tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63208420879172584092024-03-13T07:12:36.753-07:00Baliem Valley, Papua Indonesia – Unguided trekking in the Baliem ValleyA detailed route description, map, tips, and advice for planning and doing an unguided trek in the Baliem Valley of Papua, Indonesia.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-9246070086619588742018-07-27T22:26:00.004-07:002021-01-17T18:02:12.899-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Preamble<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YUD0uX4we8U/W1WYVHqkEbI/AAAAAAAAFYc/HD5A-KJKnvwnqZNtMuJYGBwe6eZYTeKVgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2988_resized.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YUD0uX4we8U/W1WYVHqkEbI/AAAAAAAAFYc/HD5A-KJKnvwnqZNtMuJYGBwe6eZYTeKVgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2988_resized.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">In June 2018, my wife and I went to Papua for a 6-day trek
in the Baliem Valley. What shocked me prior to going, was the absolute vacuum
of detailed information – especially critically important things like maps! – on
trekking in the Baliem Valley. I, perhaps like many, got the idea of hiking in
the Baliem Valley from reading the Lonely Planet guide, but sadly, the guide
does not provide the detail required to actually plan an independent (i.e.,
unguided) trip. That said, I, probably like everyone, turned to the internet.
Again, shockingly little out there, with the exception of a few sources (see
“credits” section below).</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Long story short: after having done our trip, and having had
an amazing experience, and GPSing our route, I feel obliged to share what we
learned. So that’s what this is about. This is a detailed account of exactly
what we did, with maps and GPS coordinates, along with tips and advice someone
planning an unguided trip might find useful.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">That said, this is not intended as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i> complete guide to trekking in the Baliem Valley (that would be
somewhat presumptuous), but rather, is intended to be very helpful to a person
planning an independent, unguided hiking trip to the Baliem Valley.
Specifically, you should be able to repeat our route very easily given the
information below (and it’s a good route </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">). </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Rob D'Eon, July 2018.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">EPILOGUE: Below is a trip report from a couple who completed a multi-night hike in the Baliem Valley in September 2019. It illustrates the "interesting" local situations one may encounter.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><u>TRIP REPORT (SEPT 2019)</u>:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We started our trip on a Sunday which was probably not the
best day as there were no taxis that could drive us to the starting point
Kurima. But after a while we found some really nice guys with a van who drove
us to Kurima. On the way was a landslide which covered the street but the guys
were really cool walking through the ‘river’ to guide the jeep to the other
side. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In Kurima, after sharing some cigarettes, we started hiking
to Tangma. The first part was so amazing - all the flowers (it was way more colorful
than we expected) and the views. Then, it started raining and the trail got
really slippery. The descent to Tangma was so difficult. We hiked together with
the parents of my boyfriend and although they are quite fit, they reached their
limits. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Arrived in Tangma we were the attraction. The whole village
came to see us and everybody wanted to help but no one spoke English - except
for this one guy who then translated everything. He also offered us a place to
sleep and we got plenty of food (rice and some kind of pumpkin, I guess). He
travels to get books and teachers for the schools in the Baliem Valley.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></span></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
</span></span></span>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The next day we started early towards Wesagalep. The first
part was easy, then it became steeper and steeper downward to the river. We
were so happy that the rain has stopped. But it was very hot. I loved the
bridge over the Baliem River. And then we walked up again. The view was
wonderful. We stayed the night in Heipa (a small village before Wesagalep). The
mood was tense in this village. They told us about a fight in Wamena between
the Papuans and the police, and that the airport was destroyed - luckily this
was not true, but we were so shocked and had a really bad night. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
The next day, the parents of my boyfriend arranged porters
which could only helped us until the top of the hill as they are in a fight
with the people on the other side. They were really afraid of going too far and
carried a bow and arrows. Most of the way was through the rain forest which was
so green and full of live. Also the shadow was pleasant. On the top of the hill
we had a really nice break with them and said goodbye. </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
The way down to Wemasili (a village before Wuserem) was
steep but with nice trails. We met two friendly people who talked us into
staying in Wemasili instead of Wuserem. It was already late and they told us
about another landslide so we stayed there. Here we got many ubis (but we were
prepared with our spices) and slept in a church which was cool.</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
Then, we decided to shorten the trail and so our next
village was Sykosimo. On the way were many landslides which made the beginning
difficult but the second part was easy to walk. So we arrived in Sykosimo
early. It was relaxing to arrive around noon. The people there were so amazing.
They offered us two! rooms with mattresses! and showed us there art (necklaces,
bracelets, headdresses). We played a card game and the whole village watched. I
think I never got used to all the people watching us but it was fun though. Dinner
was rice, pumpkin and ubi and we tried communicating with our little Bahasa
Indonesia. </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
The next day, we crossed the footbridge over the Mugi River.
This bridge is built only of liana and looks amazing and more trusting than the
other one. We walked a lot uphill and it was so hot again. Then we saw a plane
and then another and our mood got better and better. And after Inkinim we
walked downwards until Seima where we spent the last night. The woman was
friendly and we got lunch and dinner, also bacon and had coffee with her
family. The funny thing was that her husband is pastor in the close by churches
and we met him earlier in the other church. They showed us pictures of their
parties on their smartphones. This is so surreal that the people mostly live
from the things they plant but have smartphones (and no signal). </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
The last day was only a short hike to Sykomo where we took a
car to Wamena. We were so nervous what to see from the fights and it was really
bad. The whole market was burned down. Everywhere were burnt mopeds, cars and
houses. The Indonesian people were flown out, our hostel host was Indonesian
so we arrived at a closed hostel where we had left the stuff we did not need
for the hike. After a few hours, however, we could get out stuff and spent the
last night at a fenced in house of a Dutch man. The next day we got our delayed
flight and we really looked forward to spend some relaxed days in Raja Ampat.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
Anna, March 2020.</div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="color: red; text-align: right;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></div>
</span></span></span><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-50120709733700586762018-07-27T22:26:00.003-07:002021-01-17T17:55:35.928-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: So what's it all about?<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9p3V6V_lRk/W1WY8WX_YcI/AAAAAAAAFYo/CEn4TXb7RM0QpLqGF-Lo776DMCRRU2VngCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3299.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9p3V6V_lRk/W1WY8WX_YcI/AAAAAAAAFYo/CEn4TXb7RM0QpLqGF-Lo776DMCRRU2VngCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3299.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">So what exactly does “Trekking in the Baliem Valley” mean,
and what does it look like? Just a snap shot here, to put an image in your mind
of what this is, which is the context for everything that follows: </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Trekking in the Baliem Valley, as used here, means
multi-day, village-to-village hiking along traditional footpaths established
and used by local people in the Baliem Valley. There is no electricity, no
phones, no commercial development, and no combustion engines (i.e., no vehicles of any kind). Similar to a wilderness backpacking trip, you carry
everything you need, including the majority of your food. Accommodation in
villages is basic, and can be described as a “homestay” where you are staying
with local families in their dwellings. The general area is sparsely populated,
with small villages distributed hours apart, with little to no human
development in between. The terrain is steep and mountainous, with most days
involving climbs, descents, and river crossings.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Word to the wise: I would describe unguided Trekking in the
Baliem Valley as “adventurous”, and requiring good gear, reasonable fitness,
and experience to enjoy as an unguided trip. If you are an experienced
wilderness backpacker, you'll have fun. If this is your first time carrying a pack, might want to rethink it, or at least make sure you are with someone who has done this kind of stuff before.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; text-align: right;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-53290287896764664942018-07-27T22:18:00.003-07:002021-01-17T17:55:57.087-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: About us<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GyB-E-hYZ-I/W1Wb4fnttSI/AAAAAAAAFY8/YiHgy77UR9AK87D00OuddwaEaV09hvvtgCEwYBhgL/s1600/papua%2B658.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="958" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GyB-E-hYZ-I/W1Wb4fnttSI/AAAAAAAAFY8/YiHgy77UR9AK87D00OuddwaEaV09hvvtgCEwYBhgL/s320/papua%2B658.JPG" width="319" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The following description about us is not provided to
satisfy some narcissistic craving, but rather to provide you, the reader, with
a profile of what we are about and where this information is coming from. So
when I say, “this is a long day”, it might mean something. If you are like us,
great!, it all applies. If not, well, gauge for yourself if you would hike more
or less each day </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We are a Canadian couple. Me (Rob): male, 53 yrs. My wife
(Amy): female, 41 yrs. Until 2 years ago, we both spent most of our lives in
Canada, and many years living and playing in the mountains of British Columbia.
