Climb Mount Wilhelm, 6 Days

Mount Wilhelm stands in the Bismarck Range on the boundary of Simbu, Jiwaka and Madang provinces. Its height is 4509 m. It is the highest point of the independent state of Papua New Guinea.

It is important to describe the geographical status of the summit correctly. Mount Wilhelm is lower than Carstensz Pyramid, 4884 m, which stands in the Indonesian part of the same island. In the classic Seven Summits project, Australia is represented by Kosciuszko in the Bass list or by Carstensz Pyramid in the Messner list. Mount Wilhelm belongs to neither list.

The standard route approaches from Simbu province. The mountain part begins in the Keglsugl area, where the group stays in a lodge at about 2820 m. From here the track climbs through wet forest and an open high valley to the lakes Piunde and Aunde. Beside the lakes, at about 3580 m, stands a simple base hut.

The main advantage of the six-day programme is the separate acclimatisation outing. Participants first walk up to base camp and return to the lodge, then repeat the route the following day and stay overnight in the hut. That sequence gives extra time to adapt before the summit, though it does not rule out an individual reaction to altitude.

Good physical condition helps you cope with long days on foot, but it does not replace a gradual gain in altitude and attention to how you feel.

The main difficulties are not technical climbing but the length of the effort, the altitude, the night start, the cold and changeable weather. The upper part of the route crosses rocky slopes and a rock ridge. After rain the track and the rocks become slippery, and thick cloud limits visibility.

The summit start normally begins around 1:00. The early start makes it possible to cover the upper part of the route before daytime cloud builds and, where possible, to meet sunrise near the summit. The final start time, the acceptable pace and the decision to turn back are all set by the lead guide.

The route passes through several natural zones. The lower part has wet mountain forest, ferns, mosses and orchids. Higher up the forest gives way to open grassy slopes, high lakes and rocky alpine landscape. Encounters with birds and other animals are possible, but not guaranteed.

Participants must be ready for long days on foot and for a descent of many hours after the summit. Age in itself is not an admission criterion. Participation by children, older travellers and people with chronic conditions is considered individually.

Accompanying travellers who do not intend to climb can stay at the lodge. Whether a walk on the accessible part of the route is possible is agreed in advance and depends on the make-up of the accompanying party, the weather and the state of the track.

The guide controls the pace and decides whether the route continues. Participation requires insurance for high-altitude trekking covering an altitude of 4509 m, search and rescue and emergency evacuation.

Day 1. Flight to Mount Hagen and transfer to Mount Wilhelm. Participants fly to Mount Hagen airport independently on a domestic flight from Port Moresby. The programme starts at Mount Hagen airport, so the recommended flight must be agreed with Mountain Guide before tickets are bought. A representative of the local team meets the group at the airport. After collecting baggage we set off for the Keglsugl area. The drive to the mountain lodge runs on a difficult road and takes about 5 to 6 hours depending on its condition. Local four-wheel-drive transport is used. Depending on the configuration of the vehicle, some seats may be in an open truck bed, so the level of comfort differs from an ordinary tourist transfer. Along the way there are views of highland valleys, settlements and rural districts of Papua New Guinea. On arrival we settle into the lodge, have dinner and prepare for the start of the trek. Night in the lodge. Sleeping altitude – 2820 m.

Day 2. Acclimatisation outing to base camp. After breakfast we make the first outing towards base camp. The track runs through wet mountain forest, stands of ferns and an open valley leading to the high lakes Piunde and Aunde. The climb to the base hut normally takes about 3 to 4 hours. At base camp we rest, have lunch and look around the lakes, then descend by the same track back to the lodge. The main aim of the day is gradual adaptation to altitude and a check on how the participants feel before the trek with an overnight stay. In heavy rain, poor track conditions or a decline in how someone feels, the guide may shorten the outing. Night in the lodge. Maximum altitude – about 3580 m. Distance from the lodge to base camp – about 5.5 km each way. Time for the ascent – about 3 to 4 hours.

Day 3. Trek to the Mount Wilhelm base camp. After breakfast we walk up to base camp again. The familiar route allows a steady pace, a check on how everyone feels and continued acclimatisation. Before setting out, participants pack a sleeping bag, warm clothing for the night, toiletries and the personal items they need into a separate soft duffel or rucksack. Porters carry the prepared baggage up to base camp and bring it back down to the lodge while the group is climbing. After settling into the hut, participants rest, have dinner and prepare clothing and equipment for the night start. The guide gives a briefing, checks head torches and announces the provisional wake-up time. Night in the base hut. Sleeping altitude – about 3580 m. Distance – about 5.5 km. Time for the trek – about 3 to 4 hours.

