The red dots on this Geodetic Surveys of PNG map show Mt Wilhelm and Mt Simpson
so important. So, in order to correct this, the Geodetic Survey of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea was initiated in 1959. The bulk of this challenging work was done from 1962 to 1964, and Mt Wilhelm was just a part of a greater triangulation that linked peaks across the high level survey of the country that linked to the earlier surveys in Australia. The cairn and beacon of my ‘selfie’ on Mt Wilhelm was put there in 1963 by the Department of Lands, Surveys and Mines, TP&NG, and by the hard work of the carriers, who – apart from carrying their issue blankets, groundsheets and rations – also carried the bits of the beacon and other materials in loads of 40lb (20kg). And when the observation team set up their tent in December 1963 to do their triangulation through the sightings of cairns on other peaks, it snowed. It still does snow on Mt Wilhelm on rare occasions, so if you do take up the challenge to climb it (and why not, with a local guide) do be prepared. But with climate change and warming temperatures, being snowed on will likely become less likely. Mt Wilhelm had a permanent snowline during the last ice age some 15,000 years ago that was actually 800m lower than the summit at around
“The earth isn’t a nice sphere like you might think, but is one where PNG actually pokes out”
VOLUME 42 2025
36
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog