Friday the 18th of April saw 13 very keen trekkers arrive in PNG physically & mentally ready for their Kokoda Trek. Some had never met each other before so this was a first for ProSport. Nerves, anticipation & excitement were at an all time high!
Kokoda is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs 96 kilometers overland through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. The track is the most famous in Papua New Guinea and is known for being the location of the World War II battle between Japanese and Australian forces in 1942.
The track starts at the Kokoda station (after a quick 30 min flight into Poppettanta & then a 90 min truck ride) & ends at Owers Corner in Central Province, 50 kilometers east of Port Moresby. It reaches a height of 2,190m as it passes around the peak of Mount Bellamy.
Hot, humid & sometimes wet days with intensely cold nights, torrential rainfall and the risk of endemic tropical diseases such as malaria make it a challenge to walk.
Tony & Cliff were the masterminds behind putting this adventure together (others came as it was promoted). During the first night at the Grand Papua it suddenly dawned on the group that tomorrow morning when we fly to the start line – it was D-day for all of us. 4 months of talking, training & preparing – it was about to begin & everyone suddenly felt really excited but really nervous at the same time.
“I love to interact with people when they're most exposed – when every layer of pretension & vanity has been stripped away & left strewn along the pathway (or in our case – a hill or 2). The marathon mercilessly rips off the outer layers of our defenses & leaves the raw human vulnerable & naked. It is here you get an honest glimpse into the soul of an individual. Every insecurity & character flaw is open & on display for all to see. No communication is ever more real, no expression ever more honest. There is nothing left to hide behind”
This is a quote out of the book I am reading at the moment ‘50 marathons, 50 days, 50 states’ by Dean Karnazes.
The reason I wanted to start my debrief email with this quote was because I truly believe we all experienced it.... the feeling of being exposed, naked, hopeless, weak, vulnerable - the feeling of wanting to give up, the feeling of thinking I can’t get to the top of Brigade Hill today. But I can proudly sit here today & say we ALL overcame those feelings & thoughts and made it. It makes our achievement as individuals & as a group something very, very special.
I am extremely proud of you ALL!
Here is a day-to-day recap of the trek. (In red – key notes from the day)
Day 1: Flight to Popodetta / 90 min truck ride to the Kokoda station / 3 hr walk to Deniki (3hrs)
Day 2: Deniki to Isurava Village for a history chat & then to Alola for lunch.
Then to Eora Creek (9hrs)
Swim at Eora Creek
Day 3: Eora Creek to Templeton's Crossing for lunch followed by Mt Bellamy (highest point of the track – 2190m) into Kagi (11 hrs)
Singing at Kagi with the local kids was a huge highlight
Day 4: Kagi to Brigade Hill for lunch & then down to Menari Village (9hrs)
Today we crossed the ½ way mark. Today was tough due to the rain & mud. (We also
met Scotty which was an eye opener)
Day 5: Menari to Nauro 1 Village for lunch & then into Ofi Creek (12.5hrs)
Today was EPIC! Browns River crossing to start with, then we faced the muddiest
swamps ever for 3 hrs, then the 9 false peaks after lunch & then a 4 hour descent
down into Ofi Creek – today was a massive day. A real emotional day!
Day 6: Ofi Creek to Ua-Ule Creek for lunch & then through Uberi Village (7hrs)
19 creek crossings, singing the national anthems with the porters on top of Imita Ridge was a highlight, walking down the Golden Stairs was a challenge. The swim at Good Creek was exactly what the team needed.
Day 8: ANZAC DAY
Ua-Ule Creek to Owers Corner (2 hrs)
A 4am wake up followed by a 5.30am dawn service was the perfect start for Anzac Day. Listening to the last post on the track with the porters is very emotional, something all 13 trekkers wont ever forget.
Here is a quick wrap of the ProSport ‘2014’ team:
Andrew ‘TEAM MAN’ Hazell:
Brought humor & determination to the group which was great mate. I saw a look in your eyes on day 4 that you were hurting (you had all the cuts & bruises to show for it) you never complained or gave up which is a terrific trait mate. Highlight was completing the track with you again mate. Well done! Thanks for being a part of it.
