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Update 18th April 2007:David and his trekkers are at Ofi Creek and having a lunch break. From there they are going to push onto Ua'Ule Creek for their last overnight.
They will come out at Ower's Corner tomorrow around 10am. After stopping at Bomana War Cemetery all going well they should be back in their hotel around 1pm.
Ua'Ule Creek Guesthouse:
IMGP0324___Ua__Ule_Creek_Guesthouse.jpgMessage for Philip on Trek 301
Hi Westie, love you, miss you, keep going you're nearly there! Love to all the boys, look after each other. Pink curtains look great! Love Virginia
Message for Alex and Adam:
Hi Alex and Adam,
You guys are doin' great! It must be an awesome experience walking on the same soil that our Aussie soldiers fought on. Enjoy the rest of the track!
MichelleUpdate 11:30am 19th April: Its been heavy rain here in Port Moresby, and on the road to Ower's Corner and on this side of the track.
We have heard from their guide that it will be a slow walk today from Ua'Ule Creek due to the weather however all going well they should reach Ower's Corner around midday.
In the meantime our Prado was returning with a guy who could not make it yesterday who turned around and came back to Ower's Corner when the Prado he was driving slid off the road and got bogged. The other vehicle waiting for this group turned round to go back and help and he too got bogged in a different area….so fun and games this morning whilst waiting for this group of trekkers to arrive at Ower's Corner.
Both these vehicles bogged this morning in different areas on the road from Ower's Corner:
Landcruiser_and_Prado.gifThe boys are back…..check them out for yourselves, photographs taken 19th April:
Gateway_Hotel_Swimming_Pool.jpgTrek Diary – written by their guide David Clark:
Day 1:Tropic air touched down at Kokoda Airstrip at about 9:30am with the trekkers from Trek 301 on board. Rusty our KTL truck picked us all up and drove us to the Kokoda Station to see the museum plus themonuments. It was a moving experience for our trekkers.
We moved onto Rusty's family block. It was wonderful especially the food prepared by Evelyn Eroro, we all commented. The trekkers loved her fried rice.
The 3 food porters were good as we all co-operatred to get day 1 schedule arranged. Ross Eroro helped me a lot as I was on my first trip as a guide.
Trekkers seen here at Jackson's Airport Port Moresby shortly before their flight to Kokoda:
Airport.jpgDay 2: We departed Rusty's block at 6:55am and headed straight off after breakfast. It was a slow start as I advised all our trekkers that as it is the first day they were to start slow especially climbing Deniki mountain up to Isurava.
It was really a bone crushing time as they started off. Philip WEst really struggled to keep up. Tea was ready at Deniki thankt o Ross and Dominic.
AFter tea, it took 2 hours for us to reach our lunch break. We had tea at 12:00 midday. Finally we got to Isurava at 2:00pm after running into a few showers.
Dominic is the expert for cooking the instant rice. It was really delicious. The trekkers dined early and went off to bed. We recommended that the company still use the instant rice as its very light for us to carry.
Trekkers at Rusty's (Russell Eroro's) family block in Kokoda:
Rusty__s_Block.jpgDay 3: The 3rd day walking was really enjoyable for the trekkers as it is always. Isurava battlefield was the centre of their admiration. We spent about 1 full hour there with our trekkers expressing sympathy for the 39th battalion and the 2/14th. The weather was fine. We moved onto Alola Village for an early lunch break. The trekkers had a look at the museum there.
We then continued trekking to Eora Creek. It was a 2 hour walk which was good compared to other treks I had done previously so these guys were much faster.
Trekkers had a good look at the creek and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon drinking hot tea and chatting with me and our porters.
Generally the porters did a magnificient job. Ross was handy for me especially advising and assisting.
Trekkers at the monument area in Kokoda Station:
Kokoda_Monument_Area_2.jpgDay 4: This was an important day as we had three big climbs to make. It was a gough day also as it nearly took 10 hours walking. We had our tea break at 9:30am at Templeton's Crossing. Lunch was at Eora crossing at midday. We continued climbing up to Mt Bellamy the highest point on the track and it was tough but our trekkers did it in style in 30 minutes.
Our three porters were once again really co-operative making sure tea and dinner was on time. We got to 1900 an shared the campsite with Kokoda Spirit. The trekkers sat around the campfire and shared jokes with the porters until they went to bed at 9:30pm.
It was a cold night with no rain.
Group Photograph:
Trek_Photograph.jpgDay 5: This was another long day walking especially the Kagi way because of the steep downs. It took the trekkers extra precautions to walk. We arrived at Kagi at 10 am. We did sightseeing and had breakfast – a lot of fruit and coke!
