Hi el armadillo,

I have walked extensive sections of the Kokoda Track / Trail and have made observations about it which may help in response to another forum question. If you look on that and also at some of my other post responses to questions on PNG (TripAdvisor - Member profile : Tony_C_Syd. - Forum Contributions) you may find some additional information which helps.

Below is some very specific advice to your question.

The Kokoda Track / Trail is probably one of the most physically and mentally demanding walking routes in the world. I have climbed and walked all over the world and can safely say that this is right up there with the Everest Base Camp ascent, probably even harder as you will likely be working physically harder on the Kokoda with the intense humidity. Some of the legs of the Kokoda are, for want of a politer description, just incredibly bloody difficult, especially when there has been rain and the ground is turned to mud.

Be fit, very fit. Walking up very long steep slopes with a gradient of perhaps 60 degrees on days when the atmospheric humidity is in the mid to high 90%'s is the very best preparation. Another form of preparation is to walk up and down multi-storey / level office or apartment buildings several times without stopping at the top. As you will soon learn, descending a steep slope can require as much physical effort and concentration as ascending one, if not even more so.

Ideally by the time you are ready to go to Kokoda you should be going up and down the equivalent of a 25 to 40 level building and back at least twice to three times (at a measured but not rapid pace) without any considerable effort or physical discomfort before needing to rest or stop. If you can do this task two or three times each day you should be well and truly fit for the Kokoda experience.

Have your family doctor give you a very thorough check-up before you go and ensure that you have all your tropical medications / vaccinations / precautions well before you depart. For the sake of sanity and sensibility make sure that you have good travel insurance, irrespective of how fit and well prepared you are there is still at least a moderate chance of something "un-planned" happening.

The walk itself is simply amazing, you don't need to hear that as you have obviously made the decision to go. The people are equally amazing and the flora/ fauna/ wildlife is abundant, rare and beautiful. The vistas along much of the walk are the sort that you will remember until you draw your last breath of life, such are their extent and impressive nature.

I hope this is someways helpful to you and that you go and have a wonderful time.

Tony_C_Syd.