Gunung Kerinci, a volcanic mountain with a height of 3805m, it the highest active volcano mountain in Indonesia and South East Asia. Though the difference in height between Rinjani and Kerinci is only 80m, hiking Mount Kerinci is definitely much easier than hiking in Rinjani. A guide is definitely a must for this hike. Our guide for the trip was by a simple man alone with his group of porter, Mr Endatno Een (+62 852 6626 6992). Though it may not be as grand as Rinjani, he really did make this trip a memorable one.
It was initially meant to be a 3D2N hike but we manage to do it in 2D1N and it is definitely recommended to do so. Did I make Gunung Kerinci sound easy? Well, it is relatively easier compare to Gunung Rinjani as all of us make it to the top unlike Rinjani where only half of us make it to the top, but it is still tougher than Mount Kinabalu and best it not to underestimate it.
On day one, we started our hike 10 minutes away from the entrance of the mountain, Pintu Rimba which is already 1809m high at 9am. It a short walk along the farm with a beautiful view of Gunung Kerinci to Pintu Rimba where the forest hike start. the trail from Pintu Rimba to the first checkpoint, Bangku Panjang and second checkpoint, Batu Lumut is an easy hike, both taking only roughly half an hour to reach. There is nothing much to see here though, a quick rest and we were on our way.
From Batu Lumut to the third checkpoint, Shelter 1 it took us 1 and the half hour to climb as the trail start to steepen, but it still ain't that bad. We had our lunch here while enjoying the view of the mountain it provided. After an hour of resting and eating, we continue on our hike to the last checkpoint, Shelter 2 which is our campsite.
It took us around 2 hours and 15 minutes for us to hike up to Shelter 2, which is roughly 3000m above sea level. The trail up to Shelter 2 started to get tough and it almost similar to hiking from Camp Pacat to False Peak in Gunung Nuang. The campsite was good and the porter there really kept as company till the night, serving us "pisang goreng", peanut, instant cup noodle, fried chicken and rice for both tea time and dinner. At 8.30pm, we sleep in to prepare for the peak.
6 hours later, in the freezing cold night, we woke up at 2.30am. Luckily our breakfast came with hot tea and coffee with bread. After that, we pack our bag to bring only the necessary to the peak and left the others stuff in the tent. The hike to the peak start at 3.20am and we manage to reach the peak at 7am. The hike here isn't as bad as hiking in Rinjani, the rock here may be loose, but you won't lose one step for every two steps all the way up. During the hike up from Pintu Rimba, there isn't much view until 3,400m high where everything open up.
At the peak of the highest volcano in South East Asia, it is definitely breathtaking. Even though the view here may not be as grand as Rinjani, but it is special in it own way as here we get to see down into the crater of an active volcano. We also get a full 360 degree amazing view at the top and we were lucky to get a clear day when we were at the top. After that, we went down to our campsite at about 11am, had our lunch and packed up for the hike down to Pintu Rimba.
Basically, you only need to climb 2000m of it and the total journey is only 6.6km one way. so this hike is OK for adequate fit hiker. As mention before, the whole group manage to reach the peak unlike during the hike in Rinjani. Though the view for this mountain isn't much compare to Gunung Rinjani, but it is magnificent in it own ways. This mountain isn't popular too as it is not easy to accessed as it required 8 hours drive from Padang, Indonesia to reach Kersik Tuo. But it is recommended? Definitely yes for me!
Thing we brought up:
A few cloths
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Walking sticky
Camera
Extra food snack
Toiletries, paper, plastic
Torch Light / Headlamp
Long Jones and Jacket and Glove
Thing we don't have to bring up (porter help):
On day one, we started our hike 10 minutes away from the entrance of the mountain, Pintu Rimba which is already 1809m high at 9am. It a short walk along the farm with a beautiful view of Gunung Kerinci to Pintu Rimba where the forest hike start. the trail from Pintu Rimba to the first checkpoint, Bangku Panjang and second checkpoint, Batu Lumut is an easy hike, both taking only roughly half an hour to reach. There is nothing much to see here though, a quick rest and we were on our way.
From Batu Lumut to the third checkpoint, Shelter 1 it took us 1 and the half hour to climb as the trail start to steepen, but it still ain't that bad. We had our lunch here while enjoying the view of the mountain it provided. After an hour of resting and eating, we continue on our hike to the last checkpoint, Shelter 2 which is our campsite.
It took us around 2 hours and 15 minutes for us to hike up to Shelter 2, which is roughly 3000m above sea level. The trail up to Shelter 2 started to get tough and it almost similar to hiking from Camp Pacat to False Peak in Gunung Nuang. The campsite was good and the porter there really kept as company till the night, serving us "pisang goreng", peanut, instant cup noodle, fried chicken and rice for both tea time and dinner. At 8.30pm, we sleep in to prepare for the peak.
6 hours later, in the freezing cold night, we woke up at 2.30am. Luckily our breakfast came with hot tea and coffee with bread. After that, we pack our bag to bring only the necessary to the peak and left the others stuff in the tent. The hike to the peak start at 3.20am and we manage to reach the peak at 7am. The hike here isn't as bad as hiking in Rinjani, the rock here may be loose, but you won't lose one step for every two steps all the way up. During the hike up from Pintu Rimba, there isn't much view until 3,400m high where everything open up.
At the peak of the highest volcano in South East Asia, it is definitely breathtaking. Even though the view here may not be as grand as Rinjani, but it is special in it own way as here we get to see down into the crater of an active volcano. We also get a full 360 degree amazing view at the top and we were lucky to get a clear day when we were at the top. After that, we went down to our campsite at about 11am, had our lunch and packed up for the hike down to Pintu Rimba.
Basically, you only need to climb 2000m of it and the total journey is only 6.6km one way. so this hike is OK for adequate fit hiker. As mention before, the whole group manage to reach the peak unlike during the hike in Rinjani. Though the view for this mountain isn't much compare to Gunung Rinjani, but it is magnificent in it own ways. This mountain isn't popular too as it is not easy to accessed as it required 8 hours drive from Padang, Indonesia to reach Kersik Tuo. But it is recommended? Definitely yes for me!
Thing we brought up:
A few cloths
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Walking sticky
Camera
Extra food snack
Toiletries, paper, plastic
Torch Light / Headlamp
Long Jones and Jacket and Glove
Thing we don't have to bring up (porter help):
2 days of foods and water (for water, ask your guide how much will the porter bring for you)
Tent and sleeping bag
Tent and sleeping bag
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| Being transport to the base of Mount Kerinci |
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| Mount Kerinci |
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| The hike start |
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| One of the view during the hike |
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| The Hike |
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| The Hike |
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| The Camp Site |
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| The HIke |
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| The Hike |
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| The Hike |
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| The Hike |
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| Nearing the peak |
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| The Peak |
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| The Peak |
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| The inside of an active volcano crater |
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| All of us make it! |
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| The peak |
