Showcase-Sunday: Prequel to my Kokoda trek

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(Edited)

Today I met a returned soldier at work, a man who served in the Australian Army during the Vietnam war, and post-war, for over 20 years; He was an incredibly interesting man to talk with, insightful, intelligent, informative and an intensely proud Australian, like myself I guess - A proud Aussie I mean.

We spoke at length and he related some of his experiences from the Vietnam war and during his military career, and about the impact they have had on him in his civilian life.

He suffered greatly in war and after his military career ended and I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice that, now many years later, his experiences stick with him, move him and hurt him also. The quintessential modern-day veteran I guess.

It reminded me of the sacrifices so many have made, my new friend included, for our freedom and way of life - Whether one agrees with war, the reasons for them, or not, I don't believe it is right to forget, nullify or discount those that have served in them.

As a keen history buff I've studied the wars Australia has fought in and have had the privilege of visiting several significant Australian battlefields to pay my respects also. Doing so has deepened my understanding, both softened and hardened my opinions on various aspects and made me feel more Australian. I feel a little more understanding of where I came from.

Inspired by Harold (Harry) B, the veteran I met, I came home to look through my photos and note books from past battlefield visits in Europe and Papua New Guinea and, as usual, I became somewhat engrossed all over again.

I decided to write about one of those battles, a significant World War Two battle, that was essentially a battle for Australia and over the next few weeks I'll present to you some history and more personal facts and thoughts about my arduous trek across the Owen Stanley mountains retracing the battles, and stories, over that infamous 100km slog from Owers Corner to Kokoda, Papua New Guinea.

The Kokoda Trail is a brutal trek through deep jungles, high mountains and a journey through a past tainted by tragic history, and heroic deeds. I trekked it in November 2007 and from that moment my life was forever changed. It has been the most physically demanding trek of my life, and the most meaningful, and memorable.

The image below is from day one of a six day trek over the approximately 100 kilometres of the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea and whilst it was arduous, it was nothing compared with what the soldiers who fought on the Trail experienced.

Thousands of Aussie's fought and died on and beside the Trail over battles between July to November 1942 in their efforts to repel the invading Japanese. The enemy had landed on the north of Papua New Guinea with the intention of taking Port Moresby and then attacking and taking the Australian mainland.

It was a brutal jungle campaign with the ultimate prize being Australia itself. The Aussies were isolated, poorly equipped, grossly outnumbered and lacked support but fought like the crazy bastards they were (are) known to be and prevailed. After halting the enemy outside of Port Moresby they then pushed them back to the small village of Kokoda (where they had first made contact in July) and beyond. There, joined by some American elements, they pushed the Japanese completely out of Papua New Guinea.

[Image removed]

The trek itself was treacherous in places, incredibly hot and humid in the day and bitterly cold at night, brutally hard physically and mentally and emotionally draining.

Each step was difficult. Once over that threshold behind me in this picture there were no flat parts...Just very steep inclines and declines, mountainous peaks, creek and river crossings, jungle, mud, critters and the left over detritus of war...You'll see images of me with mountain gun shells piled up beside me, holding live hand-grenades and other detritus left from the titanic struggle that played out here.

I dropped 8 kilograms (17.6 lbs) of weight along the way as I completely lost my appetite, found humility, let go of any vestige of hubris and ego and learned much about myself. I came away feeling more Australian, if that was even possible, and more certain that a human with the right attitude can prevail over one without. I came away different. Better.

I'll write some words about my trek, the challenges, fears, expectations and realities and post some more pictures in the near future. I hope my story inspires people to learn more about the sacrifice made by so many; Sacrifices made to preserve and secure our way of life by men who gave up their own.

Thanks for reading and I hope you look out for my next instalment.


Tomorrow isn't promised - Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default
An original post written by a human
Discord: galenkp#9209 🇦🇺

The original post was written and posted by me late in 2017. This post has been reworked and reposted for the @nonameslefttouse #showcase-sunday concept.



