Black Cat Track

If you've walked Kokoda Trail, move up a notch and have a go at Black Cat. What a great experience.
The walk is not as long as Kokoda and not as busy as Kokoda.
The walk is also a lot more accessible than Kokoda. All plane trips are commercial runs, no charters.
Kokoda is well described by Kienzle as "being loved to death".
The last time I walked Kokoda, I stopped for a breather on a ridge and within 40 minutes there were 96 expats (plus guides) sharing the same ridge.
On the Black Cat, I was the only person walking besides the occasional local. I was told that the last group went through some 3 months ahead of me.
Be advised Black Cat's wet season occurs in June/July, the opposite to Kokoda's - even though the two places are only about 300km apart. Got me!

See www.wanemya.com for a description of the walk.

Oh! It is also a lot harder than Kokoda. ;-)

I checked out the trip report on your web site and it is great. Full of valuable information and very inspiring. I had been thinking of walking Kokoda next year, but after having done the day walk from Owen's Corner to Imita Ridge three times this year, and being overwhelmed by the number of organised tours on the track, I might consider the Black Cat as another option. I am thinking of trekking from Lae to Tufi in Decemebr / January - I might add the Black Cat into that.

Thanks again for a great report.

touche!
Black Cat > Kokoda? No, I do not believe that I would have enjoyed Kokoda as much if I'd walked Black Cat first. I guess it depends on why you walk - rite of passage, experience, share culture, masochist, the next great adventure?
The people I have met who have walked Kokoda, have one of two extreme reactions (immediately after they have taken the last step anyway) - "never again", or "what next". I had a beer and thought "what next?".
After reading Osmar White's "Green Armour" and his canoe ride up from Kerema and then the walk up over the Bulldog and down the Black Cat I think I may have found my "what next". When is my immediate worry, that is "when do they have their wet season?".

Wonderful report on the walk-Thanks for sharing.

Great work on the tale. A good read. I am thinking of being back in PNG in January and was looking at ticking this off. I have talked about it for a while and almost bit the bullet and did it whilst I was living in Lae. I even bought the two Topo maps from the National Mapping Authority after I did the Kokoda. But never quite got there. You have now revived my interest.

Anyone keen to join me in a possible January assult?

Hey Nomad,

I'm up for it.

However, I do have to warn you that I have a Komperdell Airshock - Contour Titanium walking pole, but no lycra shorts and I don't play touch rugby. Send me a PM and we will see what happens.

jkg07:

Walking the same path repeatedly could be a bit of a comfort zone thing or maybe heading to work. After reading Nomad's Blog - he's gotta be dam uncomfortable (Of your travels, I stand in awe Nomad).
I had no intention of repeating Kokoda, but my son thinks dragging the old man across the track in early 2008 could be funny. There will be a lot to gain in walking Kokoda again with my son. I'm yet waiting to discover who'll end up gaining. Once is usually enough for me.

northmelbournedn

Your thinking of trekking from Lae to Tufi in Decemebr / January ?
What have you got a couple of months with nothing to do and don't like boats? Have you done the research to see if it is possibe? How long are you expecting that to take?

mickniet,

I'm planning to follow the route described by Andrew Burke on page 15 of the current LP. It seems possible. I see you live in Lae - do you think this is a crazy plan? I won't trek all the way - I am happy to travel by boat when walking is out of the question. I know Bau is less than half way to Tufi. If I run out of time I could head for Popendetta rather than Tufi.

I will have three weeks to do this - it's Christmas time and I work in a Government Department, so nothing else will be happening.

David

Hi
I went on the Black Cat Track last year though now I am not sure if I really did. We followed Richards Stanways and LP directions though looking at the topo and reading on a few internet sites it looks like I went on a tarck called the Buisaval Track which goes via Skiniwai. About 11 kms further to the North is the old Black Cat mine and a track (or parts of it) heading towards Mubo down the Bitoi River. On the Website. Diggerhistory.com.au it also discribes the Buisaval Track and also another Track called the Jap Track which the Aussies didnt know about and was made by the Germans and the Japs used it to attack Wau.
If anyone knows of the locations of these tracks, Jap Track, Black Cat Track and Buisaval Track or if they are one in the same that would be great. I would be interested to hear about them.
Ta Chris

Hi My father Andy Pirie wrote a book called "Commando Double Black" the story of the 2/5th Commandos in WW2 mainly in the Wau, Mubo, Bulolo, Salamaua, Lae areas and describes in great depth all the tracks and battles and daily life, conditions of the tracks, diseases, worst leech and mosquito areas, food, types of terrain and villagers and local natives. Lots of interesting anecdotes not just war battles. A real story of life in those days. It tells and shows maps of Black Cat track, Skindiwai track, Jap track, Bulolo to Markham Valley to Lae track, and Bulldog track. Most of these have never been walked by white people since the war only the locals. A great read for "foolhardy ironmen types" who want to do their own thing or for trekking companies wanting old information and war details to tell trekkers in the future as they pass each area. Ive just done the Kokoda track as a prelude to trying to organise to follow a Commando route from Port Moresby truck to Lakakamu River near Kerema, then canoe up River 2 days to Bulldog, then trek over the Owen Stanleys 9,000ft peaks to Wau. Spend a few days there doing side treks, looking at gold mines, rafting the Bulolo River, etc, the walk the Bulolo to Markham to Lae track or the Black cat/Skindiwai track to Mubo and Salamaua, then boat along coast to Lae and fly back to Port Moresby. About 3 weeks in total. The Commandos operated with the NGVR New Guinea Volunteer Rifles and formed Kanga Force, which was a guerilla force behind Japanese lines and did coast watching, reporting on enemy movements and shipping, and a few spectactular raids such as on Salamuau and on Heaths Plantation near Lae. These were the first offensive attacks on the Japanese of the war. My fathers platoon was also cut off for 6 weeks presumed all dead behind Japanese lines and there is a detailed description of their survival hiding and trekking and living off the land in that area. Anyone whose done these tracks, I would like to hear from. we have 5 of us ready to go. Thanks.

Hi PNG trekkers, Like Andy my dad fought with a couple of Independent companies in png during WW2 and walked the Black Cat track and the Double Mountain track, later wrote some books based on diaries he kept. The first one 'The Barbarians' should be out again early '08, anyone interested in more info please email me (sava@dustonmyshoes.com) and I'll point you to the website.There are maps in the book showing the Jap track, Black Cat and Double Mountain.

Edited by: sava_p

Oh sorry I'm not used to posting on message boards, re: previous message - to email me go to website: www.dustonmyshoes.com, cheers Sava P

Hi, I have been searching for such a long time to find your Dad, my Dad Ken Sperling was his mate in ww2.
I found your Dads book through searching for information on their unit, have to date purchased 4 of them.
The only photos we have of Dad in the army are in the book, I was wondering if your Dad has the originals and if so could I send the money to you and have copys made of some of them.
I hope to hear back from you.
Regards
Mel Enright (Sperling)