Mount Hagen

powertower16:52 UTC10 Jul 2011

Hi,
we are going to stay four days in Mount Hagen before the Sing Sing. Any advice or recommandations what to do?

Thanks

Michael

Laszlo18:33 UTC10 Jul 2011

Probably the best advice is to get the Hell out of the place.
It's a dull (and sometimes dodgy) town in a dull, broad valley.
The show will be the best thing you'd ever see there anyway, I bet.

I'd head over to either Goroka (easier) or the Mount Wilhelm area (far nicer) for those 4 days.

powertower06:50 UTC11 Jul 2011

Thanks Laszlo.
is it easy to arrange that by yourself? How dangerous is it to go around by yourself? i have a lot of camera equipment and need to be especially cautious!
s there anything around waterfalls etc which is nice for taking photos?

Laszlo06:55 UTC11 Jul 2011

Some waterfalls for sure, but nothing truly special I can remember.

Goroka is a single PMV ride away.

Mount Wilhelm is 2 rides, the 2nd one quite rough.
It would be the better option for scenery, though some hiking is required to see the best of it (eg the alpine lakes).

I never thought those routes were dangerous as such, but this is PNG so there's always a slight risk of a hold-up, I guess. I never carry LOTS of expensive gear on me, so you must make your own decision about that.

powertower11:38 UTC11 Jul 2011

Thanks a lot for that! What would you recommend for Goroka?

Laszlo12:31 UTC11 Jul 2011

Not much to actually recommend in town, but it is simply a far prettier and friendlier town to hang around than Hagen, and the road between the two is very scenic, too.

powertower17:35 UTC11 Jul 2011

How much time do you need to go to Mount Wilhelm? How much time to spend there minimum? Thanks

Laszlo18:32 UTC11 Jul 2011

You could just go to the end of the road, spend a night, then come back down.
That's 2 days then.

Or add an extra day for a day-hike - might be possible to reach the lakes and get back with an early start if you are a strong walker.

To get to the top would require 3 days extra - probably too long for your total of 4 days.

powertower11:35 UTC12 Jul 2011

Is it worth it to go to the end of the road?
Many thanks

Laszlo12:01 UTC12 Jul 2011

It's a pretty scenic road, that's for sure!

powertower09:06 UTC13 Jul 2011

Many thanks fot that. But what about the trek is that scenery worth it? Or is there anything around Goroka which is recommandable?
Thanks

Laszlo09:09 UTC13 Jul 2011

The trek, both to the peak or to the lakes only, is simply awesome.
At least when the weather cooperates... ;-)

Mount Hagen! Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Papua New Guinea
powertower16:52 UTC10 Jul 2011	Hi, we are going to stay four days in Mount Hagen before the Sing Sing. Any advice or recommandations what to do? Thanks Michael
Laszlo18:33 UTC10 Jul 2011	Probably the best advice is to get the Hell out of the place. It's a dull (and sometimes dodgy) town in a dull, broad valley. The show will be the best thing you'd ever see there anyway, I bet. I'd head over to either Goroka (easier) or the Mount Wilhelm area (far nicer) for those 4 days.	1
powertower06:50 UTC11 Jul 2011	Thanks Laszlo. is it easy to arrange that by yourself? How dangerous is it to go around by yourself? i have a lot of camera equipment and need to be especially cautious! s there anything around waterfalls etc which is nice for taking photos?	2
Laszlo06:55 UTC11 Jul 2011	Some waterfalls for sure, but nothing truly special I can remember. Goroka is a single PMV ride away. Mount Wilhelm is 2 rides, the 2nd one quite rough. It would be the better option for scenery, though some hiking is required to see the best of it (eg the alpine lakes). I never thought those routes were dangerous as such, but this is PNG so there's always a slight risk of a hold-up, I guess. I never carry LOTS of expensive gear on me, so you must make your own decision about that.	3
powertower11:38 UTC11 Jul 2011	Thanks a lot for that! What would you recommend for Goroka?	4
Laszlo12:31 UTC11 Jul 2011	Not much to actually recommend in town, but it is simply a far prettier and friendlier town to hang around than Hagen, and the road between the two is very scenic, too.	5
powertower17:35 UTC11 Jul 2011	How much time do you need to go to Mount Wilhelm? How much time to spend there minimum? Thanks	6
Laszlo18:32 UTC11 Jul 2011	You could just go to the end of the road, spend a night, then come back down. That's 2 days then. Or add an extra day for a day-hike - might be possible to reach the lakes and get back with an early start if you are a strong walker. To get to the top would require 3 days extra - probably too long for your total of 4 days.	7
powertower11:35 UTC12 Jul 2011	Is it worth it to go to the end of the road? Many thanks	8
Laszlo12:01 UTC12 Jul 2011	It's a pretty scenic road, that's for sure!	9
powertower09:06 UTC13 Jul 2011	Many thanks fot that. But what about the trek is that scenery worth it? Or is there anything around Goroka which is recommandable? Thanks	10
Laszlo09:09 UTC13 Jul 2011	The trek, both to the peak or to the lakes only, is simply awesome. At least when the weather cooperates... ;-)	11

Mount Hagen!