Gunung Semeru 27-30 May 2012 (Pt 2)

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.

Gunung Semeru 27-30 May 2012 (Pt 1)

Six of us, comprising Elsie Mak, Sarah Simon, Victor Ng, Siew Ping, Christina Goh and myself, left for Java Island on 27.5.2012 for an 8-day trip to climb Gunung Semeru and Kawah Ijen as well as to explore the Bangi Caves.

In the evening of our arrival day, we were surprised to be ushered into a clinic to check our blood pressure for submission to the authority for approval of permit to climb Gunung Semeru. (3676m), the highest mountain in Java Island. Needless to say, a few of us busted the acceptable limits based on the first reading possibly due to anxiety and tiredness. However, our Guide Agus later assured us that it was only a formality. That evening we had dinner and retired early at Rani Guesthouse, Tumpang, Malang.

TREK FROM RANIPANE TO KALIMATI BASE CAMP

The following morning we left at 7 a.m. in a small 4wd for Ranupani, the gateway to the head trail for the Gunung Semeru hike. The journey over rough laterite road took about 1.5 hours. After the customary registration with the Balai TNBTS, we proceeded with our hike at 9 a.m. Our destination for the day was the Kalimati basecamp (2700m). Starting from an elevation of 2200m, the trail winded gently through idyllic countryside, lovely montane and cloud forest as well as grassy savannah and enchanting woodland before ending Kalimati base camp at 2600m. We stopped enroute at crater lake called Rani Kembolo (2400m), to have lunch. The cool and dry weather made the easy trek extra pleasant. Wild flowers were also blooming along the trail and it was a wonderful sight. Certain sections of the trail were overgrown with grass and blocked by fallen trees and low lying branches. We were told that the authorities would clean up the trail once a year in June before the start of the trekking season.

On arrival at the camp at 4.50 p.m. we had early dinner. We were advised to sleep immediately to wake up at 12 midnight to prepare for the hike up Gunung Semeru. Despite the long trekking hours, none of us could sleep a wink that evening due to inconsiderate noisy hikers camping nearby. The night was also very cold.

For the photographs, please refer to: http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/14517.

For Part 2, please refer to http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2012/06/gunung-semeru-27-30512-part-2_5.html