Kokoda Track Anzac Teks

Anzac Treks Kokoda
Hi Guys
The Anzac treks across Kokoda are now upon us. Please ensure you have done all your preparations and doubled checked your requirements for your trek across Kokoda.
It has been raining on the Kokoda Track this week, so make sure you have adequate wet weather gear. It is also important to remember to bring some energy snacks along as you burn up a lot of energy on the Kokoda Track.
Good luck to all trekkers as they take on the challenge of the Kokoda Trail.
I will see you all in Port Moresby and along the Kokoda Track.
Cheers
Wayne

Kokoda Trail-Kokoda Track Tourism Workshop

Kokoda Track, Kokoda Trail Tourism Workshop
Great news, I have been invited to attend the Kokoda Initiative Tourism Stakeholder Workshop in Canberra. This invitation has been only extended to those organisations that have contributed to the welfare and sustainability of the Kokoda Track.
This Kokoda Trail workshop will provide an opportunity for consultation and discussion between the Australian Government and some of the key stakeholders involved with the Kokoda Track and Kokoda Trail Tourism.
The workshop will focus on the following areas regarding Kokoda.
1) The update on the Australian Government engagement on Kokoda and the Kokoda Trail.
2) Presentation of complex management arrangements for Protected Areas used in Australia and synergies with the Kokoda Track.
3) Discussion about potential landowner development activities on the Kokoda Trail.
4) Discussion about tourism industry priorities and needs, immediate and longer term for the Kokoda Trail.
5) Discussion about potential opportunities for engagement and action by tourism operators on the Kokoda Track.
6) Sustainability and ecotourism plans for Kokoda.