Two years ago we moved to Bogor (just outside Jakarta), Indonesia to live and
work. We are relatively fit and active, and have spent a lot of time in Canada,
and now in Indonesia, climbing up and down mountains. We have travelled
extensively in developing countries, and are not afraid of a little adventure
and unknown. We have good gear, take recreational pursuits seriously, and like
physically demanding trips (like, for example, hiking in the Baliem Valley </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">). </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Importantly, we have a deep-seated hatred for guided, organized
trips, especially the kind that occurs in Indonesia – hence the references to
planning and doing an “unguided trip”. This is all about sharing info so we can do it ourselves.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: calibri; font-size: x-large; text-align: right;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-20150433065519552662018-07-27T22:17:00.002-07:002021-01-17T17:56:17.236-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Trip summary<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-daFgttKcSZU/W1WdqAzEPuI/AAAAAAAAFZE/5Qm-y6_w7tE7qpIlBPTQCSFT-7stV2qWACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3026.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-daFgttKcSZU/W1WdqAzEPuI/AAAAAAAAFZE/5Qm-y6_w7tE7qpIlBPTQCSFT-7stV2qWACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3026.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">A very detailed route/trip description is provided in the
“What we did” section. This is just a quick encapsulation of what our trip was
about, so that you can gauge whether or not you are interested in reading the
rest of this.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">We did a 6-day/5-night , unguided, village-to-village,
backpacking trip within the Baliem Valley, south of Wamena, along the Baliem
and Mugi Rivers. We hiked along established (although unsigned/unmarked) local
trails for about 6 hours a day, and overnighted in local dwellings in villages
along the way. We were virtually self-sufficient for food and gear, and carried
everything in our backpacks – although we did not have a tent or stove. Hot
water and some food (sweet potatoes) were provided by the people we stayed with
(more on that in the “food section”).</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">We flew in/out of the town of Wamena, and used a homestay in
Wamena as a base to store luggage during our trek (which is detailed in the
“Wamena” section). From Wamena, we easily arranged a drive to the start of the
trek (and then back again, upon returning to the pavement).</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">OK, that’s pretty much what we did. If that interests you, then read on.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; text-align: right;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-3202878630701099332018-07-27T22:16:00.008-07:002021-01-17T17:57:23.206-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Surat Jalan<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gQYAdA02XAI/W1WyWVf1qXI/AAAAAAAAFZw/n9wKLq16FfsYRd6yLH-f0ydDyNvJRyq0gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3130.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gQYAdA02XAI/W1WyWVf1qXI/AAAAAAAAFZw/n9wKLq16FfsYRd6yLH-f0ydDyNvJRyq0gCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3130.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">OK, there is a ton of jabber on the internet, blogs, and
other sources about this “Surat Jalan” (AKA: travel permit), and that you must
have one for trekking in the Baliem Valley – and the myriad suggestions for how
you should go about getting one. That is not entirely accurate.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Long story short: We did not have one, and no one ever asked
for it, and we came and went without a mention of it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Now, I am not saying you don’t legally need one. What I am saying, is that in our case there was no physical mention of it
in writing (i.e., no posted signs or things like that), or verbally (e.g., no
announcements upon arrival), and no one stopped us along the trails to ask
for it. The only place we every saw or heard about it, was on the internet!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Now, I have been informed by a fellow traveler (thanks Gabi!), that in July/August, 2018, he was approached in the airport upon landing, and asked to show his Surat Jalan, which he did. He was there for the infamous Baliem Valley Festival, which I suspect has something do to with it. i.e., perhaps security was ramped up for the festival. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">From all accounts though, the Surat Jalan can be obtained in Wamena without issue. So, perhaps the optimal plan of attack is to get it in Wamena, if in fact, there is a need, i.e., someone wearing a uniform asks for it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Your call.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot tip:</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you are asking my opinion: don’t waste your
time/effort getting a Surat Jalan. If I went back, I would do the same thing
(i.e., not worry about it) – at least for the route we took. If I got stopped in the airport, or elsewhere, I would smile and gladly go to the police station in Wamena and get one. The exception might be if you are specifically going to the Baliem Valley Festival, which our friend Gabi has informed us, might be a case of heightened security.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-13322699727673181992018-07-27T22:16:00.007-07:002021-01-17T17:56:56.772-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Wamena<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_wm3T4eltrw/W1WvTonLfdI/AAAAAAAAFZg/-PTqvcS6X20L7sTtdA7Xgats9aXILPJRwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2878.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: -24px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_wm3T4eltrw/W1WvTonLfdI/AAAAAAAAFZg/-PTqvcS6X20L7sTtdA7Xgats9aXILPJRwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2878.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Move along folks, nothing to see here </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Seriously, while not offensive or overly
terrible, you didn’t come to see the sights of Wamena – there are none (with
the exception of the gigantic cross…you’ll see what I mean). Fortunately,
Wamena does provide a good base to launch your Baliem Valley mission. There are
places to stay, places to eat, and stores to buy things. All basic, nothing
worth writing about, but nonetheless adequate for what you need as a base to
launch from. If you want to spend a couple/few days in Wamena, you could.
Either way.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">First, there’s an airport (new as of 2016), and thus
conveniently providing an easy flight into the heart of the Baliem Valley –
which is critical, obviously. The town is relatively small, about 30,000
people, which in Indonesia is pretty much a village. The best thing about
Wamena is that it is entirely walkable. In fact, we walked from the airport to
our accommodation in 10 mins, with our roller bags! </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Places to stay:</u> From all accounts on the internet,
most places to stay in Wamena are overpriced, and low quality/value. I can’t
say, because where we stayed was awesome! (see tips below). And obviously, I
have no firsthand knowledge of any other place. So ya, I won’t go on, because I
am simply going to strongly recommend you stay where we stayed. I cannot
imagine a better place to stay in Wamena for launching your trip.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Places to eat</u>: not much going on in terms of the
restaurant scene, but again, if you are hungry and looking for a basic
Indonesian meal, just poke around until you find something. Again, pretty
basic, but you won’t starve.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Grocery stores:</u> if you must do your grocery shopping
in Wamena, you could, and survive (but see “food” section). There are basic
little Indonesian shops here and there, and one “bigger” grocery store called
“Ropan Market” (google maps knows it), which is as close to a grocery store as
you are going to get. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Banks/ATMs:</u> there are a few ATMs in town, so if you
are out of cash, you should be able to get it. That said, I brought all my cash
with me and never used one. So, your call. I would play it safe and just bring
all cash with you. But don’t panic if you need to do it in Wamena. There are
definitely ATMs.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><u>Alcohol:</u> it is very important to realize, that
alcohol is banned in Papua. So, you cannot buy alcohol (booze) of any kind
anywhere in Wamena (and certainly not in the villages). If you want a little
wine with your meal, or little drinkie-poo before bedtime, bring it from
wherever you are coming from. I am not telling you to do this, given the
illegality of it, I’m just sayin’ </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot Tips:</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZNTi6s36wA/W1WvQeVHP5I/AAAAAAAAFZc/mvMeSwN7hLsLT-cIg6UNtHcVqytGTpKIQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2882.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: -24px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gZNTi6s36wA/W1WvQeVHP5I/AAAAAAAAFZc/mvMeSwN7hLsLT-cIg6UNtHcVqytGTpKIQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2882.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hogorasuok Guesthouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Stay at the Hogorasuok Guesthouse (<a href="http://hogorasuok.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://hogorasuok.blogspot.com</span></a>;
email: </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">puskomwamena@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">).
It’s a basic, yet homey, hostel-style place, with a nice interior courtyard,
full kitchen, hot water/shower, 24-7 coffee/tea, decent beds, laundry, luggage
storage, and includes breakfast. We paid 375,000 Rp/night (about 26 USD). Google
maps knows it. Address is: at the end of Jalan Diponegoro. The place is run by
a young Christian woman name Rut. She’s very friendly, speaks basic English, runs
a tight ship, and the place is spotless. Her mobile# is: +62.852.5431.2442. If
you use Whatsapp (the only thing that matters in Indonesia), contact her via
WA, and she will be very responsive. It was perfect for what we needed. The
obvious scenario: from the airport walk or taxi there, spend the night, leave
for your Trek the next day, store any additional luggage, then return for a
night or two before you fly out, and get your laundry done before heading off.
Seamless!</span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you stay at Hogorasuok, the full kitchen
means you can buy (or bring) a few groceries and make your own food, which will
almost certainly beat the food available on the street </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The street market on the main drag downtown
(Pasar Wamena) is a fantastic source of fresh veggies. The ladies are friendly,
and you can get everything you need to make a fresh meal.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you can avoid being there on a Sunday, that’s
preferable because it’s old school, and everything is closed on Sunday (very
Christian part of the world). We started and ended on a Sunday, which sucked.
