2016 May Rinjani

Scaling Mt Rinjani stayed in the mind years ago, but the plan didn't been executed for many years. Thanks to the one who voiced out the same idea while we're catching up with each other.  

"I haven't plan for next year trip" - was the conversation carried out among old climbing buddies in the chat room during May 2015, which produced Mt Rinjani expedition on May 2016.

Making contacts with all possible attending buddies scattered around, the selected period to scale Rinjani is a good timing for the available 10 person and discussion has been carried out. 

As time passing through, 6 of us left and 360 days later, we are leaving for Rinjani.

The perfect date of 2016 May 23-29th selected and agreed by all and we had the finest weather ever without any single drop of rain, clear sky, full of stars during the 4 days hike. 

Trip ended and we still wondering how would it turned out to be, if rain dropped during the expedition with the steep and loose soil trail condition at most part. That would be another version of hiking story shared upon our return to home. 

Everything is ready for us by the tour operator which is included in the package. The night prior to depart, we have awkward moment seeing the group of porter packing and putting all the food, dome, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, kitchenware, chairs, fruits, waters into the two basket balanced by a bamboo stick. Used to be, we're the one who divided the items into group prior to trip started and pack everything into the backpack as others are starring at us. 

It ain't easy, even from the beginning ...... 

Perhaps with the higher altitude, wider landscape and no shade to hide, it is an immediately warm up and sweat all over even with just a tiny movement.
High temperature, direct sunlight and slope trail were the kick start of Day one first part. There is no way that we can hide away from the sun, except wrapping up our expose skin, applying sun cream protection.

The good thing about not having any shade was we get 360 degree' magnificent landscape view as well as the view of each hill we need to scale over as well as having a clearer direction and duration on how long we shall move our legs in order to reach the targeted point to catch the next breath.

Unforgettable scene.....  

Seeing the porter passing us one after another, wearing slipper and with at least 30kg load on their shoulder...... and proceed in smooth rhythm type of steps as seems like there is music melody in their nerve on each of the body movement.

Porter carrying the bamboo baskets was an unexpected scene and had motivated and inspired us to keep moving as well. Always feel thankful to them for bringing all the necessity and had given us as much comfort as they can provide on the 4 days expedition. Without them, perhaps we will have a miserable expedition rather than truly enjoyed everything without much worries.

Trail is getting tougher after lunch break, everyone is glad that we chew and stake up slowly the over provided food portion into our stomach. Somehow, everything has been digested on the last 2 hours before Plawangan Sembalun Crater Rim campsite. Raisin, nuts, biscuit, jokes from the guide and joke with each other had became the energy source that makes everyone keep moving.
In the mean time, there is always warm reminder to each other to be extra careful on the challenging trail which ease the struggling thought.  

After a full day climbing.....
Finally the scene which we only get to see from the internet is appear in front of us and it is a real.
Indescribable feeling, it is Magnificent !!!!!

It is definitely different feeling when seeing something which had taken all of our nerve, sweats, energy compare with something which can be seen easily through the advanced technology. That's explained too on the reason certain people enjoy the torture of the mountain, crazy but it is definitely worth it !!!!
Decision made that some of us will not scale the Rinjani Summit early in the morning with the concern of our pace is slowing down on other team members. They have waited for us and had make their days longer than their normal hike hour due to our constant stop over to catch up the breath.

After all, scaling the Summit was not our initial purpose for being at this mountain. The main reason we're here today was the familiar faces who we used to hike together and once again we spent a few good days together.

There is always a general thought that after the summit, everything will be easier. Rinjani did not fall into this category. The remaining trail to complete the whole loop ain't get any easier than before. There is many hours of descending in order to get close with Segara Anak Lake. Another magnificent sleep over campground which all the porters carry out their fishing activity whole night and hot spring for us to wash away all the dust collected on previous days hike.

We have a good 525 birthday celebration on this night, and there is actually a tiny cake brought along all the way from home, crossed the ocean for the birthday girl.

 

There is a wish to stay longer at Anak Segara Lake, as it is a perfect place which given full serenity. Can't imagine how was the situation when the volcano erupted just not long ago on 2015 and yet, we are having the total serenity and starring at the resting volcano.

It is another many hours of circling the mountain edge and ascending to reach Plawangan Senaru Crater, last view of Segara Anak Lake and Mt Rinjani Summit. Is going to be all the descending on this remaining 2 days. All the scene we're starring at, focusing on the past 2 days will be staying behind us now onward while we continue with our journey to complete this loop. 

