Trek the Kokoda Trail Travel Blog

Archive for February, 2011

 New Safety and Health programmes are well underway with many finished in preparation for the start of the 2011 Kokoda Trekking Season. The season will officially commence with the Anzac Day treks due to depart Australia on the 19th April 2011.
Under a programme set up by the Australian and PNG governments entitled, the Kokoda Initiative,  a number of goals were determined . Goal 1 related directly to safety issues.
Goal 1:- A safe and well managed Kokoda Track, which honours its wartime historical significance and protects and promotes its special value. Further supporting and enhancing the Kokoda Track Authority’s managementof the Track and trekking operations. Working with local communities and tourism operators to improve the trekking experience and Track facilities.  Working with regulatory authorities to improve safety for local communities living along the Track and tourists visiting the area.

Rangers are now stationed at the start and finish points of the Track at Kokoda and Owers Corner with a further ranger stationed at Efogi Village which is roughly the half way point. A new Rangers house will be built this year in Kokoda.
Having Rangers  now active all along the Track will increase the safety capacity for our industry.
In July a new Kokoda Airstrip Terminal office will be completed and drainage  and other safety projects have already been completed at the Kokoda airstrip vastly improving its capacity to safely handle light aircraft.  Back Track will continue to use the large Dash 8 planes on their scheduled runs into the tarmac strip at Popendetta to transport our trekkers off the Track until all safety concerns have been addressed.  Overall a very active Kokoda Track Authority (KTA)  have pulled out all stops right along the Track to slowly build  the Track up to  the standards of other equally well used popular walking trails worldwide.

Much work has been done on many of the trails leading in and out of the Track villages.  Some of the sections have been vastly improved with the building of well drained staircases and leveling  the more steep sections down to a safer and easier gradient for walking. Combined with roadworks programmes, charting of all  emergency evacuation points, ongoing work on the local communications system, funding for trek crew training in Wilderness First aid courses, and now  plans for proper enviromentally sensitive toilets to be built at all camp sites, the Track  is assured of retaining its reputation as one of the great jungle walks of the world.
In keeping with the Government promise to keep all stakeholders informed, Back Track representatives will be attending the KTA consultive meeting to be held in Brisbane and the Australian Governements update in Sydney in March.

All the Team at Back Track Adentures Brisbane and PNG wish to convey our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of  Harold Dutchy Atkinson. ( See orbituary below)

ATKINSON, “Dutchy” Harold Edward Late of R.S.L Care, Caboolture, formerly of the Sunshine Coast area. Passed away peacefully on Monday, 7th February, 2011. Aged 88 Years Loved and cherished Husband of Pat (dec’d). Loving Father and Father-in-law to Les and Glenda, Narelle and Allan, Patricia and Bryan, Sherry and Kerry, Wayne, Daphne and Beric. Much loved Grandfather to his Grandchildren, Great-grandchildren, Great-great- grandchildren and Great-great- great-grandchild. “A Good Friend to Many” Family and Friends are invited to a Celebration of Dutchy’s life, being held at Traditional Funerals Chapel, 636 Morayfield Road, Burpengary, on Saturday, 12th February, 2011, commencing at 9.30 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations to R.S.L care would be appreciated. TRADITIONAL FUNERALS Burpengary _ 38886633 A Local Family Company

The wonderful life we enjoy in Australia today is due in no small way to the courage of our soldiers who fought along the Kokoda TracK and on foreign battlefields worldwide.  Harold “Dutchy” Atkinson was just one brave courageous member of the 2/14th Btn. All Back Track Kokoda trekkers will ensure that their heroism shall never be forgotten.

“We shall never forget”
“Stand Fast”

If I had one dollar for everytime I have been asked this question, I would be a wealthy man.

The best time is anytime during the Kokoda trekking season. The Kokoda trekking Season commences in April and is usually heralded with treks we have designed to be on the Track for  Anzac Day the 25th April. The season officially finishes after the completition of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Commemorative trek which we have coordinated to be at Kokoda Village on November 3 each year for the big celebration which is held there on that date.

The numbers who trek during December through to the end of March can be counted on your hands and toes.  ( Stats available from the KTA)  The reason being is that the Kokoda Track ‘region’  experiences the most rain fall during this period (monsoonal) and high summer heats and humidity.  Though you can trek during  that time, it is not at all  reliably pleasant and therefore we do not recommend it as an option.

For some reason there is a perception with many Aussies that the  best  time (climatically) and therefore the only time to trek  has to be in the middle of the official winter and near winter months, these being May, June  and July.   These are the treks that usually book out first each season. 
 After personally completing 25 treks over the Track in all months and having organised nearly 100 Teams over the Track,  from all those reports  I can honestly state that weather wise, temperature wise etc,  etc, you have as much chance of having a fine weather, low rainfall,  low humidity and all round great  trek in  August, September, October or November as you do in June or Jul . You could  ’toss a coin’ as to what month you booked during the trek season and make a decision that way if you wished,  it would be just as ‘scientific’.
I have trekked in June and it has rained just about every day and next year at the same time it has been fine.  During your trek you will spend 90% of your time in the Owen Stanley mountains. Mountains alone have a significant influence on weather changes.  There are so many variables that can change the trekking environment from one month to another, one trek to another, that they are 2 numerious to mention.
I  trekked in July one year and  had good weather and little to no rain. The following year I did the same trek and had high humidity and after a very brief and heavy downfall, we found our Team  stranded for a couple of hours on the south side of Ua Ule Creelk late in the afternoon with our campsite tantalizingly close about 100 metres away on the other side.  The water rose too high for us to cross while we stood there watching.  It dropped eventually and we could then safely cross. 

In summary, my advice to all potential trekkers is to select your trekking team by the  Team departure time which is most suitable for you. If you stay within the trekking season , April to November and trek with Back Track Adventutres you will have a wonderful , safe  and memorable trekking holiday that you will cherish forever.

See you on the Track anytime that is suitable for you during the trekking season.
Happy trekking