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Hi Fluppy, with regards to your Caribee backpacks, whilst not the same type, we have purchased several over the years and they have worked well for us and are still going. They also came with a day pack attached and our boys quickly asked for them. As we mainly use our packs for food porters, the small packs ended up with boys we sponsored in our Kokoda Challenge race so were put to good use.
Please take Brian's comments on board as its practical advice and you need to keep your day pack to 10kg or less wherever possible.
Brian, Fluppy is not walking with us but another company so not too sure how their boys are when walking with their trekkers. As you know our KTL staff are required wherever possible to stick with their trekkers if they are working as personal porters.
Its a pity though as by the time she prepares and then walks, she will like yourself, be able to answer anything as you both seem to enjoy our forum. I agree with Brian, most people just quickly pop in and out and read but do not take the time to post. As a result I think a huge number of people walking the track have at some stage or other been on this website chasing information.
If by creating this forum we can in anyway help with preparation of a successful trek, then its been worth setting up.
And in fact if I had not paid my deposit to this other company, then I would be (and have no hesitation in recommending) trekking with KTL. It's a shame I didn't stumble upon this website sooner than I did at the time of paying the (non-refundable) deposit :/
I too paid my deposit to another company before discovering this forum. While I'm perfectly happy with my original choice ( and have spoken to several past clients who have trekked with them – all full of praise, couldn't speak highly enough of the company, the staff, their porters, the historical content etc etc ), I also wouldn't hesitate to recommend KTL to others. I'm hoping to trek Kokoda again in a couple of years with my 4 kids, finances pending of course…. and would entrust my family to KTL for sure.
your pack and boots are the most important equipment to have I had a unsuitable pack when I was tramping NZ and it nearly ruined my trip for Kokoda a bad pack will ruin your day choose well and modify if necessary and get good jungle boots that breathe not army boots or heavy tramping boots.
Hi all.
What Gail says is true about people reading the forum but not posting.
Of the 8 trekkers in our group, I was only one who had posted,even though the others read the forum almost daily.
It would be far more interesting if everyone just made even a litttle comment, rather than just the regular few.
Hi All,
Peter is correct, any contribution to the forum is always helpful for someone. I seldom see anything on this forum that has been anything other than sound and helpful advice.
The circumstances of the participant on current Trek 550 having to abandon his trek is most unfortunate and has prompted me to share again my own experience.
As someone of the age bracket, 60 plus, when I trekked, and leaving the cold Melbourne Winter and hitting the humidity of PNG in late August, it was not a pleasant experience. I will be forever grateful for the 3 days of acclimatisation I allowed in Port Moresby and Popondetta prior to commencing trek from Kokoda. If it had not been for this time, I would certainly not have recovered from a slight illness attributable to my reaction to the humidity. Also, to attempt the trek in less than 8-9 days is certainly not a good idea.
In summary, If of mature age and arriving in PNG from a cold climate, seriously consider allowing 2-3 days to climatise to the humidity prior to commencing your trek. If trekking North to South, why not plan to spend a few extra days at whats looks like a wonderful accommation facility run by KTL at Kokoda. Also do not attempt crossing in less than 8-9 days .
Hope this helps all fellow mature age intending trekkers.
Cheers,
Geoff Hardie
Geoff, this can only get worse due to the number of trees being cut down to provide guesthouse accommodation ie no bush canopy to help keep you out of the heat of the sun beating down on you while you trudge up another mountain.
I talked to John (trek 550) today and he says the heat really sapped his energy and he felt like he was having a heat stroke and found it very hard to climb the hills. Whilst he did not say I think it must have been the climb up to Brigade Hill that got him as it was at Efogi where he decided to call it a day.
He seemed however to have enjoyed his trek and declined going to the doctor so must have been feeling ok. He had an extra day in Efogi which would have helped also before being flown back to Port Moresby due to weather conditions and low cloud cover.
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