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By Alison Anis
Meet Rus, the man behind the Kokoda scenes
Thirty-three-year old Russel Eroro from the Oro province has just completed trekking the renowned Kokoda Trek for the 142nd time today.
For someone who started so young, that is an exceptional gain, and he is still looking forward to adding another hundred rounds to his trekking list.
Russel has provided services both as a local guide and porter for trekkers coming in from Australia and other countries for 12 untiring-years.
He started trekking in 1992, after he left his job as an apprentice in Bougainville – two years before the crisis started ? and he was back in Oro.
Russel Eroro and Malum Nalu (Tourism Promotion Authority) seen here enjoying a meal after his Trek :
Malum___Rus.jpgRussel is now the senior guide of his own company Kokoda Trekking Ltd, taking care of trekkers on the Kokoda Trail.
Extreme Kokoda Trekking Adventure Tours is proud to be associated with Russell through our website which attracts people from all over the world.
Due to his location, the only means of communication is by two way radio or consigned envelopes with Airlines of PNG who operate twice weekly services to Kokoda. We have helped Russell to make his dream come true as he has looked forward to the day he would run his own trekking company.
Russell employs local guides and wantoks as his assistants and operates from his own village along the Kokoda Trail. He was 21 when he started trekking and since then has accompanied a number of trekking companies from Australia and other countries, like ?Rope, pack and paddles? including few big names like war veteran Clive Baker; Charlie Lynn & Frank Taylor just to name a few.
Russel?s experience and knowledge of the history of Kokoda came after he met Mr Clive Barker who works for a war history library in Canberra and who trained Russell for approximately 8 years. This enabled him to become as an excellent guide and a most sought-after skilled trekker. He has also been overheard to point out, that he runs his trekking company just like an expatriate run company.
If any of his guides or porters humbug (png expression for stuff up), they will not be welcome on anymore of his tours. He has also established a register book and charges K10 per person who wishes to trek with his company.
As all our guides and porters are well cared for by way of uniforms; food on the trail; return airfares back to Kokoda; accommodation & transport in Port Moresby; T/Shirts; taken out to restaurants etc, its any wonder Russell is having guys turn up at his house wanting to register and join his trekking team.
Russel is probably the only local who knows about the history of Kokoda like he knows his way around the trek.
As if that isnt already enough, I personally have found Russell to be a true gentleman who is always welcome in our home.
It is indeed a wonderful feeling to be helping Russell and other guides and porters in Kokoda find work with international trekkers. Without a website or someone to manage his affairs, this would not be possible.
As profits from his company grow, we have plans to offer a 'slow crawl' for all of us who are not fit enough to walk the whole Kokoda Trail like himself.
Russell completed a 6 day trek earlier this month with the very first Japanese trekkers ever to walk the whole trail. He arrived back on the Friday and left for another trek on the Sunday. He is expected back in town today and then has a couple of weeks break until the middle of April when he once again heads up and down the hills of Kokoda doing what he does best, walk the trail.
Russel seen here in Port Moresby not long after returning from one of his many treks :
Russel.jpgFor someone who has been trekking for over 10 years, Russel is well known along the Kokoda Track and his services are easily trusted.
?The longest walk I had went on for 11 days, I accompanied a trekking team from Australia. The shortest was only three with two Israelites,? the energetic Russel said.
However, he said, the next one could be challenging.
?I heard that the next trekking team will be walking for three weeks.
That is like 21 days and I have never walked that long but I am looking forward to it.
?My job as a guide really is to ensure that the trekkers are safe," Russel said.
//ends
Russell Eroro (right) shows off a wartime communication line along the Kokoda Trail :
Russell_Eroro__right__shows.jpgRussell Eroro (right) heating up the billy at Nauro village during a recent trek :
Russell_Eroro__right__heati.jpgCheck out these strong legs belonging to Russel Eroro seen here on the Kokoda Trail with another group of trekkers that headed out on the 2nd July 2003.
t3_Russel.jpgRussel Eroro – (General Manager and Senior Guide – PNG Trekking Ltd), Nathan Thomas (Griffith University Student – Gold Coast) & Malum Nalu (Tourism Promotion Authority) on the verandah of the Royal Papua Yacht Club, Port Moresby the night after the trekkers arrived back safely from the 2nd July 2003 trek.
Russel__Nathan___Malum.jpgRussel Eroro seen here with the Swede Backpacker Ola Nilsson on the verandah of the Royal Papua New Guinea Yacht Club, Port Moresby.
Russel___Ola.jpgMalum Nalu and Russel Eroro at the Royal Papua Yacht Club on Thursday night 10th July, 2003
Malum___Russel.jpgRussel Eroro back row in black shirt, seen here with trekkers, guides, food porters and personal porters after their completion of the Kokoda Trek on Thursday 10th July 2003 :
Nationals – Arnold, Ernst, Cyprian, John, Jefferd, Russel, , Silas, Salavador and Eric
Group_Pic_1_Talair_Village.jpgRussel Eroro with some of his porters at Jackson's Airport Sunday 13th July 2003.
Russel stayed back as he has a trek from Ower's Corner to Naoro Village this coming Tuesday and then back again for a father and son who want a feel of the trek so they know how to prepare for the full 9 days at a later stage.
Porters_in_Carpark.jpgProfessional to the end, Russel Eroro saying goodbye to some of his porters as they head back home to Kokoda. Photograph taken Sunday 13th July 2003 :
Boarding_Aircraft.jpg
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