Trekking Safely
There are many useful techniques and practical advice that will help you trek safely. The Track can be dangerous if you are not careful. Hazards such as tree roots, rocks, slippery muddy paths, water crossings, bank climbs, narrow ridge tracks are just some of the hazards under foot.
The expedition guide and porter team will provide advice along the track, point out hazards, provide you with important tips whilst walking and repeatedly encourage everyone in the expedition to trek safely to avoid evacuations. No Roads avoids trekking at night due to the increased risk of injury.
Assistance and Advice
The first and most important action you can take is to listen carefully and follow the instructions provided by the expedition guide and the porter team members. Our expedition team are experienced in trekking the Kokoda Track and their advice should be heeded.
The porters will offer their hands to help you along difficult sections of the track and they will carry your packs over water crossings, and magically be there to help you even if you don't ask. They are professionals and very proud of their relatives who helped and carried the wounded during the battles in 1942. Kindly accept their assistance even if you think you can handle the hazard.
The expedition guide and porter team will provide advice along the track, point out hazards, provide you with important tips whilst walking and repeatedly encourage everyone in the expedition to trek safely to avoid evacuations. No Roads avoids trekking at night due to the increased risk of injury.
Assistance and Advice
The first and most important action you can take is to listen carefully and follow the instructions provided by the expedition guide and the porter team members. Our expedition team are experienced in trekking the Kokoda Track and their advice should be heeded.
The porters will offer their hands to help you along difficult sections of the track and they will carry your packs over water crossings, and magically be there to help you even if you don't ask. They are professionals and very proud of their relatives who helped and carried the wounded during the battles in 1942. Kindly accept their assistance even if you think you can handle the hazard.
Water Safety
There are many water crossings along the track caused by rivers, creeks, and streams. Water crossings range from walking through small streams, to rock hopping, traversing temporary log bridges made from fallen trees, and in the worst case (after very heavy rainfall) wading through water holding onto ropes. On one of the days you will cross through the same creek 10-12 times walking over rocks in the creek.
No Roads implements a simple risk management policy where everyone follows the same procedure to prevent injuries at water crossings:
When crossing creeks without your boots on, be sure to wear reef sandals or sandal-style shoes to avoid cuts and scratches from submerged rocks. This footwear should have toe protection and sturdy straps. Take similar care while bathing in the creeks and streams.
No Roads implements a simple risk management policy where everyone follows the same procedure to prevent injuries at water crossings:
- Rope handrails will be rigged on all log bridge crossings and should be used.
- Porters will place a safety line downstream across the water to provide a rescue rope for the unlikely scenario where someone falls in.
- Backpacks and day packs should be removed before crossing and given to the porters to carry over.
- A limit of one trekker per span of bridge at any one time. This reduces the chance of bumping someone off. There may be several porters assisting you though.
- No running, walk slowly at your own pace. Walk with your feet at right angles to the direction you are walking to grip the logs.
- Remain clear of the entry and exit points of the log bridge to allow people to move across the bridge safely.
When crossing creeks without your boots on, be sure to wear reef sandals or sandal-style shoes to avoid cuts and scratches from submerged rocks. This footwear should have toe protection and sturdy straps. Take similar care while bathing in the creeks and streams.
Heat and Humidity
Heat-related illness can range from mild conditions such as rash or cramps to very serious conditions such as heat stroke. Keeping well hydrated and cool is the best way to avoid heat-related illness.
The body operates within a core temperature range of about 37-39oC. Normally, the body maintains a healthy core temperature by increasing heat loss through sweating. As the ambient temperature is high and there is high humidity, and you may be starting to dehydrate, your body's ability to regulate its own temperature is impaired and can become 'overheated' easily.
Some simple strategies to manage the heat and humidity are:
The body operates within a core temperature range of about 37-39oC. Normally, the body maintains a healthy core temperature by increasing heat loss through sweating. As the ambient temperature is high and there is high humidity, and you may be starting to dehydrate, your body's ability to regulate its own temperature is impaired and can become 'overheated' easily.
Some simple strategies to manage the heat and humidity are:
- stay out of the direct sunlight where possible using the shade of the jungle canopy to remain cooler.
- take off your hat when walking out of the sun so your head can cool faster.
- rest in the shade
- ensure you remain hydrated by eating and drinking water
- pace yourself whilst walking and rest when needed
- loosen tight fitting clothing whilst resting
- avoid getting sunburnt
WalkingWalking is the key word. It is not a race and if you rush you may trip or slip and injure yourself. The Track varies in terrain and surface but one thing is consistent, you must focus on where you put your feet, how stable you are, and where to put your next foot.
The surface of the track can be very hazardous with deep thick mud, root covered slopes, slippery mud steps, slippery rocks steps, fallen trees to cross over or under, narrow and twisting paths, swampy sections and long narrow paths in hot kunia grass. You will become tired from focusing on where your feet are positioned.
Walking in the Dark No Roads will always try to avoid walking in the dark. Walking in the dark is more dangerous so our expedition teams aim to reach camp before dusk and to leave early after first light in the morning. Spacing Between Trekkers Try to keep the spacing between yourself and the trekker in front of you to at least a few meters. This allows for the trekking poles of the trekker in front of you to move without spiking you and ensures you can stop in time if they stop suddenly without potentially bumping into them. This becomes a more serious concern when climbing down a steep section or over an object where overbalancing is unsafe. To ensure the entire expedition arrives safely at the campsite each afternoon, follow these general rules:
|
 Tree roots cover many parts of the Track.  A muddy switchback down into Efogi Creek  Mud across the Kokoda Gap |
 Taking a break on Imita Ridge |
Rest BreaksThe expedition team will stop and rest many times throughout the day to have meals and regroup. In addition to these standard rest stops, you MUST rest if you feel you need to. It is not a race.
Taking a short five minute break, taking your pack off, sitting in the shade and having a good drink of water and snack on some energy food makes the world of difference on the difficult sections. At the longer rest breaks during the day such as for lunch, it is a good idea to take your boots off and put on your sandals to allow your feet to dry off and relax. |
Bombs, Grenades, Ammunition, Weapons
Walking along the Kokoda Track is like walking though a living museum with much of the battle sites left as they were during the war. The areas around the track are littered with unexploded ordnance that are increasingly more unstable as the years go by. The Australian Defence Force has made efforts to either remove or disable obviously dangerous items but new ones are unearthed all the time by the weather and locals.
The war museums created by the local villagers contain interesting collections of battle equipment such as helmets, boots, weapons, grenades and ammunition. Even these items may be dangerous as they may not have been checked by experts and simply collected by local kids who don't know any better.
As curious as you may be, this is a serious issue as some locals have been injured by unstable ordnance and lost hands and feet. For your own safety and that of your expedition team members, please follow the following basic rules:
The war museums created by the local villagers contain interesting collections of battle equipment such as helmets, boots, weapons, grenades and ammunition. Even these items may be dangerous as they may not have been checked by experts and simply collected by local kids who don't know any better.
As curious as you may be, this is a serious issue as some locals have been injured by unstable ordnance and lost hands and feet. For your own safety and that of your expedition team members, please follow the following basic rules:
- Do not pick-up anything that looks like it has been left over from the war.
- Do not handle any war relics, even in museums.
- Do not jump into weapon pits unless they have been checked by the expedition guide first.
- Be very careful if you need to venture off the track for a toilet break and watch where you walk.
|
Discuss these topics on our Kokoda Trekking Community Forums
|
