Oil Search Pacific Games Relay at Mt Wilhelm, Simbu Province

The Oil Search Pacific Games Relay made it to the summit of Mt Wilhelm at 7:30 am on Friday morning.

Dua Umba carried the Baton from Betty’s Lodge at 2,500metres up to the top of Papua New Guinea at 4,509 metres.

The guides and porters that were selected as Relay runners were some of the most experienced.

Bonny Shadrach, the chief guide has travelled to the summit over 500 times. Bonny said on taking up the baton “making him very very happy”.

The team left base camp at 3am for the final 5 hour push to the summit.

Team photographer Russell Kerton accompanied the baton team to ensure that the images of the baton reaching the top of Papua New Guinea were captured.

The weather was perfect for the Baton’s arrival at the top with clear blue skies after an afternoon of pouring rain.

Kerton said that from the top he could see clear across Papua New Guinea to the Ramu Sugar Mill, the ocean to the north and then the clouds started rolling back in.

The rest of the Relay team met the Baton bearers back at Base Camp before all took the 3 hour journey back to Betty’s Lodge to a roaring fire accompanied by a nice warm cup of tea.

The Relay backtracks to Goroka tomorrow and then heads to Western Province, on Monday.