First of all, let me introduce our team in this Expedition. I am Kusdani (28), a Production Technician, accompanied by both of my friends: Devies (27), an Instrumentation & Electrical Technicians and Julian (26), a Filling Stuffing Personnel. Together we planned to bring Evonik to the roof of Java Island, Peak Mahameru. We are planning to give a real dedication to welcoming the first decade of PT. Evonik Indonesia on February 2014.
Mount Semeru is an active volcano located in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. It is the highest mountain in Java Island. Its peak is 3,676 meters above sea level.
Planning a trip to Mount Semeru was not easy, lot of obstacles and problems plagued us. We need three months of preparation include physical, mentally, material and logistic.
Friday, Nov 22, 2013
The three of us gathered at Evonik Cikarang Plant then went to Pasar Senen Train Station, Jakarta by Taxy. We started the trip from Jakarta to Malang by train at 1:40 pm. It takes almost 19 hours journey to Malang
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| We gathered at Evonik Office |
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| Pasar Senen Train Station, Jakarta |
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| Matarmaja Train |
Saturday, Nov 23, 2013
Next day at 8:30 am we're arrived at Malang Kota Baru Train Station, Malang East Java. Then we chartered a Public Transportation to continued trip to a village called Tumpang. We arrived in Tumpang at 9:30 am, we had a nice Guy named Mr. Roes help us rent a Truck. We stayed a few minutes at his house while waiting for the team to get ready. After that, at 10 o'clock we continued the journey to Ranupani, the last village in the Semeru valley with 2,200 meters above sea level located in Region of Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park.
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| At Malang Kota |
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| Rent a truck from Mr. Roes |
After 2 hours truck ride trip with a spectacular mountain and waterfall views, We arrive at Ranupani. We do register, filled and signed the permit letter to climb. After signing up at the Ranupani Resort, we immediately began to hike at 12:30 pm
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| Resort Ranupani |
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| Resort Ranupani |
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| Semeru Climbing's Gate |
From Ranupani to Peak Mahameru, We have to passed 3 shelters. The first shelter is Ranu Kumbolo. Ranu Kumbolo is a big lake located at an altitude of 2,400 meters above sea level with an area 14 HA.
It is a mountainous lake with fresh water where we can see sunrise in the morning between two hills in the east.
Initial path that we've been through enough ramps slopes down a hill dominated by reed plants. There is no sign signpost street, but there are signs on every 100 meter distance measure, we follow this sign. Sometimes there are fallen trees and branches above the head, so we must often bend the head, high carrier-bag very uncomfortable.
After walking about 5 km down a hillside overgrown with Edelweiss, we will arrive at Watu Rejeng. We will see a very beautiful steep rock. We saw beautiful views across the valley and the hills are covered with fir and pine forests. Sometimes we can see the clouds of smoke from the top of Semeru.
It takes 5 hours trekking through 12.5 km tracks. In first 5 km to the shelter we find Edelweiss on the slope of the hill, stepping another km ahead we see a beautiful valleys and hills with fir and pine trees around.
After 5 hours of hiking, at 5:30 pm we arrived at Ranu Kumbolo, It was amazing view and very cold here. We built 3 tents, cooking and eating, and then we all fell asleep.
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| Team at Ranu Kumbolo |
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| Ranu Kumbolo - Tanjakan Cinta |
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| Again, Team at Ranu Kumbolo, Tanjakan Cinta as background |
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| Ranu Kumbolo |
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| Ranu Kumbolo, Tanjakan Cinta as background |
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| Ranu Kumbolo |
Sunday, Nov 24, 2013
At 4:30 am, I got up and boiled some water for heat because it was so cold. Half an hour later, the rest of the guys began to wake up. They won't missed the spectacular sunrise at Ranu Kumbolo and started the narcissism part: take a lot of pictures around the lake.