Tony ‘MR CONSISTENT’ Sharp:
Tough / hard / committed & very consistent. Never complained & always had a smile on his face (& was always laughing). Was great having you a part of the group again mate. Highlight – seeing you & Jacko helping each other through – what a special bond you boys have. Thanks for everything.
Amelia ‘MISS DETERMINATION’ Knapman:
Everyone showed glimpses of determination but your whole trek was determination, you gritted your teeth everyday & did an amazing job walking the Kokoda trek. It was great seeing you get stronger as the trip went on. Well done for making it through – I was really proud of you & I bet your family will be too. Highlight – your giggle
Cliff ‘GROUP LEADER’ Cooke:
Mate, you should be very proud of yourself – your willingness to keep leading the team forward everyday was just awesome. The way you keep motivating everyone day in day out is a very special skill. Thanks for all your support out on the track. Highlight having you on the track & watching you & the girls (what a special bond the 3 of you have)
Ben ‘MR NICE’ Martin:
I promised you I would get you home safely. You made my job pretty easy Ben, you never ever complained, you were always up & about chatting, laughing & getting to know everyone. (Plus you never picked on me which I really appreciated) well done! It was great seeing you finish the trek look strong. Highlight – the fact all the fines you got were made up. We couldn’t get you for anything. 5k for being too nice haha.
Stacey ‘MISS GENIUNE’ Howe:
Funny, caring, kind, non-intimidating, friendly & the ultimate team player is you in a nutshell Stace. You bought everything to the trip that highlights what a good person is all about! Highlight was your rev up...not many girls can deliver that Stace.
Sam ‘BANG’ Gathercole:
Was always straight to the point – no fuss about you which is a great skill to have (unless you are picking on me too much) just like your mate, you were great to have in the team. Always talking & joking around but when it was time to get serious you were the first person to put your head down. Thanks for all the stories, they were all highlights.
Jackson ‘JUNIOR’ Sharp:
I couldn't be any prouder of you mate. Ever since meeting you 3 years ago you have grown up to be a great kid mate (a strong one). Your willingness to keep pushing through when the times are tough is a real credit to you. Thanks for everything, you gave it 110% & for that your reaped the ultimate result of finishing the Kokoda trek twice – highlight was seeing you help your old man again, he’s lucky dad to have you Jacko (also turning 16 was pretty cool)
Amy ‘TOUGH & CONSISTANT’ Schofield:
Amy, you did not miss a beat! You were never down, you were always pushing everyone, you were so good to have on the team. The fact you booked 8 days before is pretty amazing let alone the fact you had a fractured wrist & no poles. Who does that?! Watching you go about it was amazing. Thanks for joining & being a great leader. Highlight – your laugh & your determination was gold!
Olivia ‘MISS 4 PILLARS’ Hammond:
What an honor winning the 4 Pillars award! You were the complete all all-rounder. Always up for a chat, never complained, could hear you laughing 3 hills away, great energy & gave everyone the same amount of time. Well done Liv for smashing Kokoda & doing it in style. Highlight – the way you were able to fall & laugh at the same time was special.
Kelly ‘STRONG & TOUGH’ Cooke:
Kel, you were very easy to lead. You were tough, strong & consistent. Even though you had some yucky blisters you kept fighting on without complaining. It was so good seeing you & the Cooke family (me included) push each other day in day out. Highlight – was having your birthday on the track. That’s pretty special!
Sally ‘NEVER SAY DIE ATTITUDE’ Cooke:
I think that sums you up perfectly. No step or hill was big enough to stop you Sal. You might have had the smallest legs in the group but I reckon you had the biggest heart! You are one strong cookie (haha). Highlight was the moment you & your Dad hugged & pushed strong up to Brigade Hill – that was pretty powerful stuff.
In a nutshell I am very proud to have lead you guys through the Kokoda Track – please don’t ever forget the 4 pillars & what they represent.
Mateship | Endurance | Courage | Sacrifice
No one can ever take away the experiences we ALL shared over the last week together.
Once again, thank you – I honestly loved the challenge, the friendships & all the moments we all shared along the Kokoda trail...
One last time...Where’s the road? – NO ROAD!