Try not to do that </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you want to drink (i.e., alcohol), bring it
with you from wherever you are coming from. Although, be aware that it is
technically banned in Papua, and therefore illegal. Be discrete.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-13252543696462896892018-07-27T22:16:00.006-07:002021-01-17T17:56:38.416-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Getting in/out<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Ground zero for hiking in the Baliem Valley is the town of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wamena</b>. You just have to get there to
start your trek. Fortunately, Wamena has a brand new airport (as of 2016),
which is very civilized, and flying in/out of Wamena is easy. While some blogs
and other sources talk about the horrors of trying to get flights, and being
delayed for days, etc, that is all bullshit. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIY--RL9jO8/W1We4lwF9WI/AAAAAAAAFZQ/9gKlUdsgZk0McT7dm38VH9hgmrF_Bk_-gCLcBGAs/s1600/papua%2B288.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JIY--RL9jO8/W1We4lwF9WI/AAAAAAAAFZQ/9gKlUdsgZk0McT7dm38VH9hgmrF_Bk_-gCLcBGAs/s320/papua%2B288.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">From our experience (June 2018), flying in/out of Wamena is
just like flying in/out of any airport anywhere. Everything is on-line,
everything is booked/paid for in advance, electronic tickets are emailed to
you, you show up when you are supposed to, check-in, go through security, and
board the plane. Just like anywhere.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">We flew from Jakarta on an overnight flight to Jayapura (capital
of Papua) via <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Batik Airlines</b>,
arriving at 8 am. I’m pretty sure you must fly to Jayapura first, to get
flights to Wamena (but don’t quote me…pretty sure though). We then flew via <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Trigana Air</b>, at 10:20 am, arriving in
Wamena about 11 ish (30 mins flight). Perfect. Everything was seamless and went
according to plan.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">As far as I can tell, at least three airlines fly
Jayapura-Wamena: Trigana Air, Wings Air, and NAM Air. All of them have websites
and you can book tickets on-line. We flew Trigana, in a Boeing 737 (OK, it was
a bit old, but fine), and it was seamless. And return, on the way out. No
issues whatsoever either way.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot tips:</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">No need spend any time in Jayapura (unless you
want to for some strange reason). Book a connecting flight to Wamena right after
your flight to Jayapura. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you have more than a 1-hour stopover in
Jayapura airport, go to the Garuda lounge on the second floor. For 80,000 Rp.
(5 USD), you have a decent all-you-can-eat buffet, drinks (no alcohol),
comfortable chairs, air conditioning, and you can charge your phone. Great
deal!</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-64812818783142353602018-07-27T22:15:00.008-07:002021-01-17T17:58:41.798-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Gear<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">In a few words, the gear you want/need is the same as that
for a wilderness spring/summer/fall backpacking trip (I’m from Canada, so
interpret that for your own situation). While the villages offer hot water (i.e., boiled), and
shelter from rain, that is pretty much all villages offer. You are on your own
for everything else.</span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmWt4S4iDCA/W1XK13-74fI/AAAAAAAAFac/3nHaj2Zmn-INnDe5glE0BoMTClPmIPExQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3059.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmWt4S4iDCA/W1XK13-74fI/AAAAAAAAFac/3nHaj2Zmn-INnDe5glE0BoMTClPmIPExQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3059.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standard room in wood house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">So, the usual stuff applies: good footwear, good backpack,
we use poles (which have become indispensable to us), and good hiking/camping
clothes and gear. We hiked in quick-dry shorts and t-shirts every day, which I
would recommend. Nights cool off, so having a change of warmer clothes for
evening is good. Amy brought, and used, a light down jacket in the evenings. I
didn’t, but put on a long-sleeve layer once in a while. No gloves or toques
(Canadian for “winter hat”) required. Be prepared for rain. We got rained on
one day, and several evenings. Bring a good rain jacket.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot tips:</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">A few things I would say you should bring, that may not be
obvious:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Good hiking footwear in good condition (your
feet are almost always wet, and footwear in bad shape will disintegrate)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sleeping bag (rated to 0<sup>o</sup>C)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sleeping mat</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Rain jacket</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Head lamp with lots of batteries</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Small thermos (see “food” section)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Hiking poles (if you are like us)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">First Aid kit, and any meds you might want
(there is nothing in the villages)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2 litres worth of water bottles</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Your own personal mug/eating dishes (dishes are
generally available, but can be sketchy)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">§<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Toilet paper + personal hygiene items</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>A note on communication: </u>there was no cell coverage
on our route, and no land lines of any kind. i.e., no telephone communication
while out in the villages. So, cell phones are useless as a phone. If you are
one of those satellite phone people, bring it.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; text-align: right;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-91265838468548570042018-07-27T22:15:00.007-07:002021-01-17T17:58:14.119-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Weather<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2CRqueis44/W1XIMY4HmRI/AAAAAAAAFaQ/ppvg8SSuxdg44iSWfVFmQ__UusqGFd73wCLcBGAs/s1600/papua%2B580.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2CRqueis44/W1XIMY4HmRI/AAAAAAAAFaQ/ppvg8SSuxdg44iSWfVFmQ__UusqGFd73wCLcBGAs/s320/papua%2B580.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">This is not a description of the “climate”, since that would
mean I actually know what the climate is. However, I do know exactly what
weather we experienced, which is what I will describe. Recall, we were there in
June, so gauge your season. But given that Papua is a few degrees south of the
equator, there really isn’t a lot of seasonal variation, particularly in
temperature. The main driving factor here is the elevation, which is between
1500 and 2500 m – meaning you are at mid to high elevations.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Interestingly, we never saw a temperature gauge/thermometer,
so I am guessing at the temperatures. That said, I am fairly confident that the
weather we experienced can be described as warm days, say mid 20s (22-27 <sup>o</sup>C),
and cool nights, say mid, or even low, teens (10-16 <sup>o</sup>C). Humidity is
not a factor, which will be a very pleasant change for those of you travelling
through SE Asia. In a nutshell, I would say the weather was perfect for hiking
in the mountains, and then sleeping at night.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In terms of rain, we had one day of rain (i.e., we hiked in
the rain for the afternoon), and a few evenings of light rain. So ya, be
prepared for rain. But, for the majority of the time, the weather was nice and
sunny, and/or mixed cloud and pleasant. All in all, no complaints about the
weather </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-86570742580733981802018-07-27T22:15:00.006-07:002021-01-17T17:57:55.490-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Accomodation<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Once you leave Wamena, there is nothing resembling a hotel
or guesthouse or formalized accommodation (at least along our route). You will
stay in peoples’ houses. Now, when I say “house”, there are two options: (1) a
thing called a “honai”, and (2) a small wooden house. </span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jq3gT3Lna3o/W1W0hGgPwHI/AAAAAAAAFZ8/HjGwbjP8UY4-yHHNGwRMHtEhxx_LKCT9gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3187.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jq3gT3Lna3o/W1W0hGgPwHI/AAAAAAAAFZ8/HjGwbjP8UY4-yHHNGwRMHtEhxx_LKCT9gCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3187.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honai - traditional house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">A honai is the traditional dwelling that is basically a
large grass hut with a dirt floor and a fire in the middle of it. They make up
the majority of what you will see in most villages. DO NOT STAY/SLEEP IN A
HONAI. More on that to follow.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">The second thing you will notice, is that some people have a
rectangular wooden house with windows, door, and a roof, i.e., a somewhat
normal western house. STAY IN ONE OF THESE. The usual situation we found, was
that people with a wooden house always also had a honai immediately beside
their wooden house. The honai is used for cooking, socializing, and is clearly
the center of family life. The wooden house is basically a few rooms with
little to no furniture, that is used almost exclusively for sleeping. i.e.,
it’s their bedrooms. But: no hot water, showers, plumbing, electricity. It’s a
wooden box with windows and a door.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">So that’s key. A honai is basically a smoke house. There is
no ventilation. Really, no chimney, no hole in the roof, no windows, nothing.
Recall the “fire in the middle thing” that is used for cooking. We were invited
in, as you will be, and we lasted less than 10 mins and had to get out. The
smoke was tearing our eyes, and breathing was difficult. It’s incredible that
they traditionally (and still do) sleep in them. Hence the advice not to sleep
in one of them. However, obviously you should experience the inside of a honai
and eat sweet potatoes and chat with your host family. It’s all part of the fun
</span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5MlwOJUIlI8/W1W0kndWfmI/AAAAAAAAFaA/oWOxzhaMpJcByTWWtNF9ZYhBQZ7RZ1ggQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3370.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5MlwOJUIlI8/W1W0kndWfmI/AAAAAAAAFaA/oWOxzhaMpJcByTWWtNF9ZYhBQZ7RZ1ggQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3370.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wooden house - your choice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">For sleeping however, the best basic strategy was, upon arriving
at your destination village, look for the nicest wooden house in the village.
Find the owner and ask for a room (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kamar
tidor</i>). They will simply clear out their clothes and personal effects, and
give you the room they, or one of their family members, usually sleeps in. You
will get a room with little to no furniture, a wooden floor, and maybe a
sketchy thin mattress with used bedding. All good, except for the smelly
mattress and used bedding </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
We brought sleeping mats and sleeping bags, and used them every time (i.e., we
just pushed aside whatever was there).</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><u>Price:</u> we paid 100,000 Rp (7 USD) per person every
night except one, where the lady in charge refused to go lower than 150,000 Rp
(10 USD). No idea why, but perhaps she has been to Harvard Business School and
knew damn well we had no choice (it was the only wooden house in the village;
next village hours away). All good though. The sweet potatoes were
exceptionally tasty </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Oh, key point here. There is no electricity in the villages.
