Mountain trail that streaches from Port
Moresby,
begining at Ower's Corner to Kokoda.
History
From July - November 1942,
a village on the Kokoda trail, from Buna on
the north coast thru the Owen Stanley Mountain Range to Port
Moresby. After Battle
of the Coral Sea
May 5-8, 1942 that resulted in the failure of Japanese sea borne assault
of Port Moresby, the Japanese Army 144th Infantry Regiment commanded
by General
Horii's attacked overland across the Owen Stanley
mountains, using the Kokoda Trail. On the trail the Australian
7th Division resisted the Japanese,
and the advance was halted within 30 miles of the city, and due
to losses, and lack of resupply, the Japanese began to fall back
towards their beachhead at Buna.
History
Kokoda Trail is the name of the small track that linked the
village of Kokoda to the coast and distant Port Moresby. The track ran
from Gorari and Oivi to the village of Kokoda which stood on a small
plateau 400 meters above sea level, flanked by mountains rising to over
2,000 meters. It then climbed over steep ridges and through deep valleys
to Deniki, Isurava, Kagi, Ioribaiwa, Ilolo
and begining at Ower's Corner, linked
with a motor road (Snake Road) leading
from plantations in the hills above Port Moresby down to the coastal
plains. Between Kokoda and Ilolo, the track often climbed up gradients
so steep that it was heartbreaking labor for burdened men to climb even
a few hundred yards. Much of the track was through dense rain forest
which enclosed the narrow passage between walls of thick bush. At higher
levels the terrain became moss and stunted trees which were often covered
in mist. From July to November 1942 this was the setting for a bitter
campaign to prevent the fall of Port Moresby.
Today
This historical trail is walked by those interested in history
or challenging treks. Most of the travelers are Australian, but
the track is becoming more popular every year, and for Papua New Guineans
too. The route takes several days to complete. Occasional landowner
disputes occur over the trail, but a 'trek permit' spred fees between
all villages.
References
Thanks to James Oglethorpe and Ruth Dicker for information.
