The  expedition started in Vanimo, one of the most northerly towns on mainland Papua New Guinea, right next to the Indonesian border. From there Patrick Hutton and Richard Johnson started a long slog south, walking 280 miles on dirt roads and narrow jungle tracks, winding between indigenous communities.

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As the team went further south the less populated the Jungle became. The team had to perform numerous dangerous river crossings, and negotiate through boggy terrain. The main dangers the pair faced in this section ranged from snakes and dangerous insects, right through to the slow deterioration of their health, as disease, trench foot and joint fatigue all tried to take a hold.

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Eventually, after weeks of walking through dense jungle and dusty dirt tracks, the team hit the ominous Star Mountain range along the center of the island, the start of Stage 2.