 

Guide reminded everyone to be super extra careful on each step of descending. It is a trail which camera been kept well inside the carrier as all the dust flying all over during the descending. To ensure a safe and smooth descend, guard had became our stopper on every corner area to hold us from falling when we're unable to press on the shoes break on time. Sometimes the guard will loose his grip while stopping us from falling, and end up he is the one who fall the most. Best guard we had, who always put himself after everyone's to ensure we're doing fine. 

Lush jungle is finally surrounded us after 3 days being expose by direct sunlight, we are getting near to be home and will apart with everyone soon once again. Next gathering trip suggestion been brought up during the last 3 days unspeakable moment, everyone laughed about it, feel it is a crazy idea, something no possible.
Weeks after we have returned from Rinjani, the Rinjani group chat which suppose to be closed out after the trip remains activated. Perhaps, some of us started to think about the crazy idea and perhaps someday later in ODA's blog entry the crazy destination we're once laughed about during Rinjani expedition will pop up and some story about it will be told.

It is not about how far we have reached, how many summit we have set our foot print on;It is the efforts each had made, to once again hike together that count.
It is always an honor to hike with each of you.
See you all again, perhaps a more normal type of gathering rather than in the jungle.

G.Tok Nenek 2015 - The secret isn’t in your legs, but in your strength of mind.

Here's how you'd be remind of the fact that you are just back from hiking trip:

1) You find scratches everywhere and the itchyness never stop haunting you, you just can't help to lift your legs in the office and scratch for a relief.

2) Your bag which been used only for once has to be thrown away after trip.

3) The constant hungryness annoys you just like hitting a snooze button then it rings again in 5 minutes.

4) You can feel nothing but only your lemonade pair of legs for the following weeks.

As age is adding up, life could find it's every way to get you occupied. So busy that many excuses could fit well enough to just sit at home or do other things.
All this while, a trip once been planned, to give up or cancel the trip is never an easy option. After all, lot's of research been done not only for the trip but also personal arrangement. 

Spend days in the woods once in a while could wash the spirit clean and to avoid flatline in life.
I don't take it as something I am passionate about and it is kinda overrated. Instead, I remember it as something that once made big impact on my life, and if I did not know them, you might still see me holding an upside down world map. - Never forget where you have came from.

I have to be honest. Back on the trails again after two years has got me butterfly feeling.
It's the feeling that you are anticipating for the trip and yet you feel that you aren't ready in every sense.

Trip planning been checked again and again. Not much information we can get from the internet but I think we have read as much as we can.
First ever all-female-trip, besides getting every possible scenario playing in the head over and over again, imagining every little thing in detailed, what else can be done for this trip to a place none of us have ever been before?

Compared to those days of having lots of pre-hiking trip syndromes, being very manja for every moment when little uncomfortable feeling occurred, i used to be easily frustrated as to why I am subjecting myself to this sort of torture.
But I do think i deal with all these a lot better in this trip and today. Even if the very little training didn't help much during the trip, but it still worked best by warming up our body engine prior to that.

Long ride in the foggy night, slightly delirius from the lack of sleep after a long day of preparation yet still being ON TIME in meeting our guide.

The trek started on trails with slight slope of ups and downs which exposed ourself with direct sunlight, Jacky was walking with heavy steps and started showing tired face with her long hair untied covering her face.

It's her second overnight trip after her first trip to Gunung Irau in 2012.
It will definitely take her a little time to adjust to the jungle as how each of us be during our first few trips.

After a few KM walking with bushes alongside, fallen bamboo trail starts, obstacle after obstacle. The route was challenging with some very steep and muddy inclines, narrow ridges, and many times of water crossings.
Without much experience, it's careless to have late realisation while walking behind her that she did not know the way to move her body with flexibility which in turn increased the difficulty for her. I showed her a few step. As she walked she's constantly asked :"How long more to goooooo?"''How to cross this part'' sometimes, with a tinge of frustration. 

 

For that two hours, fallen bamboo, fallen trunks, mild land slides everywhere. It became more difficult as there's not even a checkpoint which allows us to take a break.

Two years gap of not being active in this outdoor activity, sometime i find myself lacking of the determination to keep going when things seem hard. Moving in each little step which is actually a huge step closer, but you are just so reluctant to, when most of your muscles are soaring and resting your feet is just so tempting.

 

Trekking through the thick and lush, humid rainforest, crossing many small tributaries, ascending and descending gulley’s finally reaching camp Asadi.