Day 4. Ascent of Mount Wilhelm, 4509 m. The wake-up call, a light breakfast and the start on the route are planned for around 1:00. The exact time is set by the lead guide according to the weather, the state of the track, the pace of the group and how the participants feel. The first part of the climb is covered in darkness. The group moves at a steady pace over rocky high-mountain terrain. The early start makes it possible to cover the main part of the climb before daytime cloud builds and, where possible, to reach the summit around sunrise. The decision to continue or to turn back is taken by the lead guide. Reaching the summit is not guaranteed: the safety of the participants and a safe return take priority over the sporting result. After the summit we begin the long descent to base camp. Here the group makes a short stop to rest, have a hot drink and eat, and then continues down to the lodge. This is the longest and physically hardest day of the programme. Night in the lodge. Maximum altitude – 4509 m. Duration – about 14 to 15 hours. Distance from base camp to the summit – about 5.3 km each way.

Day 5. Return to Port Moresby. After an early breakfast we leave the lodge for Mount Hagen airport. The drive takes about 5 to 6 hours, so the departure time is set by the domestic flight schedule and the current state of the road. Participants fly from Mount Hagen to Port Moresby independently on the recommended flight. On arrival a representative of the local team meets the group and arranges the transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in twin rooms and rest after the mountain part of the journey. Night in a hotel.

Day 6. End of the programme. Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time there is a transfer to the international terminal of Port Moresby airport. Participants check in for their flight themselves. The departure time from the hotel is set with the airline’s rules and the necessary margin before departure in mind.

• An experienced Mountain Guide team leader with high-altitude expedition experience – in the confirmed format
• Local mountain guides
• Personal porters to carry the agreed volume of baggage
• Group porters to carry the shared equipment and food
• Meals according to the programme
• Meeting the group at Mount Hagen airport
• Ground transfer Mount Hagen – Keglsugl – Mount Hagen
• Airport – hotel – airport transfers in Port Moresby
• Three nights' accommodation in the mountain lodge
• One night's accommodation in the base mountain hut
• Accommodation and base camp service fees
• Arranging the permit documentation the route requires
• One night's accommodation in a Port Moresby hotel after the ascent
• Twin-share accommodation in the Port Moresby hotel

• International flights to Port Moresby and back
• Domestic flights Port Moresby – Mount Hagen – Port Moresby
• The Papua New Guinea visa and consular fees
• Medical insurance covering high-altitude trekking to 4509 m, search and rescue and emergency evacuation
• Individual clothing, footwear and personal trekking equipment
• The single occupancy supplement for the Port Moresby hotel
• Additional nights caused by the international or domestic flight schedule chosen
• Medical and evacuation costs not covered by the insurer

Documentos:

• Passaporte internacional
• Passagens aéreas
• Seguro médico

Equipamento pessoal:

• Mochila para caminhadas diárias — capacidade mínima de 35 litros
• Mochila grande ou saco de 60-70 litros
• Saco de dormir — deve suportar pelo menos -5°C (pode ser alugado por 60 kin)
• Hidratador — 3 litros
• Bastões de trekking

Roupa e calçado:

• Camada base: camiseta de polipropileno de manga comprida (calças opcionais)
• Segunda camada: camisa de manga comprida de material de secagem rápida
• Terceira camada: suéter de manga comprida de merino ou material similar
• Quarta camada: jaqueta de fleece
• Quinta camada: jaqueta de Gore-Tex
• Calças de trekking compridas
• Calças impermeáveis
• Gaiters
• Meias grossas de lã/merino
• Botas de trekking
• Luvas de esqui ou de lã
• Gorro
• Cachecol ou gola de merino/lã
• Boné/chapéu para sol
• Tênis para viagens
• Roupas limpas e secas para viagem e para usar no lodge à noite

Diversos:

• Itens de higiene pessoal — escova/dente, pasta, papel higiênico, sabão, toalha pequena, shampoo
• Gel antisséptico para as mãos
• Lanterna de cabeça com autonomia mínima de 12 horas, com várias pilhas e lâmpadas sobressalentes
• Pequena farmácia pessoal — curativos/antifricção
• Aspirina/Nurofen (sem soníferos)
• Protetor solar/bálsamo labial
• Óculos de sol