Clouds hanging among misty sharp slopes and shiver snow breeze peak are a conqueror quests as it is tough but real adventure trekking to the highest summit in Papua New Guinea.
I was engaged to be Tour Guide to three professional Australia Trekkers who have prolonged desire to reach the summit of Mt.Wilhelm in their own interests and hope course, just feel excited and experience this trekking feat.
Excitement began in Goroka on dazzling Sunday afternoon at the Goroka Airport when I pick my Aussies friends to actually start our tour. We left Goroka around 11.00am through scenery mountain picturesque set behind. We climb the Daulo Pass to an evaluation of 2000m, explaining what millions countless scenic scenes are quite un similar in our country but are not prized destination rated in the Pacific.
Late afternoon arrival, we pass Kundiawa Town and then drove north on the 10km newly sealed road through the Tokma Limestone Range enclave our pass way through Gembogl gorge nestle between several towering range. Crushing beneath is the famous Simbu River splash against the rock wall and torrent lengthy flow finally end down at Purari River delta.
Thoughtless doubt hangs as our driving was tremendous with these three months old fully kitted Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD Challenger with helm of control through mud and several hills that we pass through. I proclaimed that Mitsubishi Pajero 5 Door is a real outdoor require car. At certain mud fill road, we applied 4wd to over come the condition of the precipitate road.
Finally, we arrive at Betty’s Lodge at Kekla, a1000metre above sea level a distance of 100km from Goroka Town. We overnight at Betty’s Lodge after a lengthy dirt road driving.
Next day, early morning we assembled our guides and porters to accompany us to Lake Piunde Yaundo, a distance of 6km.We quickly pack our trek packs and pack our rations. Our village Porters were Willie Struck and Arnold Tai both from a village closer to Betty’s Lodge. Suddenly, it was trek time as we depart Betty’s Lodge at 8.30am.We then follows the foot trek through the densely high altitude forest, blooms with alpine orchids sprawling and sicklebills rattling far beyond the distance on the forest tree top. The forest canopy lay as film cover from the sun lights to provide warm. We trek for another 1000m high to reach the once recognized and famous Mt Wilhelm National Park’s entrance. There we had our rest for 10 minutes before continue to alpine savanna grassland, a 3km walk. The scenery forms the day spectacular with valleys lies in horizon like resting on 13th floor stories building in a city. Sky open up, no clouds can be seen beyond eyes glance. All picturesque scenes were breathtaking and real glamorous with high altitude forest savannah creatively provide range long guide like a cattle ranch. Gembogl Gorge lays in horizon and magnificent Bismark Range enclave further towards Eastern part of valley beyond.
A bit further, we could hear the first crystal clear waterfalls that rushing thunder sound of welcoming our entourage to the lakeside hut at Piunde yaundo where we will be overnight for the night.
Finally, we arrive at Lake Piunde Yaundo, a pristine clear lake formed with ice glacier that draw’s it source of water to formed this beautiful lake. Surround the lake with rock and several shrubs that grow closely on the rock. At the lake shore, school of energetic trout’s swim in sedentary while the wild ducks were seen rowing towards the bay on the northern side of the lake. Orchids were seen closely to hut and certainly were blooms enough to eye catcher as it was outstanding with flame oriented color and odors that dooms the lake side vegetation’s around.
At the night, we have our dinner consist of fried chicken and peas supply by the locals, and foremost hot coffee was blend to produce aromas taste that preheat our half breeze body to remunerate into arrant control.
Early in the morning, actually time we left for our prize destination at 2.00am.We quickly begin our climb and further leap up into more confined cooler altitude. We now reach another 2300ft above sea level were our climb was excel into more climax as we know we are about catch the first morning day sunlight’s rays. As darkness was crimping away, we would now sense the day lights rays rising from the coast of Madang, however, adding to more enjoyment and astonishment, day was clear with no rain or clouds forms as it normally does. It’s a blessing for our entourage to set foot up the top of the summit.
We reach Christopher McDonnell’s Corner, now the altitude is 3000ft and spectacular scenery providing the towering ranges that adjoin from Finisterre Range from Madang and nearby Jimi Valley that follows the range up. Down further, we could see the lights from the famous Madang Kalibobo Light House spiral rays confuse our mind as we thought it was sign of a passing coastal vessels but in fact it was the lighthouse light. Well fascinating and more realistic fiction, believe it or not and guess you are on top of the country among the huge towering range and well pack central range that divide the country into two plain that is on to the west coast and east coast.
Now the rock wall surrounds the summit of Mt Wilhelm can be seen from there, we were glad and amazed to see from distance.
Finally, we arrive at the foot of the summit and would further crawl up the rock belly which was 2m to reach the summit pole. My two Australian friends were gently excited and frankly laugh to share achievement what was there reward for a quest that they have plan and prolonged to seen in this beautiful country.
There trip to Papua New Guinea was worthy and total wild adventure with tremendous results achieve with certain high profile destination were visited and seen. It was not joke but plain critic award ensure to satisfy their visit to this known destination as the last frontier in the Pacific. They have trek the World War Two Trail, the famous Kokoda Trail and now conquer the towering Mt Wilhelm, merely 4509ft above sea level and promised to trek Mt Giluwe, the second highest mountain in Papua New Guinea.
From horizon, we could sense blushing thunder sound of strong wind blowing up certainly and now echoes humming sound and blast against the rock and echoes beyond the valley between Gembogl Gorge.
Ultimate destination was now seen by my three Aussie friends and what else can we explain or express our parody tales or other wise it was real for travel out far beyond this mountain range.
After having lunch at the summit, we quickly return to Lake Piunde Yaundo were we left our gears. After a good cup of hot coffee we then quickly pack our gears then continue return to Betty’s Lodge.
Finally, we arrive at Betty’s Lodge in rush like walk just to avoid the down pour of the rain. The trip was filled with tough nut to crack and adventurous for my Aussie friends.
Our host, Betty’s Higgins prepared a mouth watering fresh farmed trout with salads, tastier and gourmet soups complimentary with local vegetables that she prepared was hot and smell really nice. Fresh trout from Betty’s Lodge is fancy dinner for every trekker should have after the climb and adventure accomplishing.
Mt Wilhelm is 4509m high and it can be easily trek from Simbu Province where there are numerous trek leads to the summit. Mostly weather is not fine daily with rain falls expected around midday and as well the cool breeze circulated the foot of summit. There are many good guesthouse at Kegesuglo transits site .You can catch a PMV from Kundiawa Town to Kegesuglo via famous Gembogl Gorge. Trekkers are advice to provide your own sleeping bag, First Aid Kits, warm clothes, like neck warmer, wool hut, light jacket, rain coat, trek boots and torch with batteries.
The Author is a fulltime Tour Guide and lives at the foot of Mt Wilhelm and organized daily trekking to the summit of Mt Wilhelm. For bookings or information, contact mobile Ph.: 73202195 or email: advancepngecotourismnetwork@gmail.com