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| Ranu Kumbolo at the early morning |
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| Photo session at Ranu Kumbolo |
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| Photo session at Ranu Kumbolo |
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| Photo session at Ranu Kumbolo |
About 9:30 am we started our journey to the next shelter, Kalimati. To reach Kalimati we have to hike a famous steep hill called Tanjakan Cinta. The Myth of Tanjakan Cinta is for anyone who made it through the steep incline to the top of the climb without stopping and without looking back while continuing to think and imagine the person who loved, then all of their dreams in love will come true.
Tanjakan Cinta was very hard to passed, more over with the 80 liter load of carrier-bag in shoulder. Lucky for us, after it the track was all downhill and behind that we saw a very beautiful grassland called Oro-Oro Ombo full with Lavenders & high grass about 1.5 meters tall. After passed this grassland we hike to the pine forest called Cemoro Kandang, sometimes we find deer and birds.
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| Oro-oro Ombo |
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| Oro-oro Ombo |
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| Oro-oro Ombo |
In the end of the pine forest we reach Jambangan, a place with flat land, grass, edelweiss, and a direct views to Peak Mahameru, We're getting closer. After 30 minutes walking through the forest finally we arrived at Kalimati (2,700 meters above sea level) at 12:40 pm, a shelter with large grassland and much planted the edelweiss in the edge of the pine forest. Kalimati was so windy and very cold. Here we built a tent for take a rest as preparation before summit attack at the midnight. We also take the water as supplies from the only one springs in Sumber Mani about 1 hour trekking to the West. We had to go there earlier before the wild animals did. If we did late, end of stories!
After all done, we slept earlier because we had to get up at 11 pm to climb to the top.
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| Jambangan Check point |
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| Kalimati Shelter |
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| Prairie with Edelweiss |
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| Sumber Mani, the only one springs in Mount Semeru |
Right at midnight, we all started to did summit attack to reach Mahameru by passing the Arcopodo Shelter (2,900 meters above sea level). Arcopodo is a place 200 meters higher from Kalimati. The weather was extremely cold, very windy and dusty. Here we find many tombstones of the climbers who died or lost their missing. The track from Kalimati to Arcopodo is dominated by a solid ground with a slightly uphill track. After the Arcopodo shelter, the track changes to gritty or sandy, and it sharply inclines. The dust began when we left the Arcopodo shelter. One hour climbing through steep pine forest, we found Kelik, the last vegetation area before the dunes. From there, we have to use mask and goggle. Actually this is the shortest track, only 3 km to the top, but it is the most distressing portion. The sand was really loose, so even if we took a long step, the track started crumbling, forcing you to take a smaller step.
Started summit attack at 11 pm. We need 6.5 hours climbing through steep dunes and easily degenerates. Follow the existing tracks and be careful. Use a headlamp and watch the step while climbing the dunes.
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| One of the tombstone at Arcopodo |
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| One of the tombstone at Arcopodo |
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| Started to Climb |
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| Started toClimb |
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| Climb a 45 degress of elevation |
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| Climb a 45 degress of elevation |
Monday, Nov 25, 2013
Time shows at 5 am, the sunrise looks spectacular in the eastern horizon which lasted no more than 10 minutes, Lucky for us, we had time to witness this view and capture the scene. We are very happy and this is enough to treat our fatigue.
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| Sunrise in Mahameru |
Finally after a really exhausting struggle against fatigue, the struggle against despair, against extreme weather, as well as the struggle against the limitations of self, at 05:30 am we succeed to reach the Peak Mahameru.
It was amazing feeling and difficult to express with words. The wind was blowing very strong. Its speed reaches 0-30 knots. Fast enough. The air thermometer reads 4 degrees Celsius. Strange feeling struck at the peak Mahameru. Eve is a cold, strong wind, and stunning natural beauty, made feel like in another world. It was a dream came true, standing at Peak Mahameru. As far as the eye can see, we are just around the expanse of the endless ocean of clouds. We were stand above the clouds!
Yes, We did it!
We bring Evonik to the Roof of Java Island, Peak Mahameru !