War Time Kokoda Track Discovered

‘’Wartime Kokoda Track” Re Discovered
“In the footsteps of heroes”
By Wayne Wetherall – Kokoda Spirit
The story of our Australian Diggers and their Papuan Brothers on the Kokoda Track has become folklore, an Australian legend. The courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice shown by our boys have made them and the Kokoda Track an Australian Icon.
The Kokoda Track is one of the World’s great treks, surrounded by impenetrable jungle, raging rivers that have cut deep into the brooding mountains and then plunge into ragged, tortuous valleys that crisscross the track.
The Kokoda Track is also the home for the Koiari and Orokaiva people the original “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels”. This is their native walking track and encompasses many side tracks or trails that thread their way across the Owen Stanley Ranges.
My team and I have crossed the track many times on research, training and exploration treks to ensure the story of the Kokoda Track is as accurate as possible.
Our latest research project involved the survey of the Kokoda Track from Ower’s Corner to Imita Ridge in search of the infamous “Golden Staircase” and from Imita Ridge to Amoduri and the new village of Nauro in search of the western war track that runs parallel to the existing walking track.
There has been recent media attention regarding mining along the track and claims from “Track Historians” and “Kokoda Track Specialists,” that parts of the Kokoda Track are not original “War Time” tracks but merely easier “Tourist Tracks”. I also had reservations about the authenticity of the track that we were walking on and decided to investigate deeper.
We engaged the assistance of the local Koiari landowners, Village Elders and our local PNG Trek Masters to ascertain their understanding of the location of the “Original War Time Kokoda Track.” We also spoke to Lt Nicholas Walsh, Engineer in Charge of Owers Corner. This local knowledge was backed up with my recent survey of the area by helicopter, World War 11 maps, survey maps from 1966 and 1973 and Global positioning technology.
Observations
On our walk down from Owers Corner to Goldie River we uncovered sections of the original “zigzag track” cut by the Australian Engineers. This original track is just west of the existing walking track. This track was cut in the zigzag formation into the steep slope to lessen the severity of the slope and aid the progress of supplies carried forward by the mules and pack horses on their journey towards Imita. This is also the track that the 25-pounder guns were manhandled down the slope from Ower’s Corner, beyond Uberi and travelled towards Imita.
The original zigzag track is also clearly visible on crossing of the first stream into Dump 66. This zigzag track was also cut into the ridge heading from Dump 66 towards Imita Ridge. This track is clearly defined on the eastern slope of the existing walking track.
It is possible to divert off the existing walking track and easily join the original “zigzag track”. The original track winds its way up the ridge and rejoins the existing track at the first rest area on the existing track. The discovery of this original track would support the belief that the “Golden Stairs” are on the existing track climb to Imita Ridge. We also found a number of weapon pits on this existing track and on the zigzag tracks towards Imita Ridge.
Just north of Dump 66 is an alternative track that leads east back down towards Goldie River before turning upwards on the opposite ridge towards Imita. This ridge also showed potential for steps to have been cut leading up to the ridgeline. This track emerges east of the existing track crossing of Imita Ridge. This track follows the base of the rock walls that made Imita such a great defensive position. In this area there are a number of defensive gun pits possibly occupied by the 2/33 and 3rd battalions. It is also possible that this track was extensively used by the 36th battalion as they patrolled east and west of the existing track. The track then crosses Imita Gap very near the existing track before appearing to descend west of the existing track down past the weapon pits to Ua Ule Creek.
The “Golden Stairs”
We were very fortunate to travel and meet with a number of knowledgeable Elders along the Kokoda Track, who confirmed the positioning of the “Golden Stairs” along the existing southern slope to Imita Ridge. They confirmed that there was some 1000 steps cut into the ridge after the creek crossing but were adamant when I showed them the Australian War Memorial photo AWMPO2423.009 of the Golden Stairs that the “Golden Stairs were not in this area but on the southern slope to Iorabaiwa Ridge north of the last Ua Ule creek crossing. On our investigation in the area north of Ua Ule Creek on the Iorabaiwa Ridge we managed to clear a 100m section of track just 3m west of the existing track that clearly showed the existence of a cut and prepared section of track.
On comparison of the AWM photo it was very clear to all that this was the fabled “Golden Stairs” that featured in the picture. This climb had nearly 4000 steps cut into the track and was known to the locals as the “step ladder”. Our guides and Elders also insisted that there were 1000’s of steps cut into the northern side of Imita Ridge west of the existing Kokoda Track heading down towards Ua Ule Creek. This was quite apparent that steps were also cut into the northern side of Imita Ridge when you compare the gradients of both sides. The southern approach to Imita is quite gentle with the northern descent being extremely steep and treacherous. They also made very strong references to numerous other sets of stairs along the track including 1000s of steps rising up to the old war time village of Iorabaiwa.
Perhaps the final word should go to our Army Engineer Lt Nicholas Walsh. He stated that the “Golden Stairs were on the southern side of Imita Ridge. “I should know. I built the bloody things!” It is clearly apparent that there are many different sets of “Golden Stairs” along the Kokoda Trail.
War Time Kokoda Track
Our investigations took us down from Ponoon to Ofi Creek in search of the original war time Kokoda Track to Nauro. On many occasions I have discussed the positioning of the original track with the landowners and Elders along this section of track. They all consistently insisted that a small section of the track from Dump 88 to Jap’s Ladder was a subsidiary or village track to Nauro.
Armed with my trusted band of guides, landowners, Elders, GPS and World War 11 maps, survey maps and my recent fly over of the area we set off to put the discussions to rest.
Observations
On the track north of Dump 88 on a rise in the track and just before the Japanese Camp (Japanese trenches) we reach a fork in the track. The original war time track heads down the ridgeline towards the abandoned village of Eida, while the current track continues along the ridgeline towards “Jap’s Ladder”.
It has a surreal feel as we veer off the ridgeline into the partially cleared former village. The Jungle has once again consumed the former village.
Our search of the area revealed numerous war artefacts including, metal boxes, containers, Dixies, water bottles, ammunition, weapon pits and cable. The most telling evidence of the authenticity of this original war time Kokoda Trail was the discovery of the communication cable running down the valley towards the Esorea River. The track then crosses the river before rising up towards Jap’s Ladder to rejoin the existing track. The track also splits near the Esorea River diverting along the valley and around the ridgeline. This track then continues down past the abandoned villages of Odobaiwa and Begai towards Amoduri near the Brown River. Amoduri or Hamuduri is the existing trekker camp site in the swamp lands on the southern side of the Brown River. This is the track patrolled by Robson and his men in September/October 1942. It is also interesting to note that the Japanese Camp is north of the turn off to the original war time track. The Japanese Camp or Japanese trenches face east of the existing track looking towards Ponoon and old Iorabaiwa. This positioning also shows that the Japanese were concerned about being out flanked on the eastern side, or the side of the valley near the proposed mine site. This was also the site off one of the Japanese Mountain Guns. There is also a series of scattered weapon pits along the existing track to Jap’s Ladder that would indicate that this area was also patrolled by both the Australian’s and Japanese.
Conclusion
The evidence would suggest that there is more than one original Kokoda Trail in this area and the two tracks that we investigated split just north of Dump 88 thus bypassing the existing walking track. The existing walking track was also used during the war as a war track and as a Village Track. It is difficult to discount the possibilities that both Armies patrolled extensively on both sides of the ridge in search and probing exercises to out flank one another.
The existing walking track will be continued to be used for the present to ensure that the people of the Village of Nauro benefit from trekkers passing through their village. If it becomes necessary to utilise the other track due to mining then this is possible and certainly the Kokoda Track will be authentic.
I think it is pretty common knowledge that there is more than one “Golden Stairs” along the Kokoda Track. I would also suggest that the location of the “Golden Stairs” in the Australian War Memorial Photo is on the southern slope to Iorabaiwa Village not far past the last crossing of Ua Ule Creek.
It is very apparent that there is many alternative tracks cut along the Kokoda Trail and more than one original, authentic war time Kokoda Track. As the battles progressed new tracks and trails were cut to service the needs of the Australian Soldiers along the Kokoda Trail.

