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Hey Ian,
May need some friendly trekkers to trek with when I return either next year or the year after!
Snakes, what snakes! I did not see any wildlife not even a mozie on my trek it may have been I was too busy head down bum up to get to the top. OH I beg your pardon I did see a copius amounts of butterflies, a beautiful blue colour and they were gorgeous flying around everywhere. I would also like to trek Kokoda to Owers, it would be good to stay a couple of days in Kokoda before heading off.Well Hello there, Mrs Moo and Sir Brian.
I have heard of the Bundaberg bushwalking club, don't know to much about it though. I will certainly do some research if you think it is worthwhile.
Brian, what a wonderful little adventure. I hope you are not too scared of snakes! The picture of the falls looks awesome. I would love to get down there sometime soon. If you can recommend any groups or organisations to walk with that would be helpful.
I plan to do the Kokoda Challenge down that way in about June/July I certainly think a few hikes around Lamington will work in well with the training I am starting on. Of Course available time is a huge factor though.
Have either of you taken on the challenge? I would be interested to hear of your accomplishments if you have or any training methods. As you are probably aware Bundaberg is not renowned for its mountainous ranges. I have developed a thirst for trekking and plan to do plenty more so any information would be helpful.
What training do you do for the trail?
How nice that you are guesting your KTL guide, do you organise that this end or do they. I would imagine he would need to sort their visa and passport out and then do you fly him over. I am sure he will have a wonderful time especially at the Tamworth Festival, he wont want to leave.Talk again soon.
KristiDear Brian and Mrs Moo,
Thankyou so much for your reply, it was a lovely surprise to find such a speedy return message.What a great feeling knowing that I can now chat with fellow trekkers who would be interested in returning. I, like you find the only thing stopping me is the financial one, however with interest rates dropping that prospect of heading back may be closer than I think.
I work at the hospital here in Bundaberg and today we have a nurse from PNG visiting us, so I intend to go and introduce myself and hopefully make her feel as welcome as I did when in PNG. Who knows she may direct me to organisations that could do with extra employees bringing me that little bit closer to those mountains.
I walked from Owers, and yes the initial steep climb up, I wondered if we were ever going to reach the top, as we passed trekkers heading down on their final decent was guite confronting but nethertheless once passed the intial shock all was good. Of course the encouragement from the boys was second to none. Trekking in this direction was great in the sense that we had the opportunity to spend a celebratory night in Kokoda with the boys before heading back to Pt Moresby.
So thankyou again for your speedy reply, and I look forward to hearing from you again.
Regards and happy dreaming,
Kristi
Hi there,
I completed the trek in July this year with KTL and found them to be wonderful, the company along the way when times got a little tough was inspiring. The Uke'ule and singing from the boys certainly lifts spirits in time of need.
I was fortunate to make it through to the end with little damage to the body, however a woman within my group became ill the first night with a virus.
KTL were amazing in the attempts to Vac her out, the group leader had to back track up to the highest point we had passed to use the sat phone to alert Gail. He then ran back to the village to retrieve this poor girl and take her back up the mountain to where the chopper was.
It was a very emotional time for us to leave her, awaiting her flight home, as she said goodbye to her fellow trekkers and her husband who continued on with the trek.
As we were walking down to last village before hitting Kokoda we were all surprised (not to mention her husband who was completely floored) to see her standing by a creek barely recovered from her illness. Kokoda Trekking flew her back into Kokoda so she could walk the final leg with us into Kokoda as a full group and spend the night.
I have since heard from this couragous lady and she has said that two more Police Officers from her precinct had attempted the trail only to have one hurt his knee and the other falling ill the first day. Because they went through a different company they found themselves having to walk back to Owers or Kokoda which ever way they were walking and wait for a ride to return home.
This is a small example of the great lengths that Gail and KTL trekking will go to ensure all ends well and why my preference will always be KTL. I hope this helps with some of you decision making. Go with KTL do your research as Gail has mentioned ask the boys questions and I can vouch that it will be a memory you will hold dear forever
Dear Gail and KTL boys on Trek 423 (July)It has been 5 weeks since my return from Kokoda and there is not a day that goes by that I dont stop and think of the experience. It is my every thought. A journey that has made me want to go back again and again.
As I said to you Gail on the night of our debriefing I have never felt such a sense of empowerment than that of the final night in Kokoda and how I learned comraderie still exsists between fellow country men of all walks of life and race.
With my pack firmly fastened to my back and the reluctance to let it go, the faith of the boys in particular(Andrew) who understood the personal importance of me completing the trek with my pack help me to acheive this.
The trail evoke thought processes of how I wanted my life to be different, how I wanted my life to be purposeful and not be in vain, what are we all here for on this earth. How the simplicites of life can make you feel so happy and fulfilled.
I felt for our forefathers who walked that trail harder than anyone ever would again, how thankful I was for the fuzzy wuzzy angels who guided them.
"I had my own angel in Andrew"
I heard your plight of Kokoda and admired your great work, how far you have come and you yourself are an inspirational woman.
Above all I would recommend KTL without hesitation, the trek was an experience of a lifetime and I will be back in the near future.
My heart remains forever in Papua's Mountains.
Thankyou Gail, KTL trekking and to those Angels who quided us so brilliantly.
Kristi, Trek 423
xxxxx
Kristi__Small_.jpgHey there Gail,
So sorry to hear that the visa's did not come through, what a disapointment for the boys as well as your self. Do not be disheartened though I am sure it will happen next year and the boys will make their mark on the Gold Coast.
I would of loved to have watched their progress, who knows I may be watching them closer than I think next year, rumour has it I may give it a go.
Love Kristi Trek 423 – completed 12-7-08
