This is my sincere attempt to throw light on the issue as a past Kokoda track leader. It was saddening to read of the deaths of two teenage boys on Kokoda from hypothermia. There is no way more terrible to die.
There appear to be needless errors in the loss of two trekkers. There are strict guidelines to be followed regardless of treks by Australians or villagers.
We are not yet to know the directions from which the trekkers entered the track. Did they follow the track from the start at Kokoda? Or did they enter the track from villages that led from the east towards Lake Myola?
There is a well defined track that leads from Lake Myola down to the main track and on to Naduri, Kagi, Efogi and on to Brigade Hill and down to Menare.
How did these two boys become separated? Were they with the main body from the start? Had they already joined the main party?
Regardless of the trekking group - Australian or village there is a strict discipline to be followed. It was all the more important as the track was closed for the end of year and the Cov19 pandemic with long grass covering the track.
The trek is led by a head guide who takes a position at the lead followed by the more athletic trekkers.`He knows the track like the back of his hand.
He brings the group to a rest at the top of ridge lines where they rest for 15 minutes. They wait for the slower trekkers followed up at the rear by the sweeper who makes sure that no trekker gets behind him.
The trek leader will give any briefings on the war and may also count heads. Chances are that the sweeper is always the last man. All present? Let's move on. The trek leader positions himself as required along the line.
I suggest that the trek leader has flares in his backpack to fire off if any trekkers are not in camp at night fall. They should be all there if the sweeper has done his job. The search would go back to the last head count if any are missing.
The sweeper even waits for trekkers to go to the toilet. This is a place where trekkers could be left behind. A trekker leaves his back pack on the track while in the bush. The sweeper waits.
There seemed to be no discipline in this fatal trek. It may be that the trekkers were not experienced in track discipline and trekking as a group.
A father of one of the boys carried their back packs to Port Moresby by air. Did the two trekkers carry a back pack with warm clothes? Who carried the tents and sleeping bags?
Kokoda temperature has risen with climate change. The mosquitoes are venturing into higher altitudes. But these trekkers seem to have been at higher altitudes in the area of Mt Bellamy and Lake Myola.
No comments:
Post a Comment