Hiking and Stuff: 2015

Gunung Rinjani, a volcanic mountain standing at 3726m above sea level located at Lombok, Indonesia and unlike other mountain, this is the hike which I could have lost to the mountain. Gunung Kinabalu hike is a child play when it come to hiking Gunung Rinjani. To hike the mountain, all hiker required a mountain guide to guide them all the way to the top. One of the guide we followed was Odentick Trekking (misterogut@gmail.com & www.odenticktrekking.com) with Ahwal and Phuan, which really make our hiking experience a tremendous one. Before the day of hike, we get to prepared what to bring up the hike and what to be left behind (which are not important for the hike).

The first day of hike, we took the jeep to Sembalun, the starting point. After the entry registration, we started our hike to Mount Rinjani. First day hike was a six hours hikes with one hour lunch break in between and a few pit stop from Sembalun to Pelawangan camping point. The first day of the hike is just like hiking Broga Hill, 6 hours+ of Broga Hill with "lalang" landscape most of the way. Though the view during the hike was marvelous all the way, it was hot as the land was barren, just like Broga Hill.

After 6 hours, we reached the top of the volcanic crater and our first camp site, and boy, it was very windy, you can hear all the tent cloth flapping loudly and unsecured hat and plastic was flying around. At 2.6km high, the wind was also chilly, feel like being in Aussie during winter time. Though our guide was smart as they had already plan ahead, setting up our tent lower in the crater where there is far less wind. We settled down for the day and prepared our-self for the hike to the peak on the second day.

2am in the morning and it was time to wake up, breakfast was prepared and we get to enjoy the magnificent moonless night view, filled with star and the Milky Way was clearly visible. Once done, we started our hike to the peak. This time, the hike was really "sandy rocky" unlike any other of my hiking experience in Malaysia. Our guide mention 3 hours was required to hike to the peak but we took 6+ hours to reach the peak of the mountain.... It was tough, really broke my spirit, every two step up was a step down, sometime three to four if not careful. With the wind so strong and cold, it feel like you can fall over anytime. It was even cold to a point where a number of hiker will stop at the side to start a camp fire to warm themselves up. Nevertheless, we make it to the peak (with a few did not) and stay as long as we can to enjoy the view. We took as much photo as possible before heading down, which only took 1.5 - 2 hours to complete back to the camp site....

At 1p.m., we packed our bag and started heading out for camp site number 2, which is by the lake. The hike to the lake was fairly like hiking in New Zealand, the view was amazing the way down from the crater top to the lake. After 3 hours, we reached our camp site and enjoy the hot spring which is only situated a stone throw away. Though, we were at a lower altitude compare to the first camp site, it was pretty dam cold and damp compare to the first camp site which were only cold cause of the wind and less humid.

The next day, at 8.30a.m, we picked up our stuff, enjoy the last minute view of the lake and hot spring, we head back up to the crater top and toward our 3rd camp site in the forest. The view to the top of the crater was magnificent as at this point, you can see both the active volcano and the peak of the Mount Rinjani in one frame. After 3 and the half hours, we reached the top of the crater, overlooking the whole Mount Rinjani crater. After photo, we head down half an hour for a lunch break, then 3 hours down to the third camp site. Oh, did I also mention that the whole hiking period from the first day till the 3rd day, the land was barren with very little forestation over our head, it was definitely very easy to get dehydrated and it was also very dusty.

After the third day, we headed down and ended our hike. From camp site to the base camp of Senaru in 2 hours plus, this is the hike where we were very experience with, it was like hiking in Apek hill / Gunung Nuang (from Camp Pacat to Camp Lolo). Running down the hill to have ourselves a fresh bath in the waterfall in Serdeng Gile!

The total hike was 52km with the highest point of 3.7++ km with temperature ranging from 1 to 6oC till 30 to 34oC+. Starting point of 11++ km high with the ending point of 6++ m high. The view was magnificent all the way from the start of the hike till the 3rd days of the hike. It was always something to wake up to everyday of the hike (except the last day :P). This was definitely the toughest hike ever, it was much difficult compare to Gunung Tahan. Do note that there was a good amount of hiker gave up going to the peak during the hike, so bring extra mental strength cause you are definitely going to need a lot of those!

Overall Hiking Itinerary:
1st Day:
Sembalun to Camp Site Palawangan (6 hours)

2nd Day:
Camp Site Palawangan to Peak (6 hours+)
Peak to Palawangan (1.5-2 hours)
Palawangan to Lake Side camp (3 hours+)

3rd Day:
Lake Side Camp to Post 2 Camp Site (6.5 - 7 hours)

4th Day:
Post 2 Camp Site to Senaru (2-3 hours)

Thing we brought up: Thing we don't have to bring up (porter help):
A few cloths 4 days of foods and water
Sunscreen Tent and sleeping bag
Sunglasses
Walking sticky
Camera
Extra food snack
Toiletries, paper, plastic
Torch Light
Long Jones and Jacket and Glove