Therefore, nothing that runs on electricity other than the odd tiny solar
light in some houses. Speaking of light, after dark, (i.e., after 6 pm), it’s
well, dark. No lights anywhere. They literally have no lights. It’s like
camping. So bring yer headlamps, and extra batteries.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot tips:</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">As mentioned above, go to the nicest wooden
house in the village, and ask for a room (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kamar
tidor</i>). Be sure to ensure that they will provide hot water. Just for fun,
ask them to provide “ubi” (sweet potatoes). Really, if you don’t eat one a day,
you really haven’t been there. </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring your own sleeping bag (rated to 0<sup>o</sup>C
is fine), unless you like dingy used blankets</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring a sleeping pad, unless you are OK with
dingy used mattresses</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring a headlamp and extra batteries to last
you. You will use it from 6 pm till you go to sleep every night.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><u>A word on camping:</u> we didn’t carry a tent, so didn’t
camp. But, if you’re a purist, and prefer tenting/camping, and don’t mind the
extra weight in your pack, you could. In my opinion, it would be entirely
possible to tent/camp – either on your own out in the wilds, or beside
someone’s house in a village. In between villages is basically no-man’s land/wilderness,
so I really can’t imagine anyone caring, or even knowing about you pitching a
tent. Safety would not be an issue in my opinion (really, what’s a guy in a
penis gourd going to do to you? </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">).
In the villages, there is lots of green space to throw up a tent – you could
negotiate a small fee, which would probably include hot water. If that’s yer
thing, go for it!</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-84265410302466052762018-07-27T22:14:00.011-07:002021-01-17T18:03:18.352-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Language<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">From what we gathered, the first language of the locals in
the Baliem Valley is “Bahasa Wamena”, which translates to “Wamena language”
(i.e., that’s what they told us). Given there are hundreds if not thousands of
languages in Indonesia, and places like Papua where different villages speak
different languages, that is entirely possible. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eF2K3pfJ1uc/W1hZ-JtnUbI/AAAAAAAAFbk/48Z3g86idDMsgtplqHcDggDMqUOAXVq3wCLcBGAs/s1600/papua%2B617.JPG" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eF2K3pfJ1uc/W1hZ-JtnUbI/AAAAAAAAFbk/48Z3g86idDMsgtplqHcDggDMqUOAXVq3wCLcBGAs/s320/papua%2B617.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">However, the obvious and most useful language for us
foreigners in the Baliem Valley is “Bahasa Indonesia”, which translates to, you
guessed it, “Indonesia Language”, AKA Indonesian. Virtually everyone speaks
Indonesian, except for, in our experience, the very young and the very old
(you guessed it again: neither has been to school, where Indonesian is taught).
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All kids of school age and middle-aged
adults we met spoke fluent Indonesian. English (or any other language for that
matter) will get you nowhere and is basically useless. It’s Bahasa Wamena or
Bahasa Indonesia. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Your choice </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: medium;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Because we have been in Indonesia for a couple of years, we
speak basic Indonesian. That was invaluable. If you speak Indonesian, even a
bit, you will use every word you know, and be way ahead of the game. So I guess
that’s the advice: learn as much Indonesian as you can, and/or bring an
Indonesian phrase book/dictionary. You will definitely use it.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">OK, question for you non-Indonesian-speakers wanting to do a
self-guided trip: Can we do an unguided trip without speaking Indonesian? In my
opinion, sure, why not. We have been to plenty of countries where we didn’t
speak a word of the language, and managed just fine. It’s a combination of
facial expression and charades, then pointing to the thing you want (we’ve all
been there, you know what I mean). So, don’t let the language thing keep you
from doing an unguided trip. The people are wonderful, and will definitely help
you, whatever language you speak. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot tips:</span></u></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you don’t speak Indonesian, definitely bring
a phrase book and/or dictionary. You’ll use it!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-11143032759843741442018-07-27T22:14:00.010-07:002021-01-17T17:59:50.934-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Water<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">There is no bottled/treated water along the trails or in
villages (recall the “no stores” thing). Like it or not, unless you are going
to carry 6 days worth of water in your pack, you are going to drink the water
in the creeks. Fortunately, for the most part, the water in the creeks (i.e.,
the small streams that fall almost vertically down the mountain slopes; some
might call them springs) is clean and drinkable. We are from the mountains of
Canada, so drinking water from creeks comes natural to us, and just made sense.
No problem.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Now, that said, you definitely want to have a water
strategy. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I would never advise “just
drink the water as-is”, because someone out there is going to get sick and I’ll
get hate mail. So, the following options apply (pick one):</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring water purification tablets – usually 1
tablet = 1 litre of water. A very easy, light-weight, effective system. The
truth is, we brought 50 tablets, and only used 2 of them. i.e., we just drank
the water (and obviously survived fine).</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring one of those fancy water filter things (a
bit heavy and gear-intensive, but effective)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring one of those even fancier UV wands (I
would be tempted to get one of these)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Drink only water that has been boiled (which in
theory you could do, but is obviously painfully impractical)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot tips:</span></u></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PcOwAn17HFk/W1g-9L5ZkYI/AAAAAAAAFbA/agfn490vvJosXna8wyEP2KcMGsH96TjYwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2981.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PcOwAn17HFk/W1g-9L5ZkYI/AAAAAAAAFbA/agfn490vvJosXna8wyEP2KcMGsH96TjYwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2981.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look for this kind of set-up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Every village we went to, has a source of
“drinking water”, i.e., the place where people in the village fill up their
water jugs. Ask where that is, and then obviously fill up there. Some of the
villages have relatively sophisticated drinking water systems where the water
was coming from a natural spring high up on the mountain (see <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">photo</b>). These are primo obviously.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring two 1-litre water bottles. Fill them up in
the morning, and carry them through the day. We found that lots to get us
through the day (but opportunities to fill up through the day are almost always
available). </span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-10751111645006634202018-07-27T22:14:00.009-07:002021-01-17T17:59:18.655-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Food<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">In three words: bring your own. </span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BOn2FN-Xlrg/W1hpv5WpODI/AAAAAAAAFb8/IAx78OfySmooaSGqyejWK5Q_fmO-c4viwCLcBGAs/s1600/papua%2B627.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BOn2FN-Xlrg/W1hpv5WpODI/AAAAAAAAFb8/IAx78OfySmooaSGqyejWK5Q_fmO-c4viwCLcBGAs/s320/papua%2B627.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ubi - breakfast (and lunch and dinner) of champions</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">As you will quickly find out, the villagers have virtually
nothing in the way of food, other than sweet potatoes (AKA “ubi”) and the
associated greens from said potatoes. We were quite shocked at the complete
absence of anything other than sweet potatoes, despite what seems to be good
growing conditions for whatever you wanted to grow (although, I am not an
agricultural specialist, so I could be wrong). <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We brought a ton of food, and very very glad
we did.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">In theory yes, if you are staying with a family, they
will/should feed you. As mentioned though, we quickly found out that “food”
means sweet potatoes. And, when I say sweet potatoes, I mean they will
literally hand you a boiled sweet potato, and you simply eat it like an apple.
Needless to say, by the second or third day, it was all we could do to each
choke down half a potato each and then graciously decline any more. By the last
days, we simply didn’t even ask for food (it was like eating chalk towards the
end, even with the sweet Thai chili sauce we brought).</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Virtually nothing is for sale in terms of food, anywhere.
