For Part 1 please refer to http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2012/06/gunung-semeru-27-30512-part-1_5.html.
THE CLIMB AND RETURN TREK TO RANI PANE
At 12 midnight, our guide Agus alerted us to ready ourselves for a snack and the climb. We completely geared ourselves in several layers of warm clothing as well as headlamps and a pair of walking sticks, each to begin our assault of Gunung Semeru. Starting from an elevation of 2600m, we took an hour to reach to Acopodo (2900m), a former campsite now disallowed by the authorities. The hike through the montane forest was steep but pretty manageable. We paused occasionally to gaze up the sky to admire the stars which appeared like diamonds twinkling through the thin forest foliage.
Within 15 minutes after leaving Acopodo, we approached the end of the tree line. Our guide advised us to bring out our walking sticks for balancing. Here our nightmare started. The terrain appeared so lunar and alien. Every step, we had to stab our shoe into the loose volcanic soil to minimize slippage. It was indeed very energy sapping. Luckily, we had our walking sticks as anchors to lessen sliding down the soft volcanic soil and to pull ourselves up. Whenever we chanced on a stable boulder, we took the opportunity to take a short pause in order to re-energise ourselves. After 6 hours over approximately 2.5 km, we hit the summit at 7 a.m. The last 2 hours to the summit was much easier because the slope has begun to taper off.
We rested for about 30 minutes for refreshment and the customary photography and left the cold and windy summit at 7.35 a.m. There were hardly any views from the summit due to thick mist. We also did not hear any eruptions or saw the caldera. On the way downhill and with more daylight we had a great panoramic view of Bromo, Kalimati and the surrounding area. The return journey downhill was much easier and quicker. We took about 3 hours to get back to Kalimati base camp.
We had our brunch and rested till 1.30 p.m. before we pushed forward to reach Ranu Kembolo at 4 p.m. to spend a night there. The following morning we left for Ranipane at 7.30 a.m. to arrive at the porter’s house lunch at 11.30 a.m. From here, we travelled for another 6.5 hours to Sempol Village to overnight at Catimor Homestay and to prepare for our next day Kawal Ijen hike.
For the photographs, please refer to: http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/14643.
For the next leg of the trip, see http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2012/06/kawal-ijen-315-3612_5.html.
Wow, could have been the lunar surface!
ReplyDeleteLook like u people doing the night skiing. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteWhere is the creator? I tot Semeru is a volcanic mountain?
ReplyDeletenice view.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot! one of the best!
ReplyDeleteMacam mahu gaduh saja.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
ReplyDeleteWe overnight here before.
ReplyDeleteThe crater was a short distance away and too cloudy to be seen. We were advised against going to the crater rim area... several people, including volcanologists have died before due to ejected ballistics. At the time of climbing, Semeru was classified under Alert status and the Indonesian Geology website recommended treking till Kalimati Base Camp. Our Guide was gang-ho and said that it was safe. So we did not want to push our luck too far and remained at Mahameru (aka peak). We had to leave before 9 a.m. when the wind would change direction and cover the peak with toxic gasses.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Tough to focus in the shade as well as many obstruction branches. Luckily, the little owl was very patient.
ReplyDelete