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37-409: The track is some one hundred kilometres due west of the famous Kokoda Track and crosses some of the most rugged and isolated terrain in the world, combining hot humid days with intensely cold nights, torrential rainfall and endemic tropical diseases such as malaria. Bulldog Track was longer, higher, steeper, wetter, colder and rougher than Kokoda Track. For the moment it is one of the few great treks in

74-476: A height of 2,490 metres (8,169 ft) as it passes around the peak of Mount Bellamy . The track travels primarily through the land of the Mountain Koiari people. Hot, humid days with intensely cold nights, torrential rainfall and the risk of endemic tropical diseases such as malaria make it a challenging trek. Hiking the trail normally takes between four and twelve days; the fastest recorded time

111-589: A key reason for cultural listing along with the unique cultures of the Koiari peoples. The Owen Stanley Ranges, through which the Kokoda Track passes, is one of the most biologically important areas in the Asia Pacific with over 4000 plant species and many endemic bird and animal species. The Kokoda Track Foundation , established in 2003, helps villages along the track with education and healthcare. There

148-620: A quarter days without guides, carriers or any signposts or bridges. In 2006, the Owen Stanley Ranges and Kokoda Track was included on the Tentative List for World Heritage along with three other sites from PNG. The 1.5 million hectare property is a mixed cultural and natural site covering a significant proportion of the Owen Stanley Ranges and including the Kokoda Track, Managalas Plateau and Mount Victoria and Mount Albert Edward region. The World War II battle sites were

185-497: A section of the track to make way for a copper mine. The plan has the support of the local landowners and the Papua New Guinean government but has been criticised by trekking operators. The track has been closed numerous times by villagers along the route in response to various grievances. In May 2009, villagers at Kovelo – near Kokoda village – blocked the track after complaints that money collected from trekking fees

222-472: A series of long loops up through the steep river gorges of the southern watershed to an altitude of three thousand metres, then dropped down a series of ridges into the Wau valley. Seventeen bridges were constructed; mostly single, but at least one with multiple spans. More than two thousand Australian army personnel and over two thousand Papuans and New Guineans were involved during nine months of construction. Thus

259-516: A winning time of 17 hours, 49 minutes and 17 seconds. A Sydney engineer, Damon Goerke, 32 became the first Australian to run the track in under 24 hours, coming third in the 2006 challenge with a time of just under 19.5 hours. The race record was again broken by Buka in the 2007 event when he completed the track in 17 hours 20 minutes on 26 August 2007, running in the reverse direction from Kokoda to Owers' Corner. The 2007 event also featured runners running from Owers' Corner to Kokoda and

296-446: A winning time of 19 hours 9 minutes was set in this direction by Tom Hango. Megan Davidson, a trek leader with Back Track Adventures, was the first Australian female to run the track in 36 hours, coming 12th overall. On 31 August 2008, Buka once again set a new record, with a time of 16:34:05. The conditions were the worst that they had been in the three years that Buka had competed in the event. Wayne Urina, claiming second place,

333-676: Is 16 hours 34 minutes. The track was first used by European miners in the 1890s to access the Yodda Kokoda goldfields. Between July 1942 and November 1942, a series of battles, afterwards called the Kokoda Track campaign , was fought between the Japanese and Australian forces. This action was memorialised in the newsreel documentary Kokoda Front Line! , filmed by cameraman Damien Parer , which won Australia 's first Academy Award for its director Ken G. Hall in 1942. After

370-438: Is Brendan Buka, with a best time of 16:34.05 in 2008 from Owers Corner to Kokoda and a time of 17:20 in the direction of Kokoda to Owers' Corner via Naduri. The inaugural race of 27 August 2005 was won by John Hunt Hiviki, who completed it in 22 hours, one minute and 14 seconds. On 27 August 2006, Brendan Buka, a 22-year-old Papua New Guinean trekking porter from Kokoda , conquered the trail from Owers' Corner to Kokoda in

407-507: Is a proposal to turn the track into an Australian heritage destination on a par with ANZAC Cove at Gallipoli . Creation of the heritage area, is in part a response to the issue of an Australian gold mining company wanting to mine on or near the track. As of 2007 , the idea was backed by the Australian government and Papua New Guinea's foreign minister. In November 2007, Australian mining firm Frontier Resources announced plans to divert

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444-600: Is currently the second fastest man to complete the crossing of the Kokoda Trail with a time of 18:34:06. Cyprian Aire came third with 19:11:40. In 2011, the Kokoda Challenge Race was run on 27 August. The race started from Owers' Corner and finished at the new Kokoda Archway. The race was organised and sponsored by Kokoda Trekking. Brendan Buka once again won the race in a time of 17:50:33 but did not break his 2008 record. The Kokoda Challenge Race in 2012

