EXPEDITION SUMMARY
| Expedition: | Mt Wilhelm |
| Code: | XPD013A |
| Region: | Australasia |
| Country: | PNG |
| Activity: | Trekking,Nature |
| Duration: | 7 |
| Cost: | *$2400 |
| *Per Person Twin Share | |
Mt Wilhelm > Expedition Overview
HIGHLIGHTS
- Trek through some of the remotest parts of PNG
- Experience the wonderful hospitality of the Simbu highlanders
- Climb the highest peak in PNG
- Witness awesome views from her summit
- Feast on delicious fruits grown in one of PNG’s few temperate regions
OVERVIEW
Mt.Wilhelm is the highest peak in Papua New Guinea, at 4,509m/14,880ft. The expedition crosses rivers, climbs through moss forests (home of several birds of paradise), alpine grasslands and glacial valleys. To add to this there are amazing views of the North Coast and surrounding valleys. Once the summit is reached, the exit is by the usual summit route, down to Keglsugl via Lake Piunde.
This expedition will give you a great appreciation of highland life and custom. We will see things in and around Hagen and Keglsugl that are found nowhere else in this diverse nation.
MT WILHELM
Mt. Wilhelm is named after Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and was first climbed in the mid-1930's. Mt. Wilhelm in the Simbu language is called Enduwa Kombugu, and in the Upper Jimi Language (the language spoken in Ambullua) it is called Korikhl Khu. It covers an area of about 100 sq. km/40 sq. miles. To the North is a steep drop off to the Ramu Valley (from over 4,000m/13,200ft to less than 600m/2,000ft in only 13km/8miles). Its steep glacial valleys were carved out during the last ice-age (the Pleistocene period - approximately 10,000 years ago), the interface between the grasslands and the forest marks the snow line from this period. The mountain is climbed by both Papua New Guineans and International visitors alike via the normal Keglsugl route.
SIMBU CULTURE
All the tribal groups that live in the Simbu
Province are known as the Simbu. The name is derived from simbu
which means "very pleased". Apparently, the first Europeans
who walked through the region in the 1930's gave the locals gifts.
The locals were very pleased with these gifts and responded by saying
simbu, simbu!. The Europeans didn't know what they meant and thus
called them and the area Simbu.
Approximately 8 distinct languages are spoken in the Simbu Province.
UPCOMING XPD DATES
