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On Saturday night I met up with Ben Treloar finally after months of emailing back and forth. Ben and other guys on this trek were all very excited as they talked about their upcoming trek.
Ben walked the Kokoda Trail last year and couldnt wait to come back and do it all over again.
To walk with them is one of the longest Kokoda Guides, John Derrick Eroro (Russell Eroro's brother). John is a living legend of the track with over 300 treks to his credit. He has also put his name down for the Kokoda 24 Hour Race and thinks at 38 he still has what it takes to win this event in record time. He will use this trek as a training ground for the August event.
Trekkers include :
1. Ben Treloar
2. David Treloar
3. Steve Moss
4. Ray GreshamYesterday I picked them up from the Gateway Hotel around 6:30am and took them down to the airport for their flight to Kokoda with Airlines of PNG.
On arrival at Kokoda they were met by John Derrick and other Kokoda Trekking Guides & Porters.
On the agenda was a lazy day looking around the station….going for a swim in a nearby creek…..mixing and mingling with the people of Kokoda and getting a feel of an Oro Province welcome.
Last night they were to sleep in a Win Haus (traditional house in Rusty's place at Kokoda) and head out first light this morning to Isurava Battlesite.
Further updates will be posted as John radio's in from time to time. John is renowned however, for saving his battery life and due to his kokoda experience, rarely contacts us unless the need arises.
Updates will be posted in and when he contacts us.
John Derrick Eroro is the one leaning up against a tree at the Gateway Hotel when his nephew had a few words to say to their trekkers. In the background with John is some of Kokoda Trekking's porters who just love to sing and play the uke'ule as seen here about to entertain their trekkers for one last time:
John_Eroro___porters_Gatewa.jpgWe received a quick call from John this morning on his radio and he said they were all moving very fast and that they spent last night at Isurava Village. At the time of the call they were at Isurava Battlesite area.
Due to the speed they were trekking he said he was not sure where they would spend the night but would advise later in the day.
Photograph – John Derrick Eroro seen here on the Kokoda Trail. John is available for your trek too if you want to book him but like Russell there is a $500 surcharge for John on top of your trek costs. John is Russell's younger brother and has walked over 300 times.
Picture_154.jpgYesterday was the second day of this trek. The guys overnighted at Eora Creek and left the campsite early this morning. Today should see them walking up Mt Bellamy. It seems the guys are moving very fast. The trekkers are in great condition and a coping well the weather and climbs and the falls of the ardous Kokoda Trail.
They left Templeton's Crossing already and we caught them on the two-way radio having lunch at the foot of Mt Bellamy. Derrick reported that everyone is in great shape today and it appears they are ready to conquer the merciless Mt Bellamy today and make it to Myola where they will be camping for the night. Will hear more from Derrick.
If you are wondering what happened to this group yesterday, well, you can be asured that they arrived safely at the Myola Camping site yesterday after battling with the grinding climb to Mt Bellamy.
A radio call from Derrick this morning confirmed they have left Naduri and are heading towards Launumi – where they wil camp for night.
The guys woke up this morning to have a bite of breakfast and started walking soon after that.
It's their fourth day into trekking the infamous Kokoda Trail and the guys are still doing tough. By now they should be getting used to the hazardous terrain and have a idea of what's ahead. Not Bad, as John reported from his two-way radio while heading down towards their next camp. This is a group on MOVE! They are fast, they keep walking, and the speed is unbelievable, it seems the guys are more than ready to conquer more mountains in days to come.
Thumbs Up for this tough bunch!
Will keep you posted……………..so keep checking our website from time to time.
After Lunch Today the guys made an early arrival at the campsite at Brigade Hill.
There was no trouble at all getting there as the trekkers reportedly enjoyed their "wokabaut" (walk) today. It was a bit cloudy today, but no rain reported on the trail.All is going well at the moment and as I write they should be settling down by now with an early bath. Some, maybe too tired to stay up and enjoy the view. It seems the trekkers are enjoying their meal.
Tomorrow they will make it through the false peaks to be at their next base "Red Hill" John Derricks new term for Nauro. "You must know there's red clay everywhere in Nauro," he explains with a laugh.
YES and more updates soon……
This trek presumably left the campsite at Brigade Hill this morning to start yet another exhausting walk today. No calls yet from John Derrick Eroro who is leading the group. When we do get a call from him he will confirm their whereabouts. When we spoke to John yesterday, he said they will be camping at Naoro (Red Hill) today.
The group are doing extremely great and are moving very fast. Derrick as usual will contact us later today to inform us on the latest.The latest on this trail, 10th June, 2005;
Just a while ago John called in from the two-way-radio, informing us that they left Brigade Hill around 7am this morning and are currently at Menari having a rest. All his trekkers are still doing well; so far there?s no say of anyone facing problems or difficulties, so that?s good news.
They will slowly make there way up to Menari look-outpoint, and then head on down and up again to their next camp site, Nauro.
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