After a countless times of crawling up and bending our knee down, Jacky muttered lifelessly "Never again...".
But we're not ready to give up. Not just yet. Relying on nothing more but 100% pure determination alone.
It is physically and emotionally demanding. We were amazed by her determination, her willingness to try catching up with the team after been told the way to keep the gap small is to run when we are able to, walk when we can't. - ''If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you. ''



Reaching camp site in around 3pm, had a luxury time spent on preparing dinner and tomorrow's breakfast. Scratched, soaked in sweat and tired muscles were very evident as we arrived. The time ticks away and before too long it's already 6.00 p.m., after a demanding climb, we can't help falling into a heap in the sleeping bag and passed out.



Early rest did give us a boost in energy. We woke up at 12 a.m. for a quick supper then fell back to sleep with the joyous feeling of having five more hours to rest.

 

Up early for breakfast before an expedition. Early start was planned on the next morning to make sure we can reach the top before the it's getting too hot.
The second day no longer playing with obstacles, fallen bamboo, walk on the hill side,  but what's awaiting is a 3000ft of ascending in a day.



Another stop signalling another miles gone by because the inclination is so steep. At some point, the level of inclination was almost 70 degrees. The heat of the jungle, the constant sweat and the never-ending search for a cooling breeze. No difference from yesterday was we can hardly find a place for a break.

Soon the ascent grew steeper and Jacky began to tire and came out with a conclusion: ''I'll just hire someone to carry me up next trip''
However, not a single tone of complaining can be heard instead, more positivity on her which was obvious this morning.



Further down the tracks, the path we trudged on changed from soil to rocks. Most part of the rocky path up to the summit can only be done with the help of ropes.
All of that became even harded for her. I was thinking she might already be too exhausted to enjoy the view up there or would she even find the view up there worth it all?

For each step she made, she will look back and ask: how are we going to descend later?
There'll be NO BREAK AT ALL!! ''

Made our way up to the top, summit on 11.00a.m., an hour earlier than expectation.
Hopeful kind of air walked pass my feet, made me feel that i am invincible.

 

She was so excited to see the magnificent view and as she saw our guide walked further to reach another big rock she quickly follow.
Finally, after all that drama about training before trip, I can now post pictures of the peak !

As we always say, descending would not be any easier than ascending especially when it comes after your muscle started to has the effect. It's isn't  the mountain ahead that wear you out but the grain of sand in your shoes.

Climbing up full of laughters but it's only silence can be heard on the way down. Very slippery and steep, carefully we take each step.
Somehow, we managed to dig down deep inside ourselves and continuing moving.



Upon reaching camp site with so much of joy. Jacky insisted to go a few steps distance away from camp site as she spotted the small falls for a well deserved dip in the stream.

Every one of us was shattered after a physically and mentally demanding climb.
Guess Jacky had picked up the lesson very fast that we always try to get everything in place before darkness fell with time.

It was plain that we had formed a tight team in a short amount of time.



Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can complete great things. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
It's great to have her along in this trip, she possess a good spirit and never failed to entertain us with her humours. Yeah....she can now happily drinking unrationed Milo everyday.
 

A person with little experience in hiking, who has no clue what preparations required, even failed to imagine how a 3 days 2 nights trip is going to be, wondering why does it take so long to reach the peak and return.
And yet she has tried to give her hand before the trip. Taking up some easy and yet time consuming tasks, offered to fry onion and ikan bilis so that we can enjoy tasty food even in the jungle, grocery shopping, prepared lunch and dinner for everyone. She has no idea on how difficult would it be but she was so committed in training prior to trip.
As soon as darkness fell, the rainforest came alive with the sound of exotic wildlife.

Friends. Simple food. A few hundred of songs.  Equals a fantastic time in the 3 days 2 nights trip. It's definitely a rare, exhilarating and fleeting experience.
Thank you for ODAs who squeeze out some time to make the trip happen!!!
The moment we drived back to KL, i start to miss fresh air already.

For the past three years, I've had the pleasure of participating in many expeditions, small or big.
Had and continued to be  thankful for the person who brought me here, who bother to spend so much time and energy to convince me how this place is, if it's not, by far the best that had shaped him and extending far into the future.
I am present to the long, grateful journey it’s been; and still how far we’ve yet to go.
Grateful I never gave up.


To our adviser, thank you for arduous ride during the trip, for every trip, the selfishless effort to ensure it's smooth completion.
Thank you for the big and small treasures hiking has most definitely thrown in my face many lessons that would have taken me years to learn otherwise in the world which is rather abrasive and individualistic.
Thank you for once and still making me believe on how we can stretch ourself out of the comfort zones, and with the support of the team, we can go much further than most imagined they could.
Looking forward for many more summit with you to come.
Happy 10th Annivesary !!!