You may pass the odd woman selling a few bananas (which happened once), or some
such thing, but really, assume you will not be able to buy any food along the
way (other than the sweet potatoes your host family will give you). There is
nothing resembling a store out in the villages.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">The saving grace, is that they will provide you with boiled
water, meaning you can do tea/coffee/soup/instant meals, etc. So, do yourself a
favour, and bring tons of your own food. Pretend it is a backpacking trip in
the wilderness (bring yer nuts, fruit bars, granola, all of that stuff). You
will be very thankful to have real food. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot tips:</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you are coming from home, obviously, bring
all of your food from your home country</span></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CjPUbHMeNJY/W1hpzCB-UzI/AAAAAAAAFcA/XmZNIgbXbmkf4QMN76XAInfrJJMK2wJQACLcBGAs/s1600/papua%2B434.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="950" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CjPUbHMeNJY/W1hpzCB-UzI/AAAAAAAAFcA/XmZNIgbXbmkf4QMN76XAInfrJJMK2wJQACLcBGAs/s320/papua%2B434.JPG" width="189" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Instant noodles - do it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you are travelling (i.e., SE Asia/Indonesia),
bring all of your food from where you are coming from (e.g., Jakarta,
Bali)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you must, and have no other option, you could
survive by buying your food in Wamena. There are shops, and 1 “bigger” grocery
store (see “Wamena” section above) – but don’t think yer going to be eating anything
fresh, or dried fruit, or resembling good camping food. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Instant noodles: OK, we never eat these at home,
but wow, did we crave these. We brought one package each per day. When we got
to our destination, the first thing we did was ask for boiled water, and had
instant noodle soup. Delicious! (and highly recommended </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">).</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring a thermos. When you ask for hot water, you
will invariably be provided with a large kettle full of hot water. Fantastic,
except that it just cools off in the next 30 mins. Having a thermos would allow
you fill up your thermos and keep the water hot for the next rounds and into
the evening. We didn’t have one, but wished we did. </span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-60894370646546541002018-07-27T22:14:00.008-07:002021-01-17T17:53:58.463-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Money<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u5be72g2yyc/W1hW8Phb0bI/AAAAAAAAFbQ/qCSjECbisZw4sBnbU3OpURzEqshz9VULgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2909.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u5be72g2yyc/W1hW8Phb0bI/AAAAAAAAFbQ/qCSjECbisZw4sBnbU3OpURzEqshz9VULgCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_2909.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Outside of Wamena, there is no source of money (i.e., no
ATMs/banks). So, bring all the cash (Indonesian Rupiah, obviously) you will
need for the entire trip. However, because there is almost nothing to spend
money on, you don’t need much. You will have to pay for accommodation (100,000
per person per night), and then hey, maybe you’ll buy a necklace off a guy with
a penis gourd or something like that. Literally, that’s it. So, if you have
200,000 Rp per person per day plus emergency money, you would be fine. I always
bring tons, just in case (money doesn’t go bad).</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot tip:</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring all of your cash (Indonesian Rupiah) with
you from whatever large Indonesian city you are coming from. That way you don’t
have to worry about it.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Try to have small bills/change, so you can pay
with exact change. The guy with the penis gourd, he has no change on him </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-5967834304714577602018-07-27T22:13:00.008-07:002021-01-17T18:01:29.895-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Guides and Porters<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">As mentioned repeatedly, our hatred for guided tours meant
we did not have a guide, or porters. That said, almost all adult men you meet
will offer to guide you (for a fee obviously). Truth be told, we used one guy
for about an hour once, to take us to the next village when the trail we were
on disappeared because of a series of huge landslides. We gave him a few rupiah
and a snickers bar, which he seemed quite happy with. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0ECprPfDEQ/W1mROllhFsI/AAAAAAAAFcQ/POv3l1Hy-K4kqqYmYqGcNa6XI8hUZo_VwCLcBGAs/s1600/papua%2B666.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0ECprPfDEQ/W1mROllhFsI/AAAAAAAAFcQ/POv3l1Hy-K4kqqYmYqGcNa6XI8hUZo_VwCLcBGAs/s320/papua%2B666.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, if you do find yourself stuck, or lost, or confused, or
unsure, fear not. It is quite feasible and easy, to find a random person
(typically adult men, but also kids could do it; women are too busy working </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">) who will show you the
way, or simply guide you for as long as you require the services. I am quite
sure, that would be far cheaper, and much more efficient, than arranging a
guide in Wamena for the entire trip (which is also easy to do, if you really
really want/need a guide). </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">As well, while we did not hire any porters, I am also quite
sure it would be very easy to hire random people to carry your pack(s), again
for a fee obviously. We were regularly asked if we needed guiding/porter
services. It would not be a problem to arrange any/all of this on the fly out
in the villages.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In terms of guide/porter costs, I have no first-hand
knowledge. But, a Dutch couple we spoke to in Wamena, paid 400,000 Rp. (28 USD)
per day for a guide, that was pre-arranged in Wamena. However, they also had to
pay for groceries (to feed themselves and him), and cigarettes for him (really,
that was part of the deal). They said the trip turned out OK, but the food was
a disaster (they ran out), and the guy smoked all the cigarettes in the first
two days. Again, just sayin’ </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot tips:</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you really feel you need a guide/porter(s),
you can arrange it in Wamena, no problem. Rut, at Hogorasuak Guesthouse (see
“Wamena” section) can arrange it for you, for example.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">A do-it-yourself option if you are unsure, is to
arrange guides on the fly. As you will find out, most of the trails to most of
the villages in the main valleys are obvious and easy navigated. If you get
into a situation that makes you nervous, find a random guy, and almost for sure
this person will be happy to show you the way to your destination village for a
few rupiah.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-79257422572463257962018-07-27T22:13:00.007-07:002021-01-17T17:53:34.585-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Garbage and Hygiene<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C3Ob_0T_nhg/W1mSax8WT7I/AAAAAAAAFck/2A0auh8DgysowsU7FnTf7JmMS18yS3d0ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3214.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="759" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C3Ob_0T_nhg/W1mSax8WT7I/AAAAAAAAFck/2A0auh8DgysowsU7FnTf7JmMS18yS3d0ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3214.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">It’s funny being a Canadian in a place like Indonesia. If
you are like me, you find yourself walking the streets with a plastic wrapper
in your hand for an hour or two, because there just isn’t anywhere to put it,
other than on the ground. Well, that is exactly the situation in the Baliem
Valley. There are no garbage (i.e., rubbish (UK)/trash (USA)) bins anywhere,
even in villages. Anything you leave behind, whether it is in a house, or on a
table, will almost certainly end up on the ground somewhere, as someone is
forced to simply toss it out the door.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">So, yet again, your call: leave it behind to get tossed into
the forest, or just hold onto it for your trek. In Canada, we call it “pack it
in, pack it out”. Because I just can’t get myself to throw a piece of plastic
on the ground in the forest, we packed it all out. But really, how much does a
wrapper weigh? Anyway, not telling you how to live, just sayin’, anything left
behind will end up on the ground. So bring a garbage bag or something like that
if you opt for the “pack it out” option.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In terms of hygiene, the obvious applies: bring all personal
hygiene products you desire – for example, toilet paper and related
matters.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is no resupply out in the
villages </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot tips:</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring a plastic bag for garbage and pack it out
(if you go that route)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring toilet paper and related hygiene products
– there are none in the villages</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-35355069321790514382018-07-27T22:13:00.006-07:002021-01-17T17:53:16.973-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Malaria and things like that<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">OK, this is another one of these “your call” things. If you
do your research, which I am sure you will, you will see that Papua is one of
those places where you are supposed to take precautions against malaria, among
a bunch of other things. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Long story short: we didn’t, and yet again, survived.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05Xjah-WFwo/W1mXcXggXtI/AAAAAAAAFc8/grwsI9QmlpY15z1QgbkIplLmnY9mb2_4ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3061.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: -24px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-05Xjah-WFwo/W1mXcXggXtI/AAAAAAAAFc8/grwsI9QmlpY15z1QgbkIplLmnY9mb2_4ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3061.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">So, like the water thing, I’m not saying “don’t”. I’m just
saying we didn’t, and to my knowledge neither of us has malaria or any other
disease/virus. A key point here is that Wamena is at an elevation of 1660 m,
and you will be hiking at elevations between 1500 and 2500 m (if you go to the
area we went). The area can therefore be described as “the highlands”, and
therefore not a high-risk malaria zone.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">In terms of mosquitoes, we were not bothered by them, other
than one evening in Wamena when there were some mosquitoes around. I’m not
saying there are zero mosquitoes, just very few to the point that I don’t
remember any during our trek. Put it this way: we brought mosquito repellent,
and didn’t use it once.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot tips:</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring mosquito repellent. It’s the least you can
do. It weighs nothing, and will give some piece of mind. If you don’t use it
(we didn’t), who cares.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you are nervous about the malaria thing, then
hey, take the pills, and sleep soundly.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-36627510804032766972018-07-27T22:12:00.003-07:002021-01-17T18:05:39.563-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: The Map<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">If you are like me, you are looking desperately for a nice
glossy map entitled “Trekking Routes in the Baliem Valley”. Surely there’s a
map of the trails and villages, right? Nope. Not that I know of. There are
various things on the internet ranging from hand-drawn to inaccurate, and,
apparently something sketchy available at an internet café in Wamena (it was
closed when we went) – but nothing in terms of an accurate, to-scale, map.