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To listen to the audio version of this article click on the play image.

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Hello there @galenkp, I can't believe you trekked that trail, you must have been in excellent shape. To loose over 17 lbs., wow. How long were you out for?
I have to do a little research about the Owen Stanley mountains to better understand how tough it was. I will look forward to the next installment.
By the way, I hate war but I agree with you, anyone who puts their lives on the line for my freedom deserves my utmost respect and thanks.

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I was on he Trail for 6 days, so not too long. I lost my appetite though, the heat and fatigue I think, so was really only drinking water and electrolytes (the water had to be purified for a couple hours prior to drinking). I ate some trail mix and a little rice and steamed leaves that the locals made, a banana here and there. So I lost weight.

I was in reasonable shape I guess but the Trail is pretty brutal. Elevation map below.

Kokoda_Map.png

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_Stanley_Range

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Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range is the south-eastern part of the central mountain-chain in Papua New Guinea.

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That is amazing you were able to stay out for six days in that rough terrain. I checked out Owen Stanley mountain range, wow man I am impressed, quite the challenge.
Gold star coming your way!!

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I was a much fitter man back then, and quite determined. It's a dangerous trek to be honest, Only a month before I went an Aussie trekking group found themselves in the middle of a tribal war where some of the locals were massacred with machetes. The trekkers were not harmed. The only way off the Trail is by foot or helo from the highest point. Get injured at the bottom of a mountain and the medevac can't get down there...You walk, or are carried up for the dust off. A helo ride out is about $5,000 at the trekkers cost and insurance won't cover it. In fact I had no insurance coverage due to the trek being so notorious.

Anyway, you'll see if you look for the next instalments.

Thanks for commenting.

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Really very excellent post It is so beneficial I think 👌👌

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Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to read it and to comment. Much appreciated.

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Trust me I always see and read your post specially your Photography post I like so much.I like your post style 😊😊♥️💯

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Oh thanks mate, I really appreciate you saying so. :)

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I loved that story of your trek. And how you got stranded at the end and had to stay longer. Very interesting, amazing journey to take.

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Ah, you read it back in 2017? Cool...Yeah it was a pretty interesting thing to do, hard work, but rewarding. I'll do showcases of the other remaining instalments for those who haven't see it though. You don't need to read them. :)

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Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
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Howdy sir galenkp! What a fantastic topic to cover. Most of us have no idea this even took place so it's important to get the story out there. Did you do this trek by yourself?

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(Edited)

The Trail is obscure...It's not a path. It meanders around, is almost non-existent in places, traverse creeks and rivers and through dense jungle. At times there is no path to follow at all, we'd simply walk along a creek, thigh-deep in water and then pop out at some nondescript point and resume the trek upwards.

The trekking group was guided by a Kokoda local and was supported by carriers/porters who would go on ahead and set up camp, or haul packs too heavy for trekkers to carry if required.

The ancestors of these porters did the same back in the war hauling injured and the materiel of war up and down the Trail. The did so for both sides too, depending on who payed the money, but the Japanese were brutal in the treatment of them and so they didn't work very well for the Japanese.

These porters love Australians and are polite, friendly and respectful. I made friends with my porter, ate with him, slept under the stars with him and his mates, and when we got rained in up at Kokoda met their families and spent days with them, living village life (no electricity, no water). Good times.

There were several trekkers, so no, I was not alone. Whilst trekking though I would see no one, hear no one...It was a solitary trek mostly, alone with the deep history, emotions, physical and emotional strain and the jungle. They were there, sometimes only 100m ahead, but the nature of the jungle is such that one couldn't hear or see them. It was disquieting.

I write about it in the subsequent posts so you will have to read them if you want to know more otherwise I'm writing it twice and I'm not inclined to do so. No time.

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Very interesting sir galenkp! No of course I don't need more information here in comments since you wrote posts about it.

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