Please note, I can give you much more detail on the route if required. The linked website is not the company we used, they just have the most professional and detailed information on the trek. We went with local PNG company Tru Warrior.
Also, I have lots of photos but your website won’t let me upload them for some reason. I can provide you with as many as you want/need, including images of our gammy trench-foot feet at the end of it!
(This is the post-event write-up):
All,
For those of you who are busy, a summary: Mission accomplished. The whole team completed the trek in 8 days, to Kokoda and back, setting a new track record.
For those with more time, a bit more detail:
Hello. Mission accomplished – thanks to all of you who supported us.
The trek took a lot of organising, having to be rescheduled twice due to operational and career commitments. We only managed to even start the event thanks to anonymous donors and Providence covering our costs (with a little unit support too).
Our 5-man team came together in Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moresby on Tue 07 May, then set off on the trek the next morning, 03:30 Wed 08 May – this would not pass a military risk assessment, but we were convinced of our personal preparation and mental resilience (many of us had worked together on similar events in the past: 120kg stretcher carry over a Tough Mudder; 100kg stretcher carry France to Abergavenny; Pyrenees Freedom Trail – there and back in the usual one way time).
The track was demanding: muddy, steep up and down, all in high heat and humidity. Our 5 guides carried food and cooking utensils, but we brought our own freeze-dried nutrition (donated by Radix) and electrolyte solution (donated by eletewater) as we could not be sure the guides’ meals would provide the requisite nutrition – turns out it didn’t! We moved so fast as a team that the guides’ logistics could not keep up and on Days 3, 4 and 5 we would have eaten crackers and peanut butter, but for the food we’d brought ourselves. In fact, of the 5 guides supporting us, only 2 made it the full distance to Kokoda – the other 3 were either treated for fatigue and strains or stayed behind to regain enough strength to pace us back on the final return legs. Despite their years of experience, even they found this a true challenge.
On Day 4, three of us appeared to pick up a foot infection (in varying degrees), possibly from dirty mud along the way and coupled with the developing trench foot. This caused some delay setting off on the reciprocal route on Day 5, with concerns over the risk of infection along elements of the route where evacuation could be difficult. But resolute team spirit and a little divine intervention meant that we all started the return leg together and fought through the next 4 days. To make matters worse, one of the team aggravated a legacy knee injury which made all descents extremely painful for him, even treacherous at times as we navigated pathways with sheer drops to one side or the other.
Despite fatigue and feet that felt like they were walking on broken glass, morale remained high, even through the 14+ hour days. Each night brought us a step closer to success, and as we passed back through the villages and communities we had encountered on the way out, locals, tour guides and trekkers alike waited and questioned: “Are you the guys doing it in 8 days?” The legend was forming as we walked, rolling ahead of us and the respect for the achievement was tangible. Greeting villagers in their local dialect added to the sense of community: “Vavita dua! Lana duave? Duave! Nagitai!” (Good morning! How are you? Well, thanks. Let’s go!)
The bus was waiting for us as we arrived at the finish after what seemed like an endless final hill climb – the whole team (including 3 from the company which hosted the whole event, Tru Warrior) crossing the line together. On the way back to the hotel we diverted to the Tru Warrior owner’s mum’s clinic – as a GP she examined our feet and dished out all the remedies we needed, without which we probably still wouldn’t be walking today. The next morning a national news reporter visited the hotel and we shared our story, which went out on the 6 o’clock TV news that evening (in the name of Brecon Mountain Rescue). We also met the charismatic Governor of Oro Province, whose province covers a part of the route, who gave us more history of the track and the surrounding regions. And on the following afternoon we were invited to give a motivational talk to the local professional rugby league team, the Port Moresby Vipers, covering preparation for elite events, mental resilience and leadership. Our discussion was well-received and the team went on to win their match that weekend, against the odds – can’t guarantee we made the difference, but...
All in all we raised a decent amount of money for each charity (the JustGiving links are still live, shown at the bottom of this page if you still wish to contribute); supported a local company (Tru Warrior) to deliver what is usually done by larger Australian ventures; learned lots about the Pacific campaign during WW2; and learned about the communities and made many friends along the route of the Kokoda Track.
Our whole route was recorded by a tracker donated by Network Innovations; we may use this evidence to record the event on a website which recognises ‘fastest known times’ and which serves as a hub for those who seek records to break. Final thanks go to Vollebak who clothed us (one of their senior guys was also one of the 5-man team); to Doc Spartan for the creams which prevented chafing; and to Brecon Mountain Rescue who freed their member Huw to join us (the 5th member of the team and a repeat offender, having raised money with us over the Pyrenees). We thank you our supporters who have helped deliver support to military kids who struggle to cope with the demands we place upon them, and support to Brecon Mountain Rescue who save the lost and the wounded on the hills which we hold so dear.
[JustGiving links removed for this FKT application]
(This is how we originally advertised the trek):
In less than 2 weeks, 8-15 May, our small team of 5 will attempt to hike the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea in record time: roughly 200km of steep terrain, hot and extremely humid tropical jungle, in 8 days – twice the usual pace and distance.
Those in the know say not only has this never been done before; no one would even consider doing it. But we are, because the charities deserve it.
We are raising money to support mental health counselling for military kids, irrespective of parents’ cap badge.
In addition, we are supporting Brecon Mountain Rescue Team, one of whom will be walking the track with us.
In summary (the profile at the bottom shows Snowdon in green, against the Kokoda Track in grey – we’re going there and back...https://www.kokodatreks.com/treks/
FKTs