We then proceeded down to the creek for lunch. It was really steep and slippery. The porters did a fine job especially Dominic who cleared a road block by a fallen tree.
Lunch was at 12 midday. Cool water was a highlight of the day. The trekkers enjoyed their 5th day trekking expecially the scenery and landscape.
Dominic, Ross and Danny were all professionals of the trek displaying a lot of skills especially at the campsites.
Photograph – taken on the night of the 19th April at the Gateway Hotel:
Pizza_2.jpgDay 6: Trek 301 had an easy day on the 6th day with a really fine day behind us. The climb was good and easy up to Brigade Hill. We had to stop at the top and it was a moving monument for our trekkers who shared a moment of silence for the grief of the fallen diggers. It was an hour stop. We had lunch at the creek at 12 midday. The bridge crossing was difficult as we got wet getting the trekkers safely across.
Thanks to Ross, Dominic and Danny for a job well done.
The reception at Stanis's guesthouse was fantastic. It rained in the afternoon. Trekkers had a game of football with the kids. It was a lot of fun!
We had dinner at 6 pm.
Day 7: It was another very touch day especially the climb up to Menari lookout and down to Brown River where we ran into a lot of mud with the current rain in this area. Our trekkers stopped for a tea breat at Agulogo. It was well timed as the trekkers longed for some protein as they were tiring of back country. They bought a whole pig for K90.00.
Myself and our food porters carried the pig with us to Nauro Village for our dinner. Dominic, Ross and Danny cooked a wonderful dinner, especially the pork that was roasted in some bamboo. The trekkers really enjoyed this.
Crossing over brown river was a real challenge. Thanks to Ross, Dominic and Danny for a good job.
Trekkers and porters enjoying some pizza at the Gateway Hotel 19th April, 2007:
Pizza.jpgDay 8: Probably the longest one that we walked. It took us nearly 8 hours to get to our campsite. We first stopped at Ofi Creek for a tea br eak. After the bone crushing descent down to the mighty Maguli Range, up came Ioribaiwa again and it was really really tiring for us and our trekkers. We continued down to Ua'Ule Creek.
It rained heavily as we hurried along to get to our campsite on time as many trekkers were walking from Ower's Corner to Kokoda.
Thanks to Ross for securing a rest place for us for the night.
It was a real challenge, experience and adventure for Nick, Adam, Alex, Philip and Danny.
Many thanks to Dominic, Danny, Ross for wonderful team work to bring clients safely to Port Moresby.
These guys work experience is an asset to KTL and a big help to myself as the guide.
Day 9: The final walk up to Imita Ridge was a hard one because we had to cope with rain and flood. The trekkers were told my me to take extra precaution as it was the last day and we did not want any accidents.
We made it up to Imita Ridge by 9am and I read something from the Field Guide book written by Bill James re the 2/33rd Battalion. It was amoving experience as we dedicated trek 301 Anzac to the Diggers and the Fuzzy Wuzzy Agnels.
It was then a slow tiring walk down the Golden Stairs. It took us 2 hours to get to Goldie River.
It was flooded by the time we reached there, thanks to Dominic, Danny and Ross for using rope to ferry trekkers to the other side.
Goldie River taken last year when it was not in flood:
IMGP0352.jpgComments from trekkers:
Danny Burns: One of the best experiences of my life. Every day was a different challenge. I can not speak more highly of our porters and guide David. Everything was taken care of and organised properly. Could not have had a better trip.
Adam Forde: An amazing experience. I found it physically and mentally challenging but came through with the help of the 'A' team. David, Ross, David and Dominic have been amazing and have made the trip more worthwhile. One of the best experience of my life!
Nick Forde: One of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences of my life. While being physically challenging, the professionalism of David and his team, made the experience far more enjoyable. It's an experience I will never forget! Thanks to the 'A' team and we will see you on the next Oro.
Alex White: What an amazing experience! both physically and mentally challenging which has resulted in a very rewarding experience and a great achievement. I have been on many tours in many countries around the world. The team of porters and guide we had on this trek have been the best I have come across. They did everything possible to ensure we enjoyed our time and experienced the culture of PNG.
Finally I now have a much better appreciation of what the diggers of WWII experienced.
Philip West: The most challenging and rewarding experience of my life. The porters and guide made the difference between walking Kokoda and enjoying 'Kokoda'. My highest praise goes to David, Ross, Dominic and Daniel as we could not have asked for a better trek.
This completes trek 301:
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