Expedition PNG!

I have recently returned from a 3 week expedition to Papua New Guinea and now four days later am killing time on a 12 hour stopover en route to the next mission through the states and BC. My PNG mission started about 5 weeks prior with a call from Jordy saying "Shannon just pulled out so we have a spot to fill are you keen to join us?" and from there the pieces fell nicely into place. With the Hillary grant from sportNZ financially the trip was not going to be an issue the only thing in my way was work ...... no issue ill just resign. From here all was easy Jordy and Barny had put in all the hard yards on logistics so myself and Colesy were just to turn up at the airport with our gear and a good attitude. We were flying Virgin which proved to be a fantastic choice with no hassles checking our boats and other gear in on any of our flights. 

Landing in PNG we had a brief stop over in Moresby before flying onto our final destination Lae. We spent a few days in Lae acclimatising to the tropical heat, meeting the locals and sorting transport. With an amazing amount of luck we found ourselves with a sick single cab hilux and awesome local driver.

The work horse and Colesy loaded up and ready to head to the  highlands.

Riding on the back of the hilux never got old regardless of the terrain and pot holes it is the perfect mode of transportation for the country and ensures massive popularity with the locals.
First stop in the highlands was the Mai River an absolute gem found by the boys on the last expedition and a perfect start to dust of the cobwebs.

Road side fast food PNG style!

Myself cruising down one of the Mai's many sick rapids. Photo - Barny Young

After the Mai we continued on to stay in a guest house in Kundiawa in preparation for the main goal of the trip the Chimbu river which was to be paddled over the next few days.

Driving up the Chimbu valley the following morning was somewhat daunting looking down into the bottom of the canyon at what still looked to be massive whitewater stoke levels were high tho and we pushed on until the river had so little water we could only just scrape down. 

Day 1 on the river we paddled only a short section down to the first major tributary in the town of Gembol Station. Gembol was in my opinion the most beautiful place we visited in PNG and certianly one of the coolest places i have ever been. We were welcomed in by the locals and stayed at an amazing orphanage for the night. 

Typical scenery throughout the top section of the Chimbu

Beautiful bridge over the Chimbu at the orphanage  

One of many kids stoked to try out our gear

Paddling downstream through Gembol township the next morning we were mobbed by 100's of school kids trying to watch as we paddled past town, we were then invited in and spent an hour talking to the school and half of the town about the expedition. On our way again we paddled close to 20 km of rapids ranging from class III-V before calling it a day and retiring back to the Kundiawa guest house for the night.

Colesy coming through 1 of 100's of rapids on day 2

Enjoying the scenery!

A lay/sick day was spent in Kundiawa before returning to finish the job. Day 3 was to be hard day of the trip with 2 shear walled canyons and visible class V from the road. The day started with a bang a multitude of sick rapids straight of the mark followed by a brutal 1 hour portage around an unscoutable canyon. We are 90% sure its good to go but decided to play it safe and walk regardless. Back on the river we quickly found ourselves at the spot where the boys had to abandon the mission 2 years previous. The whitewater that followed stepped it up a notch with a few portages but mainly consistent big pushy rapids. Just as we began to worry about daylight we found ourselves floating out the river flats! It was smiles all round and we were all amped to have completed the first full descent of the mighty Chimbu.

Myself on a short portage early on. Photo - Matt Coles

Barny gets his boof on

Colesy floats through one of the incredible canyons

The final rapid, Barny finishes it with his usual style

Token team shot, everyone stoked to be at the bottom. Photo - Matt Coles

With the Chimbu completed we headed for a quick look at the Marl a river the boys were interested in from the last trip however realised to descend it would require another dedicated expedition. From here we retreated back to the lowlands due to local advice that travel any further into the highlands would be unsafe at this time. Back in Lae we hit the Busu river adding a few km of whitewater above the boys previous effort this is a primo class IV-V 40 km river trip and well worth the effort.

The Marl is and unreal place i cant wait to get back for the rest of the river

Colesy rides the thick-shake that is the Busu river

Barny and Jordy rallying 

More Busu goodness

Its a proper jungle out there. Photo - Matt Coles

The Busu unfortunately was the last of our PNG paddling the remainder of our time was spent searching for new rivers for possible future expeditions, playing squash and watching movies. Oh and taking photos of a spider and a frog.

Only 9 hours until i board my next flight now bring on the mission first stop north fork championship!!!