Comment "Climbed Mt Wilhelm in 1969" on Keglsugl Airport, Papua New Guinea

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Climbed Mt Wilhelm in 1969

Flew in from Goroka in Cessna - bigger than 172 as there were four of us plus the pilot. The strip was slightly uphill and had drainage strips like chevrons right up the strip, making a very exciting and bumpy landing. I was in the RAAF 38Sqn deployment in Goroka with one Caribou supporting the Australian Army Survey Corps doing a massive mapping program of the highlands. All that was at Keglsugl then was a Patrol Officer's quarters and a few native huts. Took us 24 hours up to Mt Wilhelm and back. Great weather - rained when we camped near the summit and the rain turned to ice as it ran off the tent. I got hypoxia and didn't get right to the top, which the others did in the dark!!

Take off from Keglsugl was a blast. The Cessna shook and bounced as we headed for the end, then we were airborne over a valley a thousand feet below. You don't fly in PNG with a weak heart.

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