Overall a great trek with a good group that all knew each other and got along well. They had prepared well and all were fit and on average were a very fast group. The weather for the trek was overall exceptional with the Southern section of the track being the driest I have ever seen it. We had mild rain on the Northern end in particular day 2.
Day 1 on the track went well with transport from Pop to Kokoda being as expected, a bit dusty and bumpy! The museum was open for the trekkers to look through followed by the first steep hill up to Deniki. Trekking was quite fast with the first challenge a struggle for some. Camping at Deniki in the top campground with the amazing views was all great.
Day 2 It rained lightly but consistently most of the day. Arrived at Isurava village with the group travelling quite fast. The ranger came and gave the group a talk about the KTA which was very good and a great bit of interaction. A few trekkers chose to see the Mitsubishi plane site with the remainder of the group resting at the Isurava Battle site. At tonights campsite in Alola, the Alola Church group offered to sing for us for a small donation of 5k each, all with lovely voices.
Day 3 One trekker had been feeling unwell for the last two days but today woke up a new woman having made some changes overnight to medications, great news. Day 3 is always a bit of a challenge with some long hills to climb up and down, made harder in the wet. A few trekkers struggled but pushed through and still made very good time into Templetons One. Visited the new ammo dump which is very good. Talking to land owner he says there is a lot more out there!!!
Day 4 Weather very mild today, trekkers enjoyed seeing Myola Lakes, an old ammo dump and the old tropic air Cessna tail fin that has been moved into the clearing for some reason. We arrived into Kagi quite early and the trekkers were all moved by the traditional Kagi Welcome and another sing sing that night from the kids to end the night before bed.
Day 5 Weather very mild again today with some trekkers struggling a little. We had lunch at Brigade Hill and listened to the history of the location, a moving experience. Bees were a little too friendly here today, ouch! Once again due to the groups speed we were into Menari earlier than usual at the new campsite up near the ranger station. Day 6 awaits with more adventure ahead!
Day 6 weather excellent and track conditions were the driest I have seen ever, similar to conditions I experienced in 2006. The Kokoda Track can be very unforgiving and today a trekker accidently slipped and injured an ankle. After some first aid and a rest in the swamp before heading up to Nauro, the group arrived with spare time today. The injured trekker spent time resting their ankle in cold water and the remainder of the group enjoyed the shorter day's trekking.
Day 7 With one trekker sporting a sore ankle but plugging on, the group was able to continue on all be a bit slower than previously, but still at a rate that I would consider normal for other trekking groups. Today the hills over the Maguli Range test everyone with some long steep downhill sections. The weather once again was mild and the track was dry so the group progressed quite fast.
Day 8 Believe it or not, a very mild day again!! Dry conditions on the Track and the group progressed quite fast even with a few niggling injuries and a monster climb over Imita Ridge and the walk down to the Goldie River, and the little spurt of hill climbing through to the destination. Jack from No Roads met us at Owers' Corner with welcome SP’s for the thirsty and proud trekkers.
Food on the track was great with our No Roads master chefs doing a fantastic job. In particular the doughnuts and the noodle spring rolls were loved by all. Neil is a PNG resident and was surprised by his wife at Owers' Corner to congratulate him. Terrence, our Operations Manager in PNG went well and truly above and beyond to liaise with Neil’s wife to organize her meeting her husband at the end, a great surprise, well done Terrence.
Day 1 on the track went well with transport from Pop to Kokoda being as expected, a bit dusty and bumpy! The museum was open for the trekkers to look through followed by the first steep hill up to Deniki. Trekking was quite fast with the first challenge a struggle for some. Camping at Deniki in the top campground with the amazing views was all great.
Day 2 It rained lightly but consistently most of the day. Arrived at Isurava village with the group travelling quite fast. The ranger came and gave the group a talk about the KTA which was very good and a great bit of interaction. A few trekkers chose to see the Mitsubishi plane site with the remainder of the group resting at the Isurava Battle site. At tonights campsite in Alola, the Alola Church group offered to sing for us for a small donation of 5k each, all with lovely voices.
Day 3 One trekker had been feeling unwell for the last two days but today woke up a new woman having made some changes overnight to medications, great news. Day 3 is always a bit of a challenge with some long hills to climb up and down, made harder in the wet. A few trekkers struggled but pushed through and still made very good time into Templetons One. Visited the new ammo dump which is very good. Talking to land owner he says there is a lot more out there!!!
Day 4 Weather very mild today, trekkers enjoyed seeing Myola Lakes, an old ammo dump and the old tropic air Cessna tail fin that has been moved into the clearing for some reason. We arrived into Kagi quite early and the trekkers were all moved by the traditional Kagi Welcome and another sing sing that night from the kids to end the night before bed.
Day 5 Weather very mild again today with some trekkers struggling a little. We had lunch at Brigade Hill and listened to the history of the location, a moving experience. Bees were a little too friendly here today, ouch! Once again due to the groups speed we were into Menari earlier than usual at the new campsite up near the ranger station. Day 6 awaits with more adventure ahead!
Day 6 weather excellent and track conditions were the driest I have seen ever, similar to conditions I experienced in 2006. The Kokoda Track can be very unforgiving and today a trekker accidently slipped and injured an ankle. After some first aid and a rest in the swamp before heading up to Nauro, the group arrived with spare time today. The injured trekker spent time resting their ankle in cold water and the remainder of the group enjoyed the shorter day's trekking.
Day 7 With one trekker sporting a sore ankle but plugging on, the group was able to continue on all be a bit slower than previously, but still at a rate that I would consider normal for other trekking groups. Today the hills over the Maguli Range test everyone with some long steep downhill sections. The weather once again was mild and the track was dry so the group progressed quite fast.
Day 8 Believe it or not, a very mild day again!! Dry conditions on the Track and the group progressed quite fast even with a few niggling injuries and a monster climb over Imita Ridge and the walk down to the Goldie River, and the little spurt of hill climbing through to the destination. Jack from No Roads met us at Owers' Corner with welcome SP’s for the thirsty and proud trekkers.
Food on the track was great with our No Roads master chefs doing a fantastic job. In particular the doughnuts and the noodle spring rolls were loved by all. Neil is a PNG resident and was surprised by his wife at Owers' Corner to congratulate him. Terrence, our Operations Manager in PNG went well and truly above and beyond to liaise with Neil’s wife to organize her meeting her husband at the end, a great surprise, well done Terrence.
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