| It is ranked as one of the world's most challenging | | | | The Kokoda Trail in World War 2. |
| walking and hiking trails and attracts lovers of | | | | The Kokoda Trail has special significance for |
| adventure travel worldwide. The Kokoda trail | | | | Australians. In 1942 and 1943, it was the scene of |
| treks 96 km over the forbidding Owen Stanley | | | | some of the some of the fiercest and bloodiest |
| Ranges of Papua New Guinea and is so severe on | | | | land battles of World War 2, as Australian soldiers |
| the body and spirit that this year alone, it has | | | | struggled to hold Japanese soldiers advancing |
| claimed 4 lives. | | | | across the Owen Stanley Ranges towards Port |
| Yet it was recently beaten by a man with no legs. | | | | Moresby. |
| He was walking on his hands! Here is his story of | | | | The Japanese had planned to use Port Moresby |
| incredible courage and endurance. | | | | as a base to launch an assault on Australia, but |
| Australian Paralympian Kurt Fearnley is no | | | | were thwarted by the United States Navy. They |
| stranger to challenges. Just a week after winning | | | | defeated the Japanese Navy in 2 major sea |
| his fourth consecutive New York wheelchair | | | | battles, the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle |
| marathon, he tackled and beat his biggest | | | | of Midway. So the Japanese decided to attack |
| challenge. The notorious Kokoda trail. | | | | Port Moresby from the north, using the Kokoda |
| To do so, he had to endure the dense jungle, | | | | Trail. |
| heat, humidity, mud and steep climbs to the top | | | | Fierce battles on the Kokoda Trail. |
| of the mountain range. The descent was just as | | | | Over 10 000 troops assembled on the north |
| challenging and was a test for more able bodied | | | | coast and marched south. But when they reached |
| climbers. | | | | Kokoda, they met fierce resistance from |
| A close friend of mine trained for months on | | | | Australian soldiers and although outnumbered 5 to |
| other hiking trails before tackling the Kokoda Trail. | | | | 1, managed to stop the advancing Japanese army |
| At the end of his trek through these unforgiving | | | | on the ridges overlooking Port Moresby. The |
| mountain trails, he was drained physically and | | | | death toll for both armies was enormous and in |
| emotionally. "Graeme, it almost killed me," he said. | | | | addition to the heat, mud and steep terrain, they |
| Fearnley, aged 28, finished his 10 day trek with | | | | had the additional problems of malaria and |
| emotional and weary celebrations. He had crawled | | | | dysentery. |
| and dragged himself by his hands along the | | | | The Kokoda Trail today. |
| arduous trail with support from 15 family | | | | In recent years, walking the track has become a |
| members plus his team of porters and guides. | | | | magnet for trekkers seeking adventure travel |
| His only plans were to get to a bar, then lie on a | | | | and the challenge of some of the most difficult |
| beach to recuperate. Trail veteran and Kokoda | | | | hiking trails in the world. It is also a pilgrimage for |
| Spirit team leader Wayne Weatherall was high in | | | | Australians of all ages. Many of these walkers had |
| his praise for Kurt's tenacity and determination. | | | | relatives who fought and died in arguably |
| "I've never seen a man suffer so much and | | | | Australia's most significant campaign of the |
| continue to keep going," he said. | | | | Second World War. |