DAY 8 - NAURO TO UA ULE CREEK

Sunday 14 September

Yet again another tough trek out of camp to start the day with a climb of 60 minutes to the top and this really got the lungs going. On arriving at the summit they were rewarded with some amazing views of the Maguli Ranges, where it was reported the Japanese could see the lights of Moresby. Then it was a long 2-hour hike to get to the next rest stop, then a short hike down for 30 minutes to Ofi Creek for a swim. Then up-to to the campsite for morning tea.

After morning tea, they hiked back onto the track for one of the toughest climbs of the trek to date, trekking up Irobaiwa Ridge; this was the final advance of the main Japanese army. The weather and track conditions for the trekkers was perfect; the track was very dry. They stopped and dropped their backpacks here and took a short 15-minute hike to see a Japanese Ammunition Dump and Japanese slit trenches, before trekking back to the track and hiking down the ridge to the Village of Irobaiwa for lunch.

After lunch it was back onto the track for a 45-minute hike down to Ua Ule Creek. They had a quick break before trekking across the creek a dozen or so times, heading their way to the Ua Ule creek campsite. The trekkers arrived into camp at 4:30pm, all to schedule. Everyone is travelling well, and some can’t believe it’s their last day of hiking tomorrow. All the trekkers are excited and looking forward to Imita Ridge tomorrow before the finish line, Owers’ Cnr.