DAY 5 – KAGI TO MENARI

Sunday 27 April

A short hike out of Kagi village past the church to the airfield for the steepest descent of the trek down to the creek crossing. The trekkers filled up their water, then had a 10-minute calf burner to the top followed by a relatively easier hike for 30 minutes, now it is time for a rest by a gum tree. Then it was another 30 minutes into Efogi village on the hill, where they rested, had morning tea while experiencing some light rain, while enjoying the views down to Efogi Village in the valley. They then trekked 30minutes down to the village where the track conditions were muddy and slippery. They inspected the museum and market here before hiking out of the village still enjoying the beautiful views as they began the slogging ascent of Brigade Hill via Mission Ridge. They stopped at Mission Ridge to discuss some more of the campaign and then headed onto Brigade Hill for a ceremony on the summit in honour of the soldiers and in remembrance of their bravery here. The trekkers had lunch at Brigade Hill and then followed the track, with a long descent for 2.5 hours to the creek for a swim. Then 30 minutes up into Menari. The rain continued which caused the track to be very muddy again. Menari is the site where the brave 39th Battalion were withdrawn from the campaign before the battle at Brigade Hill. Exhausted and on the brink of total collapse the remaining ‘Ragged Bloody Heroes’ struggled back to Port Moresby. They would return to fight at Buna and Gona. The rain continued as the trekkers all arrived into camp a little tired at 1:30pm, and are still in disbelief that on their journey today the swamp was overflowing and half the bridge was washed away! Everyone is doing well, even with some battling blisters.