481-500: The 1990s, with the Australian Macquarie Dictionary stating that while both versions were in use, Kokoda Track "appears to be the more popular of the two". The track can be walked from either direction. It can take up to 12 days to complete, depending on fitness and rest time involved. Locals are renowned for being able to regularly complete it in 3 days. There are a number of guesthouses located along

518-451: The 1st and 3rd Australian Pack Transport Companies and local Papuan labour cut the road with pickaxes and dynamite over a period of eight months. The Chief Engineer, W. J. Reinhold, was later to write "Every foot of progress made on this road exacted the ultimate in courage, endurance, skill and toil. Its construction took a toll from surveyor, engineer, labourer and native carrier alike." During five months of operations over seventy per cent of

555-435: The 2/1 Australian Field Company contracted malaria. Along many sections, road-surfacing materials was practically non-existent. The climate ranged from torrid heat to icy cold. The annual rainfall ranged between 150 and 200 inches. These wet conditions combined with the topographic features made construction extremely difficult. In a few minutes a landslide would destroy weeks of labour. The construction gangs would stop, repair

592-537: The 70th anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign. The two Japanese runners, Makoto Yoshimoto and Yukiya Higuchi finished in a time of 42:56:36. Kokoda Kokoda is a station town in the Oro Province of Papua New Guinea . It is famous as the northern end of the Kokoda Track , site of the eponymous Kokoda Track campaign of World War II . In that campaign, it had strategic significance because it had

629-577: The Australian Army's 2/33rd Battalion records the route being officially designated as the "Kokoda Trail" in September 1942. The Australian Army has used "Kokoda Trail" as a battle honour since 1957. The Australian War Memorial (AWM) says that " trail " is probably of United States origin but has been used in many Australian history books and "appears to be used more widely". Despite the historical use of "Trail", "Track" gained dominance in

666-465: The Japanese withdrawal back to the north coast. The station is linked by a rough road and a two-hour journey to the provincial capital of Popondetta . In August 2009 Kokoda airstrip was the destination for Airlines PNG Flight CG4684 that crashed whilst attempting to land. All 13 people on board were killed in the crash, including nine Australian passengers who were due to trek the Kokoda Track,

703-526: The Kudjeru Track. The villagers at Winima will be able to provide guides and directions for the Kudjeru Track. The Hidden Valley Gold Mine has cut off the highest sections of the track, which are now only accessible from the Papuan side. In 1943 Australian Army engineers; the 2/1 and 2/16 Field Company RAE , 9th Australian Field Company ( AIF ), veterans of Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Greece and Crete,

740-622: The Track and ensure their porters and guides are treated in a professional manner. A list of licensed operators is available on its website. Trekkers walking with unlicensed operators will be stopped by the KTA rangers and the local people. The Kokoda Challenge Race is an endurance running race that was revived on 27 August 2005. The race originally ran in 1975 but stopped before becoming an annual event. The Kokoda Challenge inaugural race commenced in 2005. The current race record holder in both directions

777-602: The Tropical montane regions of the world. Constructed sixty years ago, it was the only vehicular road ever to cross the Central Ranges of New Guinea. In order to reach the Bulldog Track it is a short drive south east from Wau to the village of Winima. A six-hour walk will take you along a divergent track that was used as an alternate line of communication, during construction of the Track, commonly referred to as

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814-540: The crash. As a result, the Australian Government committed $ 1.8 million to improve the safety of airstrips at Kokoda , Menari, Kagi, Melei, Efogi, and Naduri, villages located along the track. A second radio channel was also installed to deal with emergencies and maintenance work. In October 2009, Don Vale became the oldest Australian (at 83) to successfully complete the Kokoda Track. In November 2009, Australian paralympian Kurt Fearnley (born without

851-622: The grounds it would burden his comrades. There has been much debate in Australia about whether it should be called the "Kokoda Trail" or the "Kokoda Track". The monument at Owers' Corner uses both terms: "Track" on one side and "Trail" on the other. The earliest mention of the route in an Australian newspaper may be in The Argus on Wednesday 29 July 1942 in a map when it refers to "the Buna Kokoda-Moresby track". "Kokoda Trail"

888-458: The lower section of his spine ) completed the track, crawling north to south, in 11 days. A multiple paralympic gold medalist (T54 Marathon in Athens and Beijing), he used customized shin pads and wrist guards. His journey was to raise awareness of men's health issues and was inspired by the story of Corporal John Metson, who crawled the track for three weeks, refusing the assistance of a stretcher on

925-549: The only airfield along the Track. In the decades preceding, it had been a foothills settlement near the gold fields. Kokoda is located within the administrative divisions of Kokoda Rural LLG . The British colonial administration found that a base for the Papuan Native Constabulary and colonial control was required to subdue the region and the government station of Kokoda was founded in 1904. An amphibious landing by Japanese forces to capture Port Moresby