Alternative Kokoda Track

I have attached an article regarding the Kokoda Track that was published in The Australian Newspaper on March 5 2008. It relates to our research into alternative Kokoda Trails in the Nauro area.We will continue our research and ongoing investigation into the other Kokoda Tracks that run in the area. We plan to walk the other sections of the Kokoda Track later this month. It is important to remember that there is many alternative routes across Kokoda. These alternative tracks were used both by the Australian's and the Japanese during the battles on the Kokoda Track. The majority of your trek will have you walk on the original or main Kokoda Track, which is clearly evident by the large number of weapon pits, spent ammunition spread along the trail. Some sections of the main Kokoda Trail have been lost to the jungle or changed courses due to landslips etc. Kokoda Spirit will continue to ensure that all our trekkers experience the real spirit along the Kokoda Trail. Hopefully our ongoing explorations along the Kokoda Trail will open up new opportunities and experiences for our trekkers.

Kokoda fight may be off the track
Michael Davis The Australian March 05, 2008
THE Rudd government may be mistakenly trying to protect a part of the Kokoda Track that was not of any historical significance during WW2.Local landowners want to mine a section of the track for its rich veins of copper deposits, reaping up to $600 million towards much-needed local infrastructure. But the Australian government is opposing renewal of the mining lease and wants all 96 kilometres of the historic track to be heritage listed."(But) the area of the Kokoda Track that is in dispute with the mine may not be the original track," trekking tour leader, Wayne Wetherall said yesterday."There are three tracks that run through this area. The original and main track runs west of the track that the trekkers walk on. Trekkers are not walking on the original main track, but a subsidiary or village track" he said."The Australian government is trying to protect an area of the track that was not heavily used during the war."Mr Wetherall said he had the original maps to prove his point. "This could be very embarrassing for the government. They need to get their facts straight."Mr Wetherall, who lives on the Sunshine Coast and has been leading treks along Kokoda Track for the past six years, said his trekking group - Kokoda Spirit - had been invited to walk the track with the local Nauro people, the landowners pushing for the mine.He said with the help of the Nauro people, his company was trying to re-discover and re-open sections of the other original wartime track in the area."We have its location and have walked sections of it. It is a treasure trove of military history," Mr Wetherall said.Kokoda Spirit trek leaders - many of them descendants of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels who helped Australian troops during the war - recently discovered four full Japanese skeletons in the area. It is believed to be the first time in more than 30 years that a full Japanese skeleton has been unearthed.The skeletons were found at Templeton's Crossing, near Mt Bellamy, the highest point on the trail.Early in the Kokoda campaign, Australian soldiers made a stand at Mt Bellamy, constantly repelling the advancing Japanese enemy with their patrols.Repeatedly the Australian soldiers fell back to prepared defences as the Japanese supply lines became hopelessly extended. The enemy soldiers eventually became sick, hungry and diseased.The Australian War memorial estimates the Japanese lost 127,600 men in and around Papua New Guinea, most of them with no known grave.

