Mt Giluwe Trekking Adventures with Adams Nomi
History
Australian explorers Mick Leahy, and his brother Dan, were the first Westerners to reach the area and to discover and climb Mount Giluwe. However, another explorer Jack Hides also laid claim to be the first to discover Mount Giluwe after viewing the peaks from the west in 1935. Hides aptly named them the Minaret Mountains. However the name did not stick after Leahy went to London in 1935 and set up a hearing into the two opposing claims at the Royal Geographical Society. Leahy delivered his address on
21 November 1935 and the following year Leahy was awarded a grant from the Society and published his discoveries in their journal. Being a part of the Volcanic 7 Summits, Mt Giluwe has attracted mountaineers from across the world. Satyarup Siddhanta became the first from India to climb Mt Giluwe as a part of his Volcanic 7 Summits journey. He is the youngest in the world to climb the seven summits and the volcanic seven summits. This peak has been climbed by many climbers like James Stone who keeps a track of climbers who climbed the volcanic 7 summits in his blog clachliath. He is the first Briton to climb the volcanic 7 summits. Theodore Fairhurst climbed this peak too and he is the oldest person to climb all the 7 summits and volcanic 7 summits.
Flora and fauna The slopes of Mt. Giluwe exhibit a number of different biomes. Between 2,500 m (8,200 ft) and 2,800 m (9,190 ft) is the lower montane rainforest dominated by Nothofagus and Elaeocarpus with large Pandanus including the climbing Freycinetia, climbing bamboo, many gingers, orchids, ferns, herbs and shrubs including Begonia. Avian fauna include the endemic dwarf cassowary.
Above this is the upper montane rainforest or moss forest, with stunted moss-shrouded trees such as Quintinia and conifers including Papuacedrus and Podocarpus. The ground is covered in ferns of all types including Blechnum, filmy ferns and the world’s largest moss (Dawsonia superba) up to 55 cm (22 in) tall. Rhododendrons grow as epiphytes in the trees as do specialised cloud forest orchids.
At 3,200 m (10,500 ft), the moss forest opens into subalpine grassland. This transition marks the extent of glaciation during the last glacial maximum. The grassland is inhabited by towering endemic tree ferns. Tiny wildflowers grow amongst the tussock grasses including Veronica, Viola and Gaultheria. Streams flow in beds once scoured by glaciers, and wet bogs contain frog species found nowhere else on earth. This is also the domain of the endemic woolly ground cuscus, a species of possum. Patches of relict subalpine rainforest cling to the sheltered areas where frost is lessened.
Scarlet Rhododendron and Dimorphanthera abound in the gnarled dwarf forest and white beard lichens hang in the branches. Above 3,400 m (11,200 ft) on the vast alpine plateau, creeping Astelia, cushion plants and mosses can be found near the numerous tarns, along with alpine blueberries (Vaccinium) and asters in rockier areas.
The Highlands of Papua New Guinea were discovered less than a century ago when Australian prospectors hiked deep into the mysterious interior of PNG, only to discover vast mountains and valleys, and large tribal settlements living within them, living as they had done for thousands of years. Even today, the Highlands people still maintain much of their traditional ways of life. Much of the land here is virtually untouched; with fresh mountains streams running across rolling mountains, grasslands and thick jungle landscapes. Mount Giluwe itself has be climbed by only a small selection of visitors. At 4,360 meters, Giluwe is the second highest mountain in Papua New Guinea.
Trekking Route
From Mt Giluwe Lodge area it is less than a two day climb to reach the summit of the mountain where hikers are rewarded with the stunning vista of the valley laid out below them. Experienced local guides and porters will accompany hikers from start to finish. This trek is suitable for semi to serious hikers and adventurers.
*The Highlands of PNG experience rain throughout the year, however it is typically dryer from May to October, making for more ideal trekking conditions.
Itinerary Schedule:
Day 1
Arrive in Port Moresby and transfer to PX flight to Mount Hagen. Overnight: Mt Giluwe Lodge
Day 2
Full Day trek to reach Base Camp. Overnight: Base Camp Mt Giluwe Trekking Adventures TREKKING | BIRDWATCHING | EXPEDITIONS @mtgiluwelodge Upon arrival in Port Moresby, Mt Giluwe Lodge staff will greet you for your onward flight to Mount Hagen.
Upon arrival in Mount Hagen, you will be met and transferred to Mt Giluwe Lodge. Overnight: MT GILUWE LODGE Early this morning you will depart the lodge and drive to the foot of Mount Giluwe, where you will begin your ascent of the mountain to Base Camp at 3,000 meters. The steep flanks of this mountain are covered with forest of beech, oak, pine, karuka and bamboo. The trek to the base camp will between 8-9 hours. Camp is made beside a river at the edge of the forest. Overnight:
BASE CAMP On day two of the trek you will arise early in the morning and leave Base Camp, to begin the 4 -5 hour trek to the mountains’ summit.
Many consider Mount Giluwe to be the most beautiful of Papua New Guineas’ mountains. From the summit one is privileged with a stunning view of the Highlands valley stretching toward the Papuan lowlands. After resting and taking in the magnificent views you will begin your descent back to Base Camp. Enjoy the remainder of your afternoon resting and soaking in the quiet of the untouched wilderness.
Day 3
Trek to the summit and back to Base Camp. Overnight: Base Camp
Day 4
Trek from Base Camp to base. Transfer to Mt Giluwe Lodge. Overnight: Mt Giluwe Lodge
Day 5
Fly to Port Moresby and transfer to international flight.
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