Not for seaplanes, but legitimate fixed wing aircraft would once land here. And it is a lake, it is boggy and marshy underfoot as a waterfall wayyyyy off to the right empties into this vast flat land on top of the Owen Stanley Ranges, and then filters through to the left and down the Eora Creek and down to the Yodda Valley 1100m below. It feels like you are on top of the world in this vast flat swamp. It is a moon like landscape yet covered in water and grass.
Seriously planes once landed here. And during the Second World War, Biscuit Bombers would drop supplies here to the troops who fought along the Kokoda Track.
I landed here a few times but in helicopters each time... often when trying to get to parts of the Kokoda Track, the morning fog would be higher in the mountains and the landing areas would be under cloud. On occasion I would ask the pilot to set the helicopter down in this lake and we would wait for the sun to heat up the mountain and dry the clouds away. It was a surreal feeling to sit there for an hour waiting for the weather...
A strange landscape indeed.
Photo taken 14 May 2008 at Myola Lakes, CP. Title reads: Myola Lakes.
...Now you could have told me this was an ancient burial ground inside a volcano and I would have just believed you! Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, as they say....! :)
@tigerdreamer@grammyn - the little cone thingy is to identify the edge of the airstrip and yes, that is a wind sock and power pole. There must have been a generator there somewhere in the past and maybe a landing light or two at some stage. It has been many a year since a fixed wing plane landed here.
@houdiniem@alia_801 - the first time I landed here, was quite surreal, you fly over mountain and mountain covered in Jungle and then this huge expanse of grass just opens up and it is literally right on top of the mountains, and it looks like this big grassy lake. It was only when I stepped out of the helicopter that I discovered just how wet it was underneath. The grass is easily 1ft thick of just years and years of growth all matted together, and deep under all that is water. Its a weird place.
Loved it, it was tough, but they had trained for it..wasn't keen on the food on the trail - but mostly enjoyed the people and learning about their way of life!!
I like the layers of this.. from the golds, thru green and then to the blues.. I can't even imagine planes landing there but I bet it was a sight to see..
posted May 21st, 2012
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@houdiniem @alia_801 - the first time I landed here, was quite surreal, you fly over mountain and mountain covered in Jungle and then this huge expanse of grass just opens up and it is literally right on top of the mountains, and it looks like this big grassy lake. It was only when I stepped out of the helicopter that I discovered just how wet it was underneath. The grass is easily 1ft thick of just years and years of growth all matted together, and deep under all that is water. Its a weird place.
@michelle58 - Did he enjoy the experience?
@jtrudell - You're welcome Janine, thank you for taking the time to visit and to read my stories :)
@michelle58 - yeah the food is pretty ordinary, you need to get into the porter's hut and eat what they serve up!
@swilde @beckys @daisy - I landed on a few interesting airstrips in PNG, one of which still had the Marston Matting on it from world war two.
@tonydebont - Thanks Tony, cheers!