Safety Preparation for Hiking the Kokoda Track
Trekking Wellbeing and Planning for a Safe Hike over Kokoda Trail
Oct 16, 2009
There are risks in hiking the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. Because the risks can be addressed, a potential Kokoda trekker should not be put off by these risks, but just be aware of them and prepare for them.
If the risks in trekking the Kokoda Track are addressed and managed, the Kokoda Trail with World War Two history, a wild environment and full physical challenge can be a safe and rewarding trek.
Environment of the Kokoda Track
The environment of the Kokoda Track has a significant bearing on the ability for a trekker to remain safe and healthy while hiking the Kokoda Track.
It is a rugged track; in some places a scramble up or down a rocky cliff face, other times a delicate walk over a rickety log bridge above a roaring torrent.
There is high heat and humidity that, combined with the strenuous physical activity, will cause a trekker to sweat excessively.
If possible, a trekker should consider hiring a personal porter. These porters will carry a trekker’s heavy personal equipment, leaving the trekker to carry light day items. This not only lessens the load a trekker needs to carry, but also provides a helping hand while on the track.
A trekker must get the inoculations, as recommended by a doctor, tour company or the Australian Government. This will usually include malaria.
Remoteness of the Kokoda Track
A trekker needs to be well aware that the Kokoda Trail is a remote track in a Third World Country. Treatment of any injury will be dependent on the skills, knowledge and first aid equipment the trekker or the trekkers party has at their disposal.
A trekker must not expect an ambulance to come running if the trekker has a simple, but non-life threatening injury like an ankle sprain.
A trekker should keep informed of the situation and any travel warnings about Papua New Guinea through the Australian Government website: Smartraveller. The tour company should also provide information.
Physical Preparation for Hiking the Kokoda Track
Physical preparation is possibly the main requirement for staying safe on the Kokoda Track. It is a simple equation that the more effort in training, the less effort on the track.
Getting the body into peak physical condition for the rough tracks, ups and downs of the mountains and high humidity is the key to staying healthy.
Training should be done in conditions that are as close to the real conditions as possible. This doesn’t mean a simple walk along the footpaths of the suburbs in the cool of the evening. The training should be done on the tracks of National Parks, State Forest and anywhere else there is uneven ground with lots of ups and downs.
For potential Kokoda trekkers in South East Queensland, Australia, a couple of suitable training regimes are Mt Warning and Mt Barney. Consider that the toughest parts of these mountains will be the average on the Kokoda. And on the Kokoda Trail, these go on and on for a long time.
Training should be done with the equipment, including clothes, that a trekker will wear on the track. Especially the boots; as these need to be well worn in to reduce the risk of foot problems.
Training should be done with pack that will be taken. And this pack should be weighted a bit more than what the hiker will carry on the track.
Evacuations from the Kokoda Track
Evacuations from the track are possible and occur regularly, but are a complex matter to arrange and implement. The best approach is for a trekker not to expect to be air-lifted out, expect in an absolute emergency. A simple sprained ankle might require the trekker to spend a day or so rest at camp and then hobble out.
For a hiker planning to tackle the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea it should be remembered that the more preparation, pain and effort that goes into training will be rewarded when out on the track. The only person impacted by not putting in the full pre-trek preparation will be the individual.
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