Official Notification of Kokoda Track Reopened

Good Morning
Well it has officially happened. The reopening of the Kokoda Track-Kokoda Trail. I have pasted below some news articles for your information.
Kokoda Spirit has it first trek out now on the Kokoda trail, they left Sunday from Kokoda, before the official announcement. All of our treks over the Kokoda Track will continue as normal.

Kokoda landowners lift blockade
March 10, 2008 - 6:05PM
Papua New Guinean landowners have lifted a blockade of the historic Kokoda Track and are seeking compensation amid signs a controversial mining project will be canned.
Koiari landowners on Monday said they'd been told the PNG government would not renew an exploration licence for Australian company Frontier Resources, which wants to mine gold and copper along part of the track.
The project would have earned the landowners up to A$100 million over 10 years, but has been opposed by Australia, amid fears mining activity would damage 600 metres of the historic World War II track.
The route is a pilgrimage site for thousands of Australians who walk it each year, remembering the 600 diggers who died there fighting the Japanese.
Landowners staged a blockade of the track earlier this year, in an attempt to pressure the government to renew Frontier's licence.
Earlier this week during a trip to PNG, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said a compromise that would satisfy all parties should be finalised at ministerial meetings next month in Madang, in PNG's north-east.
On Monday, the landowners said they were seeking a compensation package to make up for their losses from any decision to can the mining project.
The package would be focused on improving infrastructure, and should be jointly funded by the PNG and Australian governments, they said.
"(PNG's mining minister Puka) Temu told us this morning they will forego mining and will look at our compensation package to decide," local leader Bagua Watti said.
"We have given him our development and compensation claims and will wait for April's ministers' conference to see the outcomes."
Barney Jack - a spokesman for the Kodu Resource Owners Association, a local landowners' group - said locals wanted the two national governments to build schools and health centres, and seal roads with a view to establishing a highway linking Kokoda villages.
"We have reopened the track for tourism and trekkers," he said.
"We believe we have made a fair request. The governments must do something to improve infrastructure."
Kokoda Track Authority executive officer Warren Bartlett said Temu had indicated last week that Frontier's exploration licence would not be renewed.
"Temu suggested it is unlikely a licence will be issued and is prepared to make a compensation payment for loss of income," he said.
"We are happy the track is open again as there will be a commitment to infrastructure that goes with it."
A spokesman from Temu's office said a meeting took place on Monday and more would follow.
"All matters of social-economic progress for all stakeholders will come about for the Madang meeting," he said.© 2008 AAP

Landowners agree to reopen Kokoda Track
By PNG correspondent Steve Marshall
Posted Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:22pm AEDT Updated Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:28pm AEDT
Protest: Upset Kokoda track landowners closed the track last month in support of a proposed copper mine (file photo) (ABC TV)
Kokoda Track landowners have agreed to reopen the war time trail to tourists after being given an ultimatum by the Papua New Guinea Government.
Upset Kokoda track landowners closed the track last month in support of a proposed copper mine that would give them a better life.
However spokesman Barney Jack says the landowners were given no choice by the PNG Government after it told them that no mining would be taking place.
"We are left with no other option because the Government said there would be no mining, because of the environmental issues they keep telling us about," he said.The landowners are seeking a compensation package worth over $100 million.

Kokoda Track Open!!!!!

I have just received notification that the Kokoda Track is to reopen immediately. This is to be officially announced by the PNG National Executive Council this afternoon.All operations along the Kokoda Track will continue as normal.What great news!CheersWayne

Visit http://www.kokodaspirit.com

Kokoda Track or Kokoda Trail?

