Shaggy Ridge Tour
Our Shaggy Ridge Tour comprises a 13 day package, which includes 2 nights at Lae, a visit to Kaiapit in the Markham Valley, an 8 day trek from Dumpu via Shaggy Ridge to Bogadjim and 2 days touring and fishing/snorkeling at Madang, before flying home.
The dates of this guided tour are 13 – 25 May 2013. If you are interested in joining this tour please click here to get further information.
Day 1:
Fly to Port Moresby and take connecting flight to Nadzab airport in the Markham Valley. Then we will transfer by road to Lae in the Morobe Province and check in to our hotel. We meet local tour guide and have evening meal at Lae.
Day 2:
We will have breakfast at our hotel. Then we will have a tour of Lae War Cemetery and the Imperial Japanese Army caves under Mt Lunamen. We drive to “7 Mile” to see the ridgeline above Heath’s Plantation, where Private Kelliher of 2/25th Battalion won his Victoria Cross. We complete preparations for our trek and stay overnight at hotel in Lae.
Day 3:
We drive to Mission Hill at ‘Old’ Kaiapit in the Markham Valley, scene of a classic WWII battle by 2/6 Independent Company (Commandos), commanded by Captain Gordon King, DSO. We drive on to Dumpu in the Ramu Valley and meet our Guide and porters at the nearby village. We confirm arrangements for the trek along Shaggy Ridge and The Crater, then via the Imperial Japanese Army MT Road or Mindjim Gorge to Bogadjim on the coast. We camp overnight at Dumpu village.
Day 4:
Wake up at 5AM, have breakfast and depart at 6.30 AM. Our heavily laden porters go direct to Aginau village while trekkers with day-packs and Guide walk up and over Kings Hill and Palliers Hill, scene of a successful 2/14th Battalion action before Shaggy Ridge. The view the 4100 Feature east of Kumbarum (not to be confused with Hill 4100) and John’s Knoll from a distance. We then follow the Faria River to Aginau village, pointing out Guy’s Post. We arrange extra porters to carry water for us tomorrow to the top of Shaggy Ridge. We make camp for the night at Aginau.
Day 5
Wake up at 5AM, have breakfast and depart at 6.30 AM for Don’s Post and the southern end near the top of Shaggy Ridge. We visit Australian defensive positions, including the remains of a “field expedient” baking oven improvised from a 44 gallon drum near the ‘top’. We make camp and stockpile the extra water carried up by the temporary porters from Aginau. Cloud permitting, we point out various landmarks: McCullough’s Ridge, Geyton’s Hill, Cannings Saddle, John’s Knoll, Mainstream, Kings Hill and Palliers Hills, Faria River, etc.
Day 6
Today we walk northward along the narrow, “one man front” ridgeline of Shaggy Ridge, negotiating The Pimple, Green Sniper’s Pimple and McCaughey’s Knoll to Prothero Two and Prothero One. Various landmarks are pointed out: Crater Hill, Faria Ridge, Kankiryo Saddle, Hill 4100, etc. We view the 75mm Japanese gun position near Prothero One. We avoid occasional post-war diggings by ‘raskols’ searching for wartime explosives, possibly for ‘fishing’ or other nefarious purpose. If any trekkers are slow, we will make camp at Prothero, at the northern end of Shaggy Ridge, rationing water for trekkers’ and porters’ dinner, tomorrow’s breakfast and washing up, as first priority.
Day 7
We descend eastward from Prothero into Kankiryo Saddle, then climb east up Crater Hill and then northward to Hill 4100. We retrace our steps into Kankiryo Saddle and then descend northwards into the Mindjim Valley, for late lunch and a wash at the first clean water. We continue to Saipa village and make camp for the night.
Day 8
We follow the Mindjim River to Yokopi village and decide whether to stop or continue into the bush, depending on the state of the track and trekkers’ fitness. We may be able to see the remains of an Imperial Japanese Army motor road, but the local people will follow the easiest tracks regardless.
Day 9
We continue on bush tracks and hunting tracks, crossing creeks and climbing up and down hills. We plan to reach Daumoina where the locals may know if the track (near, or on the Japanese Army Road) is open to Yaula and Aiyau, then to Bogadjim. We will ask about flooding in the Mindjim Gorge; if we cannot follow the Japanese Army Road we must pass through the Gorge in daylight without stopping; camping in the Gorge is foolhardy! However, if any trekkers are slow and we cannot reach Daumoina, we will camp in the bush near clean water before dark, anywhere flat and above flash flooding levels.
Day 10
We either move through the Mindjim Gorge, or we take the track through Yaula, and Aiyau to make camp by clean water, before Bogadjim. If we take the Mindjim Gorge we pass two large villages, Wenge and Alibu, before reaching Bogadjim. Our Dumpu porters may or may not want to stop at these villages. If not, we will make camp near clean water, off the track. Bogadjim is tiny, with little or no accommodation and the coast road is rough with little traffic. We confirm our location by SatPhone, for 4WD transport to a Madang Hotel tomorrow.
Day 11
We walk to the Curt von Hagen Memorial at Bogadjim and are transferred by vehicle to Madang. We check-in to our hotel at Madang Hotel and clean up, wash & dry all gear for Australian Customs inspection.
Day 12
Day of relaxation by the beach at Madang. Options to go fishing, swimming, snorkelling and other leisure activities. Farewell dinner on the last night.
Day 13
Early start! Trekkers are driven to Madang airport to fly to Moresby, then back to Australia.
Inclusions
- Experienced Australian Guide
- Airfare Port Moresby to Lae
- Airfare Madang to Port Moresby
- 2 nights twin-share accommodation at hotel in Lae
- Transfer from Nadzab airport to Lae
- Group porters for 8 day trek in Shaggy Ridge
- 8 days trekking food
- 2 nights twin-share accommodation at hotel in Madang
- Transfer from Bogadjim to Madang
- Vehicle for day trip to 7 Mile
- Vehicle for day trip to Mission Hill at Old Kaipit, then on to Dumpu
- Personal porter
- Communications and safety equipment including Satellite phone
- Public liability insurance
Exclusions
- International airfare to Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- Travel visa to PNG
- Hotel meals, drinks, phone calls or any other personal expenses
- Personal travel insurance
- Optional activities such as fishing, snorkelling etc
Available on Request
- International airfare to Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- Personal travel insurance
- Single room surcharge