962-608: The price payable in Port Moresby. The Kokoda Track Authority (the PNG Special Purpose Authority with responsibility for managing the Track) requires tour operators to hold a Commercial Operators Licence to lead treks along the Kokoda Track and purchase a trek permit. Licensed operators carry first aid kits, undertake first aid training, carry radios or satellite phones, respect the people who live along

999-553: The road was to provide a supply line for future military operations in the Markham Valley and on the northern coasts of Papua New Guinea. On the late afternoon of August 22, 1943, the road was finally completed and two jeeps crossed from Edie Creek to Bulldog. On September 23, the first three-ton trucks crossed the road successfully and the long supply line was finally open with 114 kilometres of road were now completed. Commencing at Bulldog at an altitude of 59 metres it rose by

1036-579: The road, acclaimed as the greatest military engineering feat ever, was completed and for the only time in history motor vehicles crossed the high rugged mountains of Papua New Guinea. Kokoda Track The Kokoda Track or Trail is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs 96 kilometres (60 mi) overland – 60 kilometres (37 mi) in a straight line – through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The track

1073-574: The trail's popularity increased, there were calls for more regulation of trek operators, with some operators taking as many as 150 walkers in a group. In response, the Kokoda Track Authority announced that from the beginning of 2010, tour operators would require a commercial licence. In August 2009, a group of trekkers were killed when their light plane, Airlines PNG Flight 4684 , crashed en route to Kokoda Station. All 13 people on board, including 9 Australian trekkers, were killed in

1110-417: The war, the track fell into disuse and disappeared in many places. John Landy , the long-distance runner, set a record of four days for the crossing using carriers and guides during the 1950s. In 1964, Angus Henry, the art teacher at Sogeri High School , with two of his students, John Kadiba and Misty Baloiloi, set a new record which was to stand until after the millennium by completing the journey in three and

1147-481: The way, some at villages and others at traditional rest spots. The main villages passed through (from Owers' Corner) are Naoro, Menari, Efogi Creek 1 & 2, Kagi or Naduri (if shortcut is taken), Alolo, Isurava, Hoi, Kovolo. Villagers are increasingly taking part in the commercial opportunities created by the growing number of tourists; in October 2006, some were known to be selling cans of soft drink and beer at double

Bulldog Track - Misplaced Pages Continue

1184-458: The work and move on. As work progressed the problem of maintaining a supply line became formidable. Work was often suspended for lack of petrol, oil, grease, explosives, drill steel, jackbits or other essentials. Nearly all work in the high central section of the road was done with picks, shovels and crowbars. Since blacksmiths tools were slow in arriving and forges awkward to transport, it was often necessary to use badly blunted tools. The purpose of

1221-715: Was gazetted as the official name of the route by the Australian administration of Papua New Guinea in 1972. According to historian Stuart Hawthorne, before World War II, the route was referred to as "the overland mail route" or "the Buna road". He states that "Kokoda Trail" became common because of its use in Australian newspapers during the war, the first known instance being in Sydney's Daily Mirror on 27 October 1942. However, all three terms Kokoda Track, Kokoda Trail and Buna-Kokoda road were commonly used during World War II in Australian newspapers from September 1942. The diary of

1258-516: Was not being distributed fairly. Since 2001, there has been a rapid increase in the number of people walking the track (see table at right). Six Australian trekkers have died from hyponatremia while attempting to walk the track. Four of those deaths occurred in 2009, with two in the same week in April and another two 8 days apart in September and October. The deaths have sparked calls for mandatory fitness tests for all walkers before starting. As

1295-558: Was postponed indefinitely after the Battle of Midway . The Japanese command believed there to be a road leading through the Owen-Stanleys from Kokoda to the south coast. An invasion force was landed on the north coast near Buna and Gona from 21 July 1942. Two battles were fought in and around the village during the opening stages of the Kokoda Track campaign. Kokoda was reoccupied by Australian forces on 2 November 1942, following

1332-480: Was run on 25 August. The race began from the Kokoda Archway and went for the first time via Kagi Village to Owers' Corner. The race was once again sponsored by Kokoda Trekking. The winner was trail porter Ramsy Idau of Kokoda, with a time of 18:28:00. Prize money was set at K10,000 PNG Kina. The race saw for the first time two Japanese runners competing against the eight Australians and 22 Papua New Guineans, on

1369-468: Was the location of the 1942 World War II battle between Japanese and Allied – primarily Australian – forces in what was then the Australian territory of Papua . The track runs from Owers' Corner in Central Province , 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Port Moresby , across rugged and isolated terrain which is only passable on foot, to the village of Kokoda in Oro Province . It reaches

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