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| Team at the roof of Java Island, Peak Mahameru |
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| At the roof of Java Island, Peak Mahameru |
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| At the roof of Java Island, Peak Mahameru |
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| At the roof of Java Island, Peak Mahameru |
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| At the roof of Java Island, Peak Mahameru |
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| Team at the roof of Java Island, Peak Mahameru |
Here are very extreme weather with strong cold winds, the temperatures reached minus 4 degrees celcius. We felt so cold and like frozen, even I can't felt my fingers. Feelings of proud, emotion, happy and tired were mixed into once. But we can't linger to being there due to our physical condition and also the wind blow toxic gases will soon be heading to climbing lane.
There was a crater that was constantly erupting and ejecting volcanic dust every 15-45 minutes.
We were stay about one a half hours in the roof of Java Island to enjoy the magnificent view and took some photos. On 7 o'clock we go back to Kalimati Camp.
Walking down from the top to Kalimati shelter only took 2 hours. Compared with the time we spent walking up to the top which was 6 hours. That gritty track is far more helpful when going the route down.
In the way back to Kalimati, Our group was met with a lonely injured girl at the middle of climbing track. So we decide to split into two groups. The ones going first to go to Kalimati for dismantle the tents and prepare the food, and another group was guard and evacuates her to the Kalimati Camp.
I was arrived at Kalimati at 9:30 am and another group arrived one hour later. At 12 o'clock after we took some food & rest we continued our journey to Ranu Kumbolo. At first, around Kalimati was foggy. But after we entered a small forest, the fog disappeared and the sun was shining. In the middle of trekking at the end of pine forest the rain was fallen, so we took a break covered with large plastic. 30 minutes after it, the rain was stopped, and then we continued walking again and passed through a beautiful flower field at Oro-Oro Ombo prairie.
We took some pictures in here while mesmerized by its beauty. After that, we continued walking and arrived at Ranu Kumbolo shelter at 3:20 pm. We were so tired and started to take a break. After we built tents and take some food, the rain was fallen again, this time heavier. Feeling tired, we all fell asleep inside the tent.
Tuesday, Nov 26, 2013
5 o'clock in the morning I was already woke up. All the guys were still sleeping so I took that time to walk around the lake, take some pictures, and admire its beauty. After enjoying Ranu Kumbolo Lake briefly, I take some water, boiled the water for make a hot drink and cooking the food. Again, I saw the sunrise at Ranu Kumbolo, Amazing!
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| Before leaving Ranu Kumbolo |
After eating, we packed and started the journey back to Ranupani around 7 am. Our return path through alternative pathways to traverse the mount Ayek-Ayek. This is to speeding the time because we have to immediately arrive at the train station following schedule of train to Jakarta on 4 pm.
The conditions of Ayek-Ayek track are very steep path and quite dangerous. At first slightly sloping path and a little dusty crossing forests dominated by plants such as mountain pine greenery. The next track began to climb down the steep ridge of a mount Ayek-Ayek. Along these lines can sometimes be found footprints and droppings of animals. Birds and creatures are often seen around this track.
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| Climbing Mount Ayek-Ayek |
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| Way to Ranupani via Ayek-Ayek path |
At 11 o'clock we've arrived at the Ranupani resort. We had to report to the National Park Officer at the climbing office that we arrived as a complete team, and that no one was left behind. We took a break and immediately continue the journey to Tumpang. At 12 o'clock we rode a truck back to Tumpang village. We cleaned up and packed everything.
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| Way to Tumpang with Mount Bromo Background |
At 2:15 pm we set off toward the Malang train station. We took the very slow economy train, going back to Jakarta, the very crowded capital of Indonesia. But, the memories were impressive, and I promised myself I will get there someday to enjoy the beauty of nature, again and again.
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| At Malang Kota Baru Train Station |
Wednesday, Nov 27, 2013
The next day, after traveling up to 19 hours by train, we arrived in Jakarta at 11 am. After do a farewell with other friends, we returned to the Cikarang and return to own homes.
Writer,
Kusdani