Shocking, but true.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">So, in the interest of sharing, here is a useable, to-scale
map of our route. The red line is our route, and what we encountered. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Obviously, there are more trails and villages
than what is shown on this map. So don’t send me hate mail telling me I missed
a village or trail or something like that </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
Long story short: if you want to do the route we did, or part of it, this map
will get you there and back. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Note:</u> if you are a GPS-savvy person, and want the
track file (gpx/kml) shoot me an email, I’ll send it to you. If you want a higher resolution image, also feel free to contact me.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T2_SRSUOTck/W1v1VqdUt_I/AAAAAAAAFes/xqRfPQW6Oekud0ftKuJyxo_sFbubGAYCwCLcBGAs/s1600/v2-tiff.tif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="889" height="401" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T2_SRSUOTck/W1v1VqdUt_I/AAAAAAAAFes/xqRfPQW6Oekud0ftKuJyxo_sFbubGAYCwCLcBGAs/s640/v2-tiff.tif" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-family: calibri; font-size: x-large; text-align: right;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-73231280155940830902018-07-27T22:12:00.002-07:002021-01-17T17:48:48.583-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Gifts<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6-FFdikHIXM/W1mX_c0JlLI/AAAAAAAAFdE/W-MeDhCp2ng482_SAkMABFSdOoNXV3D9QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3005.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6-FFdikHIXM/W1mX_c0JlLI/AAAAAAAAFdE/W-MeDhCp2ng482_SAkMABFSdOoNXV3D9QCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3005.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Our biggest regret was not bringing enough stuff to give
away. It gets a bit awkward while 6 people are watching you make coffee, and
then you sit and drink your coffee (we often had to go inside to get away). If
you have enough to offer, they will only be too happy to accept, and it
obviously makes for a nice interaction. So that’s my advice: bring things,
especially food/drink items, to give them, while you are making yourself
something. I gave away all of my coffee packages, and wish I had brought more
to give away. A huge hit, that I would highly recommend, is bringing Mentos.
Widely available in Indonesia, they have the advantage of not being
individually wrapped (so no garbage on the ground afterwards). We brought 1
roll each per day (yes, we had 12 rolls of Mentos), and we easily gave them all
away to kids in the villages. Could have given away 5 times as many.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>A note on cigarettes:</u> there are 2 things you will
specifically be asked for. Kids ask for “gula”, which means sugar in Indonesia
(i.e., candy; see Mentos discussion above, no problem). Adults, with few
exceptions, ask for cigarettes. Sad but true. The one thing they really want
from the modern world, will kill them. We didn’t have any, so it was an easy
answer. But that now leaves you with an ethical choice. If you really want to
be a rock star to them, bring lots of cigarettes and give them out. You will be
Santa Claus. But it’s that “it will kill you” thing, that makes it interesting.
Again, your call. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot Tips:</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Definitely bring lots of stuff to give away.
They have very few commercially available products, and will appreciate
anything you offer.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In our experience, Mentos (for kids) and sugary
coffee packages (those 3 in 1 things) were a big hit. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Bring photos of your family/home to show them.
They are very interested in all of that, and loved looking at photos we had on
our phones.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">At the last place we stayed, we gave the lady in
charge all of our left-over food, which again, was a huge hit.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-85457968111038844642018-07-27T22:11:00.002-07:002021-01-17T17:52:26.392-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: What we did (very specifically)<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-osMgvaD8M9g/W1vtKz0B7pI/AAAAAAAAFeQ/OzkDHKMP13AVT6FXIRcgD3WAMKymWt3OwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2999.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-osMgvaD8M9g/W1vtKz0B7pI/AAAAAAAAFeQ/OzkDHKMP13AVT6FXIRcgD3WAMKymWt3OwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2999.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>A cautionary tale:</u> Before we start with the detailed
route description, one caveat (admission actually). On Day 4, we found
ourselves alone on the trail, with no one to ask directions, and trail
decisions to make (recall the “no signage” thing). With no real map, we had
been relying on locals to point the way. We hadn’t seen a human in hours. As if
scripted by Hollywood, the clouds rolled in, it started to rain, and fog made
seeing more than our feet below us, impossible. Cutting to the chase, several
hours later we found ourselves, well, not entirely sure, but pretty sure, not
on the right trail. It was late in the afternoon, pouring rain, zero visibility,
and somewhere on the side of a mountain in Papua. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">By what can only be called luck, we happened upon a small
grass lean-to, presumably set up as a temporary day shelter for someone out in
the mountains, tending to sweet potatoes. It was a gift, and we took it. We
spent the night in our little grass lean-to (after all, we had everything we
needed and were quite comfy). The morning was, as the saying goes, “another
day”. We arose to good weather, waited for the fog to lift, found the main
trail, and returned to our original schedule. While “all is well that ends
well”, it was a stressful 24 hours, and a reminder that things do not always go
as planned, and you need to be ready for an emergency overnight.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Now, the reason I am describing all of that, is because the
route description I will be recommending below, does not include our little
diversion to the grass lean-to. The route description, GPS route, and map below
IS the main route that you want to follow (I edited out our little diversion). </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">The Route</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Alrighty then, the Coles notes version of the route is (see map in previous section):</span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border: medium; margin: 0px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-image: none; border: 1.33px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 28.4pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><b>Day</b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.33px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 395.5pt;" valign="top" width="791"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><b>Summary</b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 28.4pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 395.5pt;" valign="top" width="791"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">From Wamena accom, drive to Sogokmo Trailhead, hike to Hitugi,
overnight in Hitugi</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 28.4pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">2</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 395.5pt;" valign="top" width="791"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">From Hitugi, hike to Yogosen, overnight in Yogosen</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 28.4pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 395.5pt;" valign="top" width="791"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">From Yogosen, hike to Syokosimo, overnight in Syokosimo</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 28.4pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">4</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 395.5pt;" valign="top" width="791"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">From Syokosimo, hike to Wesagalep, overnight in Wesagalep</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 28.4pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">5</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 395.5pt;" valign="top" width="791"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">From Weagalep, hike to Tangma, overnight in Tangma.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 28.4pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">6</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 395.5pt;" valign="top" width="791"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">From Tangma, hike to Kurima or Sugokmo Trailhead, back to Wamena via
vehicle</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Day 1</u>: this is a nice, straight-forward, gradual
ascending hike along mostly good, open, obvious trails. From the trailhead, go
down the trail to the bridge, cross the bridge, turn right on the other side,
then follow the trail to Hitugi. It is a good intro to the trip and gets you up
and into the heart of the Baliem. Just ask people for “Hitugi” and they will
point you in the right direction. Can’t go wrong.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><u>Day 2</u>: From Hitugi, the trail descends down to the Mugi
River and the village of Yuarima. Go through Yuarima, about 10 minutes after Yuarima, there is a footbridge across the Mugi (can’t miss it). Cross the bridge, then
go straight up the steep trail/hill, on the other side, to Upper Yuarima.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> From Upper Yuarima, there is a good, obvious trail going up the valley to Yogosen.
Again, just ask people for “Yogosen”. It’s a big climb to Yogosen, but the
trail is obvious and the scenery is stunning. There is a good water system in Upper Yuarima just before starting the trail to Yogosen. Fill up on water
there.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Day 3</u>: Coming back down from Yogosen takes a fraction
of the time it took going up. At Upper Yuarima, look for a trail going off/up
to the left. It’s not obvious, and is rough in spots. Ask someone for
“Seikama”, and they will point you in the right direction. The trail goes up
steeply, then contours along the side of the valley for a while (a bit rough of
a trail), eventually coming back down to the river and the village of
Syokosimo, which is right on a beautiful stretch of the river. Very nice. Just
before Syokosimo, you will pass a “traditional” foot bridge (i.e., made from
vines and other natural materials – but looked doable) that crosses the Mugi.
