Trek the Kokoda Trail Travel Blog

Archive for the ‘Kokoda Track’ Category

From time to time at Back Track,  we receive emails from past trekkers and I would like to share one with you now.

For all who have completed the Kokoda Track we all experience at least one significant realisation during our trek that  probably was not an expectation before we departed Australia. The sentiment expressed in the following email is typical of so many we receive.

“I was well prepared historically and physically but totally unprepared culturally. These lovely gracious people in what I would call ‘Happy poverty” what an eye opener.  I think the cultural experience became the highlight for many in our group.  The early battlefields where our innocent  “teenage soldiers” gave their all (their last and lasting gift) will always remain the highlight for me.”

PNG receives much bad press for which it does not deserve.  The people of PNG and Australia will always be linked by way of our common historical experiences which include the battles fought by Australian and PNG soldiers on PNG soil during WW2.

WE should never forget our PNG mates and comrades in arms.

If you would like to assist the people of PNG in a meaningful way and in particular those who live along the Track and are the living family of our Fuzzy Wuzzy brothers, you can. Be inspired and be generous. Go to www.kokodatrackfoundation.org.

Back Track Team 17 has just returned from completing the Kokoda Track.  This trek was specially  designed to finish in Kokoda on the eve of  the first ever Fuzzy Wuzzy  Day  celebration on November 3 2010.

The inaugural Fuzzy Wuzzy Day was planned by the PNG Government in consultation with the Kokoda Track Authority, The Australian Government and the local Kokoda people. After the tremendous success of the first Fuzzy Wuzzy Day, it is  now destined to be a regular feature on the PNG  Calendar of Annual National Events.

The reasons for having this special annual celebration are many. Most importantly is that the Day celebrates and recognizes the special contribution the PNG people made during the war, especially in performing roles as carriers for the Australian troops fighting along the Kokoda Track. Not only did the local people,  carry supplies for the Australian troops the Fuzzy Wuzzy angels carried the sick and wounded on make shift stretchers under unimaginable conditions back to safety in Port Moresby. The carriers were affectionately called Fuzzy Wuzzy’s because of the “Fuzzy” hairstyle many of them sported at that time.

Many, many wounded and sick Australian soldiers owe their lives to the  Fuzzy Wuzzy’s heroic and loyal efforts.

When Team 17 walked into Kokoda Station we could not believe the welcome we received. This normally sleepy little settlement was jam packed with 1000’s of people.  As we trekked into the centre of the village where our campsite is located , people lined the Track cheering , ORO, ORO ORO, which means welcome and threw flowers.   Ten minutes before arriving  at Kokoda ,our Team stopped in the jungle and  all our trek crew dressed up in their traditional clothing and the trekkers adorned themselves with flowers and headdresses made from Jungle materials.  We wanted to arrive demonstrating that we had come to be part of the fun, but the reception we received was completely unexpected and overwhelming.  Our lead guides were beating drums as we marched in and the amazed look on all the faces of our humble trekking Team, trekkers and crew, because of the reception we  received was something I will never forget.

Back Track was the only trekking company that participated in Fuzzy Wuzzy day 2010.
A somber moment appreciated by us all was when the Australian Flag was raised, reenacting that special moment in Kokoda Track Campaign history when General  Vasey raised the flag on recapturing Kokoda on November 3, 1942.  Soc Kienzle  (son of Bert Kienzle, famous for his leading role organizing the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels) , attended Fuzzy Wuzzy day as a special guest.  Soc is the custodian of the original flag General  Vasey raised.

We finished off our Kokoda Trekking holiday  back in Port Moresby 2 days later with a crew end of season party which all the trekkers attended as well.

In 2011 we have planned for 2 trek Teams to be at Kokoda for the Fuzzy Wuzzy day celebrations. Team 14 will depart Australia on the 25^th October lead by Gareth Ward and will finish in Kokoda on  November 3 as it did this year. In addition, a second Team (Team 14A) lead by Jim Drapes will depart Australia on 01 November and commence their Kokoda Track trek in Kokoda on November 3.  Both Teams will meet  in Kokoda and join in the celebrations  together.

The Fuzzy Wuzzy day celebrations for 2011 are going to be bigger and better, with plans to ensure that our trekkers will actively participate in the sports and singing events.  We are hopeful of having the best tug-a-war team and sing sing team at Kokoda.

We would love you to join us and our tug-of-war team,or choir.  Check our dates and trek itinerary now on our website and get in quick. One Team is already nearly fully booked.

We have just received a report that one of the most liked and longest serving local guides working on the Kokoda Track has passed away.
Colin Obed from the Kokoda Track village of Naduri has passed away on Friday 16th July while resting at his Morata residence. To date we only have a very sketchy report however it would appear that he was suffering no ill health and was in good spirits when he suddenly collapsed and died without any warning.

Though Colin was not working for Back Track this season he has worked with us over the years and completed contract work for us early this year.

He was a very hard working, responsible and well liked Head Guide.  He was  leading a trek for another trekking company when members from Back Track Team 9, met and chatted with him at  the Isurava memorial.  He was in great spirits and the sudden news that he has died so quickly has left all of us who knew and trekked with him in shock and deep sadness.

We wish everyone of Colin’s extended family and all those who knew and loved Colin our deepest sympathy.

He will be forever missed but never forgotten. Not having Colin on the Track  is a great loss to the trekking industry.

While waiting at the Brisbane International  Airport this morning  for the return of Team 7, I had a chance meeting with Bill James.  Bill James is well known and respected within the Adventure Travel Industry because of his long term involvement, going way back to the good old  days  running overland buses from London to Kathmandu. But for many who have walked the Kokoda Track, Bill is  known for his excellent book, Field Guide to the Kokoda Track . This popular Field Guide, which we highly recommend to all trekkers is now in its 8th reprint. It is readily available at bookshops.
Bill had just returned from exploring an area known as the Japanese Forest fort, or as the media have recently called it, the Lost battlefield.  Though our conversation was only brief, Bill indicated that this site was very significant and unfortunately he only had time to answer just a few of my questions. It was very revealing.
It would appear that as the site is examined more closely we may learn a lot more about the battle that took place at Eora Creek during the 2nd phase of the campaign as the Australians were pushing the Japanese back over the Track  to their beachhead at Buna and Gona.
Stay tuned for more information about the Japanese forest fort as it comes to hand.  As far as I am aware no trekking companies are yet visiting  this section of the battlefield which is only metres below the summit  ridge line. 
If the site is still relatively intact and not disturbed it will serioulsy need to be protected.

One of our trek leaders sent this information to us today,  having received the list from a trekker from one of her  recent Teams.  It is posted to illustrate that trekking the Kokoda Track is just not all about  history and challenge and achievement. Trekking the Track with Back Track is also about:-
Rowan’s Top 10

1. Seeing Dacrycarpus on Mt Bellamy and all the other plants along the track.
2. Butterflies at Hoi & elsewhere
3. Birdsong in the morning
4. Service at Brigade Hill
5. Children singing at Naduri
6. Receiving carving from Kay
7. Swimming after hot day on the track – especially at Agulogo & Goldie River
8. The porters singing in the evenings
9. The guard of porters singing at the end of the track
10. Having a fantastic group of people to share the journey with