Thank you, congratulations
Tim Hazell
Expedition Guide
No Roads Expeditions
ProSport Health and Fitness
Kokoda is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs 96 kilometers overland through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. The track is the most famous in Papua New Guinea and is known for being the location of the World War II battle between Japanese and Australian forces in 1942.
The track starts at the Kokoda station (after a quick 30 min flight into Poppettanta & then a 90 min truck ride) & ends at Owers Corner in Central Province, 50 kilometers east of Port Moresby. It reaches a height of 2,190m as it passes around the peak of Mount Bellamy.
Hot, humid & sometimes wet days with intensely cold nights, torrential rainfall and the risk of endemic tropical diseases such as malaria make it a challenge to walk.
Tony & Cliff were the masterminds behind putting this adventure together (others came as it was promoted). During the first night at the Grand Papua it suddenly dawned on the group that tomorrow morning when we fly to the start line – it was D-day for all of us. 4 months of talking, training & preparing – it was about to begin & everyone suddenly felt really excited but really nervous at the same time.
“I love to interact with people when they're most exposed – when every layer of pretension & vanity has been stripped away & left strewn along the pathway (or in our case – a hill or 2). The marathon mercilessly rips off the outer layers of our defenses & leaves the raw human vulnerable & naked. It is here you get an honest glimpse into the soul of an individual. Every insecurity & character flaw is open & on display for all to see. No communication is ever more real, no expression ever more honest. There is nothing left to hide behind”
This is a quote out of the book I am reading at the moment ‘50 marathons, 50 days, 50 states’ by Dean Karnazes.
The reason I wanted to start my debrief email with this quote was because I truly believe we all experienced it.... the feeling of being exposed, naked, hopeless, weak, vulnerable - the feeling of wanting to give up, the feeling of thinking I can’t get to the top of Brigade Hill today. But I can proudly sit here today & say we ALL overcame those feelings & thoughts and made it. It makes our achievement as individuals & as a group something very, very special.
I am extremely proud of you ALL!
Here is a day-to-day recap of the trek. (In red – key notes from the day)
Day 1: Flight to Popodetta / 90 min truck ride to the Kokoda station / 3 hr walk to Deniki (3hrs)
Day 2: Deniki to Isurava Village for a history chat & then to Alola for lunch.
Then to Eora Creek (9hrs)
Swim at Eora Creek
Day 3: Eora Creek to Templeton's Crossing for lunch followed by Mt Bellamy (highest point of the track – 2190m) into Kagi (11 hrs)
Singing at Kagi with the local kids was a huge highlight
Day 4: Kagi to Brigade Hill for lunch & then down to Menari Village (9hrs)
Today we crossed the ½ way mark. Today was tough due to the rain & mud. (We also
met Scotty which was an eye opener)
Day 5: Menari to Nauro 1 Village for lunch & then into Ofi Creek (12.5hrs)
Today was EPIC! Browns River crossing to start with, then we faced the muddiest
swamps ever for 3 hrs, then the 9 false peaks after lunch & then a 4 hour descent
down into Ofi Creek – today was a massive day. A real emotional day!
Day 6: Ofi Creek to Ua-Ule Creek for lunch & then through Uberi Village (7hrs)
19 creek crossings, singing the national anthems with the porters on top of Imita Ridge was a highlight, walking down the Golden Stairs was a challenge. The swim at Good Creek was exactly what the team needed.
Day 8: ANZAC DAY
Ua-Ule Creek to Owers Corner (2 hrs)
A 4am wake up followed by a 5.30am dawn service was the perfect start for Anzac Day. Listening to the last post on the track with the porters is very emotional, something all 13 trekkers wont ever forget.
Here is a quick wrap of the ProSport ‘2014’ team:
Andrew ‘TEAM MAN’ Hazell:
Brought humor & determination to the group which was great mate. I saw a look in your eyes on day 4 that you were hurting (you had all the cuts & bruises to show for it) you never complained or gave up which is a terrific trait mate. Highlight was completing the track with you again mate. Well done! Thanks for being a part of it.