That provides an alternative crossing point to go back to the north side of the
Mugi.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Day 4</u>: OK, this is crux day. After Syokosimo, things
get a tad more challenging in terms of route finding until Wesagalep – mostly because
it’s more remote and there are no people around (it’s the boonies). When we did
it, the trail to Huerema was washed out, and we gave a local guy a snickers bar
to show us the way to Huerema, which he did. We then made our own way to
Wuserem on a good trail, no problem. Beyond Wuserem, we literally saw no people
until Wesagalep, and took a wrong turn at one point – hence our emergency
overnight (see cautionary tale above). <u>Therefore, I would strongly recommend for Wuserem (or even Syokosimo) to Wesagalep: (1) find/pay a guy to guide you to Wesagalep (which would be very easy to arrange on the fly), or (2) have the GPS track on your GPS unit and know how to follow it </u>(email me if you want the track file). The trails are generally
decent, but it is a long, hilly, tiring trek between these 2 villages, and
there are several critical trail intersections, which are not signed or
obvious, and therefore give you little/no indication of which trail to take. The
area though, is beautiful and worth the effort. Go for it!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Day 5</u>: From Wesagalep, the trail is insanely steep
down to the Baliem River to the footbridge (can’t miss it, it’s huge – also a
bit “sketchy” in that the wooden planks look dodgy – use caution when
crossing). Cross the bridge, turn right, then head back up a decent trail to
Wamerek, a nice little village with beautiful views. Wamerek to Tangma is a
‘walk in the park”, or so it feels. Big, obvious, gentle trail. Beautiful area.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Day 6</u>: Tangma to Upper Ibiroma is a steep, rough
climb, but more/less obvious. Once you top out and see your first honai in
Upper Ibiroma (nice views!), it’s easy sailing from there on big, wide, open
trails with stunning views all the way down to Kurima. Can’t go wrong.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">The Stats</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 8px 0px;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f0zNRUypR3Y/W1vv2rJ4-HI/AAAAAAAAFeg/prHFWiiKvycVy6K42g_loMZbpBQWCtWYQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3371.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f0zNRUypR3Y/W1vv2rJ4-HI/AAAAAAAAFeg/prHFWiiKvycVy6K42g_loMZbpBQWCtWYQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3371.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">The following table is a detailed breakdown of each day of our
route from point to point. i.e., if you want to do the route we did, this is
the schedule I would recommend, more or less.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 8px 0px 8px 48px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">For “Trail Difficulty” as in the table below, the following
apply:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1 = good/decent, obvious trail; generally flat or gentle up/down</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">2 = varied conditions with challenging sections</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">3 = steep and/or rough trail; generally physically challenging</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 8px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">This is a listing of day by day hiking stats for key locations
along the route. Important footnotes are below:</span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border: medium; margin: 0px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-image: none; border: 1.33px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Day<sup>1</sup></span></span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.33px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" width="115"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">From</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.33px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">To</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.33px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Length</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">(km)</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.33px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Time<sup>2</sup></span></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">(hrs:mins)</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.33px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Trail Difficulty</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.33px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" width="377"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Comments</span></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sogokmo Trailhead<sup>3</sup></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bridge over Baliem<sup>4</sup></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">0.9</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">0:15</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Easy down</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bridge</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seima</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">4.7</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1:45</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mostly flat, some mud</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seima</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ikinim</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3.4</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1:15</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gradual climb, good obvious trail</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ikinim</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ugem</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>0.9</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">0:30</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gradual climb, good obvious trail</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ugem</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hitugi</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">4.5</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1:45</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gradual climb, good obvious trail</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td colspan="3" style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 143.95pt;" valign="top" width="288"><div align="right" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Totals</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">14.4</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">5:30</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" valign="top" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hitugi</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yuarima</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3.8</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1:15</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Easy, mostly down</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" valign="top" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yuarima</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yogosem</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">6.5</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">4:00</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">BIG climb, but trail is decent and obvious</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td colspan="3" style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 143.95pt;" valign="top" width="288"><div align="right" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Totals</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">10.3</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">5:15</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yogosem</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Upper Yuarima</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">5.7</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1:45</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">BIG descent, but trail is decent and obvious</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Upper Yuarima</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seikama</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3.4</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2:00</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2/3</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mostly a high contour, but rough trail with
initial climb</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" valign="top" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seikama</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Syokosimo</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3.3</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2:00</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Down, nice trail</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td colspan="3" style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 143.95pt;" valign="top" width="288"><div align="right" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Totals</span></span></b><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">12.4</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">5:45</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" valign="top" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">4</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Syokosimo</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wuserum<sup>5</sup></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3.6</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1:45</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Washouts; difficult route finding</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">4</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wuserum</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wesagalep<sup>6</sup></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">8.7</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">4:00</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2/3</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Good trail for most of it, but has demanding
climbs and descents, and river crossings; also has critical, unmarked
turn-offs<sup>6</sup></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td colspan="3" style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 143.95pt;" valign="top" width="288"><div align="right" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Totals</span></span></b><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">12.3</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">5:45</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">5</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wesagalep</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wamerek<sup>6</sup></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">4.3</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3:30</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Very steep descent to sketchy bridge over
Baliem River, then steep ascent on rough trail</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" valign="top" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">5</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wamerek</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tangma</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3.1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1:30</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Easy, gentle climb</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td colspan="3" style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 143.95pt;" valign="top" width="288"><div align="right" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Totals</span></span></b><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">7.4</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">5:00</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" valign="top" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">6</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tangma</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ibiroma</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3.9</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2:30</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">3</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Big climb on rough trail</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" valign="top" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">6</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ibiroma</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kilise</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1.9</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">0:30</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nice open trail</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 27.6pt;" valign="top" width="55"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">6</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 57.65pt;" valign="top" width="115"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kilise</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.7pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kurima<sup>7</sup></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2.4</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1:00</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nice open trail</span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 23; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td colspan="3" style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 143.95pt;" valign="top" width="288"><div align="right" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Totals</span></span></b><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 43.6pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">8.2</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.65pt;" valign="top" width="107"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">4:00</span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 49.25pt;" valign="top" width="99"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 188.35pt;" valign="top" width="377"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>1</sup>The
day indications are a guideline based on our trek.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>2</sup>Times
are actual hiking times, i.e., does not include break times during the day. We
were generally on the trails for 6 hours a day +/-. Basic schedule was leaving
around 9 am, arriving at destination village around 3 pm, with little breaks
here and there.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>3</sup>The
“Sogokmo Trailhead” is a non-descript, side-of-the-road situation. There is
nothing there. It is literally a trail going off from a pull-out in the road. If
you ask someone if it goes to Seima and/or Hitugi, and they say yes, that’s it!
For some reason, people call this location “Sogokmo”, but there is no
town/buildings where the trail starts.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>4</sup>This
is a good walking bridge over the Baliem River. Not to be confused with the
bridge over the Baliem that is located at Kurima (see footnote 6).</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>5</sup>As
of June 2018, the trail between Syokosimo and Huerema disappears due to massive
washouts along the river, requiring non-obvious walk-arounds. We ended up
having a guy show us the way to the next village. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>6</sup>As
mentioned in the “cautionary tale” above, this is where we took a wrong turn,
and ended up in the jungle between Wuserem and Wesagalep for the night. Getting
to Wesagalep for the night is therefore the recommendation.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>7</sup>We
ended our trek where the pavement starts/ends in Kurima. Because we didn’t
realize that the road to Sogokmo/Wamena is washed out, we erroneously ended our
hike here, and had to take multiple motorcycle taxis, combined with walking
across a very sketchy log bridge, to get back to Sogokmo, to finally arrange a
ride back to Wamena. If we had known that, we would have continued hiking by
crossing the foot bridge in Kurima, and then hiking back to Sogokmo via Seima
on the east side of the Baliem River – <u>this would be a good option to avoid the road washout issues between Kurima and Sogokmo (unless they actually fix the road on day). In other words: start and finish your trek at the Sogokmo Trailhead, where there are usually vehicles waiting to transport people back and forth to Wamena.</u></span></span></div>
<u></u><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">GPS Locations</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXqRhcEvP0M/W1vtKvlgufI/AAAAAAAAFeI/dCGpUdT7SrYoSI-bMy37aetY_DXKHmewQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3329.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXqRhcEvP0M/W1vtKvlgufI/AAAAAAAAFeI/dCGpUdT7SrYoSI-bMy37aetY_DXKHmewQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3329.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">The following is a listing of GPS locations and elevations
of villages and other major features along our route. Be sure to read the
footnotes below.</span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 23.66px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td rowspan="2" style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-image: none; border: 1.33px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" width="272"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Location<sup>1</sup></span></span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.33px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 123.6pt;" width="247"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">GPS
coordinate<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>in decimal degrees (datum =
WGS 84)</span></b></div>
</td>
<td rowspan="2" style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-width: 1.33px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Elevation</span></b></div>
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">(m)</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Latitude</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: rgb(214, 227, 188); border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Longitude</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Sugokmo Trailhead</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.18939 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.00439</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1728</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bridge over Baliem-1<sup>2</sup></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.18838 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.01117</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1623</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Seima</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.21245 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.03810</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1640</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Ikinim</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.22757 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.06171</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1881</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hitugi</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.22300</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.09948</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">2021</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Yuarima</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.22202 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.13020</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1857</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bridge over Mugi-1<sup>3</sup></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.22074 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.13432</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1828</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Yogosen</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.24678 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.16904</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">2464</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Seikama</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.22937 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.11080</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">2071</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Seseg</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.23321 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.10245</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1879</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bridge over Mugi-2<sup>4</sup></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.23646 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.09611</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1653</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Syokosimo</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.23934 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.08858</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1630</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Huerema</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.24583 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.07398</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1687</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Wuserem</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.25464 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.07290</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1743</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">River crossing<sup>5</sup></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.28808 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.08798</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">2000</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Wesagalep</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.29847 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.07003</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1963</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bridge over Baliem-2<sup>6</sup></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.28675 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.06385</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1270</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Wamerek</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.27973 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.06046</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1512</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Lower Tangma</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.26738 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.05228</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1677</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Tangma</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.26015 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.04706</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1771</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Upper Ibiroma</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.26202 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.05817</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">2019</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Ibiroma</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.24732 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.05682</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1940</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 24;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Kilise</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.23515 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.04850</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1854</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 25; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none 100% / 1 / 0 stretch; border-style: none solid solid; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 136.15pt;" valign="top" width="272"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Kurima</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 51.6pt;" valign="top" width="103"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">S4.21885 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1in;" valign="top" width="144"><div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">E139.03771</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 1.33px 1.33px 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 58.65pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1576</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>1</sup>locations
listed in order as you would encounter then, if you are doing the route as we
did.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>2</sup>Nice
big footbridge, no worries.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>3</sup>Nice
big footbridge, no worries.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>4</sup>We
didn’t use this bridge, we passed by it on the trail. It is a traditional
footbridge made out of local materials, but looks useable if you wanted to
cross the Mugi at this location.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>5</sup>A
tributary to the Baliem, no bridge, but feasible to cross, if you are willing
to get your feet wet.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><sup>6</sup>This
is a big bridge, across a substantial stretch of the Baliem. Interestingly, the
wooden planks in the bridge are somewhat sketchy. Caution advised – but doable.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-85588835458163293432018-07-27T22:10:00.002-07:002021-01-17T17:51:47.889-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Alternative Routes and Schedules<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_HHF19-nqQ/W1mZC8E1TEI/AAAAAAAAFdQ/s87S_gtJjLg6r67LRW9oUdyMnySJ5rhpgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3425.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_HHF19-nqQ/W1mZC8E1TEI/AAAAAAAAFdQ/s87S_gtJjLg6r67LRW9oUdyMnySJ5rhpgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3425.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">So, what has been described up to this point is a 6-day
trip. There are however, many variations of this area that could result in any
length of hike you want. Here are some ideas:</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Day hike</u> – honestly, I wouldn’t recommend a day hike
out to this area. By the time you arranged transport to Sogokmo Trailhead (and
back at the end of the day), and then got on the trail, you wouldn’t really
make it very far before you would have to turn around and come back. Just
sayin’. Although, you could probably get to Ugem and back to Wamena in a day,
if you really only have one day. Nice views from Ugem!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Overnighter</u> (i.e. 2-day hike) – a good overnighter
would be to hike to Hitugi, stay overnight, then simply come back the same way.
