area for the second flight. For some porters it was their first trek, first visit to Port Moresby and first airline flight. These guys were frightened and wondered if it was safer for them to walk back home:
CIMG1862___Porters.jpgUpdate Monday 24th May, 2004: All trekkers have made their way up to Ower's Corner and are now on their way to meet up with their transport pick up at Visilago Village approximately 7 kg from Ower's Corner.
Unfortunately the road is not in very good condition hence the pick up four wheel vehicles cannot go any further and trekkers have to walk a little further than the finish line.
All going well, all trekkers should be back at the Crowne Plaza Port Moresby around 3pm this afternoon png time.
Update 24th May 3:30pm:
Have just been advised by our transport pickup, Corporate Transport that they are still waiting for the trekkers to arrive.
It is hot and dry in Port Moresby but out near Ower's Corner apparently it is raining and wet according to the driver of the vehicle.
Update: 5:30pm 24/05/04:
G O O D N E W S! the guys are in the pick up vehicles and are almost at the Sogeri Monument.
Wont be long and they will be back in Port Moresby relaxing over a cold beer at the Crowne Plaza and recalling all their adventure by phoning family and friends.
Its also such a relief when all my flock come home to roost, well done guys and yes they did it in 6 DAYS!!!
What a fitting photograph – 8 pilots & 1 brother standing beside the aircraft that was to take them to Kokoda to walk the Kokoda Trail:
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