KOKODA track

[weeds]

anybody done it

have always wanted to do it......just having a look around the web for tours

look forward to reading about your experience

[Slunnie]

No. My mum and bro have done it, and my work took a school trip on it. All said it was hard work but had a brilliant time doing it.

Here are my mums photos. Interestingly, one of the porters named his child after my bro!

www.slunnie.com - Kokoda track 0806 (http://www.slunnie.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=111)

[**Discovery300Tdi**]

I dont know anyone who has done it but my Landrover Mechanic is going in march or around that time to tackle it. he told me he was training fo it and he has lost a heap of weight so far by running and walking up steep hills with full backpacks and other little training aids lol. What i've heared is that its pretty full on and not for the faint hearted, might give it a go when i loose ohhhhhhhhhh about 80 or so kg's LOL.

cheers simon

[Narangga]

anybody done it

have always wanted to do it......just having a look around the web for tours

look forward to reading about your experience

17yo sond did it with a Duke of Edinburgh group in June last year (2008). 29 of them all up - he was the only one who ended up with malaria but other than that really enjoyed it.

As part of the Duke's they had to all carry their own packs which is very rare.

[digger]

anybody done it

have always wanted to do it......just having a look around the web for tours

look forward to reading about your experience

knowing of my long term interest in the kokoda campaign etc my wife booked me and sent me on the track for my 40th b/day in june 07.

Went with backtrack (out of brisbane) that are brilliant.. had Gareth as a tour guide/leader again brilliant.

walk from kokoda towards port moresby, that way there is two things at the end, the memorial 'park/gate' area and not far to hot showers etc, if you get to kokoda and finish your trip nyou get to stand in front of the old post office etc..not quite the same...

it is "taxing" as much mentally as it is physical but when youve read all about what the blokes 65 years before (in my case) were going thru, you shut up and get going!!..

My mate and I enjoyed it end to end.. falls and all.

read KOKODA by peter fitzsimons first... (and if time read TOBRUK by fitzsimons also, first!)... then buy a book called something like, "a battlefield guide to the kokoda track" or similar... its a handbook with maps, photos, history etcin it, its compact and has "glassy pages" so is better in the humidity...take this with you and use it...


there is a lot more hints I can probably pass on, I can PM you if youd like...or if prefered could add them here in bits and pieces if people want..let me know whatever you prefer

----its also not just the track you should do, take the extra few days in BUNA and GONA, it was a slaughterhouse for aussies/yanks and japs and really completes the track....


do it, you wont regret it.

digger

[boxhead]

I havent done it as such, but i did live in the village of Naduri for 3 weeks helping to train the locals to repair and maintain the track in sep oct this year.

Soc Keinzle runs a good trek, his father was Bert keinzle who helped to organise the fuzzy wuzzu angels he grew up at Kokoda and knows the track like the back of his hand.

If you do do it say hi to Andy and charlie in Naduri for me


Adam

[isuzu110]

Yes I did it in Oct 2008 with Kokoda Track Experience (http://www.kokodatrack.net/index.html). I can recommend them. Lots cheaper than some others and the owner has some strong ties with villagers along the track as he started out putting in water and sanitation for them before starting the trekking business.

Yes, you will want to be fit. What we call hills and slopes here are nothing to what you will encounter over there. I found it very mentally challenging as you need to think about almost every footstep given the mud, roots, rocks, side slopes along the track.

My tip is to get a porter. I carried most of my gear myself and would not do so again. You will develop a great bond with your porter and appreciate his assistance along the way.

[weeds]

My tip is to get a porter. I carried most of my gear myself and would not do so again. You will develop a great bond with your porter and appreciate his assistance along the way.

a porter is a given for me

[weeds]

righto.....

Thanks for the tips however i will have to put this trip on the back burner as i have been offered another trip to good to refuse

I'm off to Gallipoli for ANZAC day....8/9 days in total

[olmate]

righto.....

Thanks for the tips however i will have to put this trip on the back burner as i have been offered another trip to good to refuse

I'm off to Gallipoli for ANZAC day....8/9 days in total

That is outstanding Weeds ;)

Mate - I am very envious now. What an oportunity :D

[VladTepes]

Is there a report somewhere re your ANZAC day trip.

Re KOKODA -
1942: take a rifle, accept mud is a reality, try to avoid dyssentry and malaria. Watch out for japs.

2010: Accept mud is a reality. Try to avoid looking stupid in photos.

That things are so different now is thanks entirely to the blokes who fought up there for us. Thanks diggers.


In PNG the flying will be much more dangerous than the track walking....