Tony ‘MR CONSISTENT’ Sharp:
Tough / hard / committed & very consistent. Never complained & always had a smile on his face (& was always laughing). Was great having you a part of the group again mate. Highlight – seeing you & Jacko helping each other through – what a special bond you boys have. Thanks for everything.
Amelia ‘MISS DETERMINATION’ Knapman:
Everyone showed glimpses of determination but your whole trek was determination, you gritted your teeth everyday & did an amazing job walking the Kokoda trek. It was great seeing you get stronger as the trip went on. Well done for making it through – I was really proud of you & I bet your family will be too. Highlight – your giggle
Cliff ‘GROUP LEADER’ Cooke:
Mate, you should be very proud of yourself – your willingness to keep leading the team forward everyday was just awesome. The way you keep motivating everyone day in day out is a very special skill. Thanks for all your support out on the track. Highlight having you on the track & watching you & the girls (what a special bond the 3 of you have)
Ben ‘MR NICE’ Martin:
I promised you I would get you home safely. You made my job pretty easy Ben, you never ever complained, you were always up & about chatting, laughing & getting to know everyone. (Plus you never picked on me which I really appreciated) well done! It was great seeing you finish the trek look strong. Highlight – the fact all the fines you got were made up. We couldn’t get you for anything. 5k for being too nice haha.
Stacey ‘MISS GENIUNE’ Howe:
Funny, caring, kind, non-intimidating, friendly & the ultimate team player is you in a nutshell Stace. You bought everything to the trip that highlights what a good person is all about! Highlight was your rev up...not many girls can deliver that Stace.
Sam ‘BANG’ Gathercole:
Was always straight to the point – no fuss about you which is a great skill to have (unless you are picking on me too much) just like your mate, you were great to have in the team. Always talking & joking around but when it was time to get serious you were the first person to put your head down. Thanks for all the stories, they were all highlights.
Jackson ‘JUNIOR’ Sharp:
I couldn't be any prouder of you mate. Ever since meeting you 3 years ago you have grown up to be a great kid mate (a strong one). Your willingness to keep pushing through when the times are tough is a real credit to you. Thanks for everything, you gave it 110% & for that your reaped the ultimate result of finishing the Kokoda trek twice – highlight was seeing you help your old man again, he’s lucky dad to have you Jacko (also turning 16 was pretty cool)
Amy ‘TOUGH & CONSISTANT’ Schofield:
Amy, you did not miss a beat! You were never down, you were always pushing everyone, you were so good to have on the team. The fact you booked 8 days before is pretty amazing let alone the fact you had a fractured wrist & no poles. Who does that?! Watching you go about it was amazing. Thanks for joining & being a great leader. Highlight – your laugh & your determination was gold!
Olivia ‘MISS 4 PILLARS’ Hammond:
What an honor winning the 4 Pillars award! You were the complete all all-rounder. Always up for a chat, never complained, could hear you laughing 3 hills away, great energy & gave everyone the same amount of time. Well done Liv for smashing Kokoda & doing it in style. Highlight – the way you were able to fall & laugh at the same time was special.
Kelly ‘STRONG & TOUGH’ Cooke:
Kel, you were very easy to lead. You were tough, strong & consistent. Even though you had some yucky blisters you kept fighting on without complaining. It was so good seeing you & the Cooke family (me included) push each other day in day out. Highlight – was having your birthday on the track. That’s pretty special!
Sally ‘NEVER SAY DIE ATTITUDE’ Cooke:
I think that sums you up perfectly. No step or hill was big enough to stop you Sal. You might have had the smallest legs in the group but I reckon you had the biggest heart! You are one strong cookie (haha). Highlight was the moment you & your Dad hugged & pushed strong up to Brigade Hill – that was pretty powerful stuff.
In a nutshell I am very proud to have lead you guys through the Kokoda Track – please don’t ever forget the 4 pillars & what they represent.
Mateship | Endurance | Courage | Sacrifice
No one can ever take away the experiences we ALL shared over the last week together.
Once again, thank you – I honestly loved the challenge, the friendships & all the moments we all shared along the Kokoda trail...
One last time...Where’s the road? – NO ROAD!
Thank you, congratulations
Tim Hazell
Expedition Guide
No Roads Expeditions
ProSport Health and Fitness