There has been a lot of debate around regarding the name Kokoda Track or Kokoda Trail. I thought I would try and give some clarification on the matter.

The name Kokoda Track and Kokoda Trail are both officially used and recognised. The information from the Australian War Memorial highlights the dual usage of the names.
The memorial at the start of the Kokoda Track/Kokoda Trail at Ower’s Corner has on one side the words the Kokoda Track and the other side the Kokoda Trail. The main route across Kokoda is referred to as the Kokoda Trail; all tracks leading off the Kokoda Trail are called Kokoda Tracks. Please understand that there is more than one route across the Owen Stanley Ranges.

You may also be interested in knowing that documentation shows orders from the 25th Brigade order, recorded in the 2/33 Battalion diary in September 1942 to the effect that the main ‘line of communication’ was to be called the ‘Trail’ but the subsequent paths of which there were many were to be referred to as ‘Tracks’. The best qualified to comment on the name was none other than legendary Bert Kienzle who was the principle organiser of the “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels” who referred to it as the trail. His words were” one walks a trail and one cuts a track.
See excerpt below from the Australian War Memorial.

Australian Military UnitsKokoda Trail Campaign

The Kokoda Trail was a path that linked Ower's Corner, approximately 40 km north-east of Port Moresby, and the small village of Wairopi, on the northern side of the Owen Stanley mountain range. From Wairopi, a crossing point on the Kumusi River, the Trail was connected to the settlements of Buna, Gona and Sanananda on the north coast. Its name was derived from the village of Kokoda that stood on the southern side of the main range and was the site of the only airfield between Port Moresby and the north coast.

Having had their initial effort to capture Port Moresby by a seaborne landing disrupted by the battle of the Coral Sea, the Japanese saw the Kokoda Trail as a means by which to advance on it overland. Troops of the South Seas Detachment began landing at Gona on 21 July 1942, intending initially just to test the feasibility of the Kokoda Trail as a route of advance, but a full-scale offensive soon developed. The first fighting occurred between elements of the Papuan Infantry Battalion and the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion at Awala on 23 July. Although steadily reinforced by the battalions of 30th and 21st Brigades, the Australian force was unable to hold back the Japanese. It was poorly equipped, had not yet developed effective jungle warfare tactics, and was fighting at the end of a very long and difficult supply line. A number of desperate delaying actions were fought as the Australians withdrew along the Trail. They finally stopped on 17 September at Imita Ridge, the last natural obstacle along the Trail, a mere 8 km from the junction with the road to Port Moresby. The Japanese held the opposite ridge, 6 km distant at Ioribaiwa.

The tactical situation, however, had now swung in favour of the Australians. Their artillery at Ower's Corner was now in range and their supplies could be trucked most of the way forward; whereas Japanese supplies had to be carried all the way from the north coast. As a result of severe losses suffered by the Japanese on Guadalcanal following the American landing there, the South Seas Detachment was ordered to withdraw to the north coast of Papua and establish a defensive position there. Australian troops of the 25th Brigade began to edge forward from Imita Ridge on 23 September; the Japanese withdrew from Ioribaiwa the next day. In the course of their retreat the Japanese fought delaying actions every bit as determined as those of the Australians. Several difficult and costly battles were fought before the 16th and 25th Brigades crossed the Kumusi at Wairopi in mid-November heading for even more bitter fighting around the Japanese beachheads at Gona, Buna and Sanananda.

The Kokoda Trail fighting was some of the most desperate and vicious encountered by Australian troops in the Second World War. Although the successful capture of Port Moresby was never going to be precursor to an invasion of Australia, victory on the Kokoda Trail did ensure that Allied bases in northern Australia, vital in the coming counter-offensive against the Japanese, would not be seriously threatened by air attack. Approximately 625 Australians were killed along the Kokoda Trail and over 1,600 were wounded. Casualties due to sickness exceeded 4,000.

"Kokoda Trail" and "Kokoda Track" have been used interchangeably since the Second World War and the former was adopted by the Battles Nomenclature Committee as the official British Commonwealth battle honour in October 1957.

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