Imita Ridge 02.08.08

Some of the local crew decided it was a good time to walk to Imita Ridge and back, the weather had been kind of late and the reports coming in off the track told us that it was dry going. So DN, GF and I headed off with the local crew made up of a bunch of young Papuans and a young Jimi girl to keep GF company amongst what was a bunch of lads.

Arriving at Ower’s Corner, it was a veritable market place with the local Koiari people selling all sorts to the EE crew coming of the track. PNG Treking Adventures were down at Goldie and there were one or two teams just starting, so the grounds at Ower’s were pretty busy. One of our crew had suffered a bit with some Malaria, so he volunteered to look after the gear back at the carpark including our refreshments for our return.

I led the charge down the first steep descent from Ower’s waiting for the young lads to take over, and as soon as there was a gap they were off. You could tell that they were now Moresby Boys as their runners didn’t offer as much grip as they were going arse up on a few occasions. I think our Jimi girl was the only one to stay upright despite busting a thong on the mud of Imita.

We reached Goldie pretty quickly and thankfully I thought as my legs were not enjoying the shaking of descending for so long, give me a climb I cried. At Goldie, we waited for the Victorian Police Crew and their team who looked like they were having a good time although one or two Coppers looked worst for wear, especially the one with the broken bone in her hand. We then crossed the river and started the climb up and over to Uberi Creek.

It was a great day and the track was dry. Until we got to the slopes of the Golden Staircase and Imita Ridge, then it got muddy, slippery, sticky and a whole world of fun. The barefoot toes scraping the Red Clay of Sogeri looked more like the hands of Trekkers had clawed their way up the maddening steep slopes. The young lads in their runners, were continuing to run up each climb whilst us old guys plodded on behind. After 2H 40m, we made it to the top of Imita, we rested a while, chatted to a group of trekkers which we had passed at Uberi, and then we descended back down towards Uberi, and Goldie River.

A brief rest at Uberi, where the lads practiced their latest breakdancing moves and gymnastics, and where we made friends with “Brownie” or “Snoopsie” the Dog who decided to follow us back to Ower’s Corner, we then made our way down to the Goldie River where once the Jimi girl and GF departed for the climb back up to Ower’s, all the lads went “as nating” and had a wash in the cool mountain stream.

Meanwhile, the rest of us were starting the big push up the final climb, and the 3pm rain started to fall. Concern about getting the transport out of Ower’s when the track was wet, meant we had to hurry up a little. Soon, the freshly washed and cleaned lads raced past us and ran up to the carpark. The rest of us made our way step by step. I will admit that the last section in the Kunai grass which is normally unbearable was okay with the misty rain falling. When the sun is out, it is brutal.

What a fantastic day, around 13kms in length and about 5 hours in walking time. Good times… good times.