i.e., get a drive to Sogokmo Trailhead, hike to Hitugi, then return same way.
You would get a good taste of what the Baliem valley looks like, and Hitugi is
a nice village, with places to stay (find the nice house with blue trim beside
the church!).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>4-day trip</u> – a great hike would be straight out to
Yogosen, via Hitugi and Yuarima. You will see the breadth of the Baliem and
Mugi, and get up high. Night 1 = Hitugi, Night 2 = Yogosen. Coming back you
could retrace your steps, or, if looking for a bit of adventure, come back via
Seikama, cross the Mugi on the traditional footbridge after Seseg, and go back
via Ugem (i.e., Night 3). </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><u>7+ days</u> – an alternative, if you have tons of time,
is to do the route we did, but spend more than one night in locations. Yogosen
would be a good place to spend 2 nights, with potential day-hiking options for
your “day off”. Also, Wesagalep, Tangma, or Ibiroma would make nice rest days
to extend the trip. You might want a day off in Wesagalep </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Hot tip:</span></u></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Unless you are only going to Hitugi and back, I
recommend carrying extra food, and giving yourself an optional buffer day in
case you need to spend an extra night out in the villages. It’s the kind of
place where a lot of things can happen, like taking the wrong trail, washouts,
weather, and so on, can mess up even the best-laid plan. There is no way out,
other than walking, so there is no emergency extraction options to get back for
your 10 am flight </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: red; text-align: right; text-indent: 0px;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-88798459332961722122018-07-27T22:09:00.001-07:002021-01-17T17:51:28.243-08:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: More miscellaneous info<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsCB9q_9qHk/W1maID_3jFI/AAAAAAAAFdc/kJ9SFVwFLNw9wBe2PnDtpQysWPpR-vkMwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_3324.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsCB9q_9qHk/W1maID_3jFI/AAAAAAAAFdc/kJ9SFVwFLNw9wBe2PnDtpQysWPpR-vkMwCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_3324.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Sogokmo/Kurima:</u> There’s a bit of confusion in the
internet information about these two places. First, “Sogokmo” from what I can
tell is what people (and one local guy I talked to) are calling the place where
we started our hike, i.e., what I am calling the “Sogokmo Trailhead” (see map/GPS
coordinates). The “Sogokmo Trailhead” is a non-descript, side-of-the-road situation.
There is nothing there. It is literally a trail going off from a pull-out in
the road. There is no town or buildings, just a pull-out on the road.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Now, Kurima, is bona-fide town with lots of houses and
buildings. It is indeed the end of the paved road. There are some references to
people starting/finishing hikes in Kurima, but that must have been before a
major washout event took out the road to Kurima. In June 2018, the road between
Kurima and Sogokmo is washed out in places, and therefore, there is no vehicle
access between the two locations. This is a massive washout that appears to
have been here for years. It is possible (i.e., this is what we ended up doing)
to arrange motorcycle transport between Kurima and the washout, walk across the
washout, then get another motorcycle transport to where vehicles are parked at the
Sogokmo Trailhead – or the reverse obviously. Kind of annoying, but doable.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><u>Based on the above washout situation, an alternative exit strategy, which I would recommend if you have the extra hiking time, is: use the foot bridge at Kurima to cross the Baliem River, and return (hike) to the Sogokmo Trailhead via Seima on the east side of the river -- although, this would add a few hours to the hike. In other words: start and end your hike at the Sogokmo Trailhead -- thus avoiding the Kurima - Sogokmo washout logistics headache.</u></span></div>
<u></u><br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><u>Getting to the Sogokmo Trailhead:</u> From Wamena, it’s
about 40 mins +/- to the Sogokmo Trailhead by vehicle. The easiest way to do
that would be to arrange a driver/vehicle at your accommodation in Wamena.
Another option is to make your way to Pasar Wouma, which is a street market on
the road leading out of town on the road to Kurima. You can easily walk there
from anywhere in Wamena. Once there, either grab a bemo (over-stuffed minibus),
or just find someone who will drive you. We found a guy almost immediately, and
it costed 200,000 Rp. (15 USD). The bemo guy quoted us 25,000 Rp each (2 USD),
but we went with the private car offer (you’ll see why we opted out of the bemo
offer </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">).</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nKjf_MRoaYE/W1mb26-lqGI/AAAAAAAAFdw/-S_xGbQET6kO-WCCClkPCFu8DzXXwXXygCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3341.JPG" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nKjf_MRoaYE/W1mb26-lqGI/AAAAAAAAFdw/-S_xGbQET6kO-WCCClkPCFu8DzXXwXXygCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3341.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Getting back to Wamena from Sogokmo Trailhead:</u> upon
our victorious return to the trailhead, there were several vehicles taking
people back, and we again quickly arranged a ride back to Wamena (to our door)
for 200,000 Rp. Easy.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>A note on trails:</u> trail conditions vary wildly from
something you could drive a car down, to a hard-to-see goat trail.
Interestingly, the size of the trail does not always correlate to the main
trail. i.e., sometimes the best-looking trail is just a trail to someone’s
grass hut, while the scraggy little trail going off to the left, is “the”
trail. Do not assume something is not “the” trail, simply because it looks
small and rough. Villages are particularly difficult to navigate, since the
trails go off in all directions, and you literally walk through people’s
gardens and places you would not think is “the” trail – hence, the importance
of being able to ask for directions (which you will need to do).</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; text-align: right;">(click on "older posts" for more)</span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320842087917258409.post-69341594422206992382018-07-27T22:08:00.000-07:002018-08-29T03:45:36.540-07:00Trekking in the Baliem Valley: Credits<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvBh7I2G0pE/W1mcrbgAn0I/AAAAAAAAFd8/HG1fK1t6tqsxab-2KwjG0qRzzgcnpKRtACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvBh7I2G0pE/W1mcrbgAn0I/AAAAAAAAFd8/HG1fK1t6tqsxab-2KwjG0qRzzgcnpKRtACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3085.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">To give credit where credit is due, I am grateful for the
information we were able to collect prior to our trip from the following
sources. As they say, we are all standing on the shoulders of those who came
before us.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">1. Lonely Planet Guide to Indonesia: where I got the idea,
liked the sound of it, and put it on the to-do list. An idea is a powerful
thing!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2. These guys’ blog: <a href="http://baliemvalleytrekking.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://baliemvalleytrekking.blogspot.com/</span></a>
-- To Jaco Roesch and Nate Roter, a huge thank you for the most complete
description of what we were going to find. Your blog was the reason we brought Thai
chili sauce for the sweet potatoes, and the Mentos for the kids. </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> It is definitely still
a very relevant read.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">3. This guy’s map: <a href="http://www.thisboundlessworld.com/papua-map-and-guide-to-independent-trekking-in-the-baliem-valley"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.thisboundlessworld.com/papua-map-and-guide-to-independent-trekking-in-the-baliem-valley</span></a>
-- while not perfect, and not to scale, it proved to be the
best useable map we found on the internet, and served its purpose for us to get
around. We used it every day, and it pretty much made the mission possible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-y4nZu70Ok/W1v4V5QrwfI/AAAAAAAAFe4/iEEGFiO25LA7kqTzYMp5hhpr1f5aypDUACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-y4nZu70Ok/W1v4V5QrwfI/AAAAAAAAFe4/iEEGFiO25LA7kqTzYMp5hhpr1f5aypDUACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2897.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">OK, Good Luck!</span></div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0