Mount Rinjani never fails to remind me the harshness of staying in the wilderness and the vast nature that we human can never conquer.
Our team comprises a group of experience endurance athletes and climbers, and half of the team had been up to the summit of Rinjani at least once. Both Jack and I had been up on the summit for 4 times, twice for Thiam Huat, and once for Clarence and Joyce. So newbies on this mountain were Catherine, Colla, Chu and Ramesh. The combination of the height and distances we have scaled and ran collectively surpassed the height and distances of Mt Everest in multiply. Past experiences and height scaled do not necessary guarantee a summit on Mt Rinjani.
I still find getting up the same slope a challenging affair. This trip, we had zero summit. None from our team managed to scramble up the slope without fear, and none of us dare to defy the wind and gravity. We aborted our attempt at 3314m (highest point is at 3726m). We had started 1hr later than the rest of the climbing teams around the base camp. By the time we arrived at 3314m, many had already turned back due to the strong wind and some climbers were really ill prepared for the cold. A fairly strong couple and a Japanese team made the summit an hour earlier. They were already descending when we were still contemplating to proceed or to turn around. Catherine was intimidated when she witnessed our climbing guide scrambling on all fours battling the wind while moving on the narrow ridge. Our climbing guide is far too tiny to hold himself up with that kind of strong wind pressing against him, going on his fours was his best way to maintain a good footing. One of the porters who followed us up requested to stop his ascent with us as he was feeling too cold (damn, he used only a Sarong to keep himself warm!). I gave him some water and food and asked him to descend lower to wait for us.
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| The point where we decided to abort the ascent. (Right: Joyce, Catherine and Clarence hiding to stay clear from the wind as much) |
The call to abort our climb was not exactly difficult to make. I focus on asking how will the team descend if we eventually do make to the summit. Will the wind be less strong or will it get worst? I picked the safer choice. Simply because, the mountain is always there. Or perhaps I was just not too adventurous, not gutsy enough; I didn’t want to gamble with nature, for we may just be wipe out completely and never live to tell our little story of battling with the wind on a single path ridge. A fall could mean returning to where we started the day before (Sembalun Lawang) not knowing how many limps can be intact, or rolling into the crater of the volcanic rim. None would be favourable.
But the remaining journey of our trek was not dampened by the failed summit attempt. We enjoyed each other’s company very much. We stayed an additional night at the base camp (about 2600m), we soaked in the sun, wind, cold and dust.
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| The team at base camp (2,559m – my Polar AXN300 read so :)) |
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| Ramesh (Centre) descent to Sembalun Lawang shortly as he was not feeling well. A porter accompanied him. |
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| We had carrot cake prepared by Jack at the base camp |
The descent to our next campsite was filled with stunning view of Segara Anak (the crater lake). As we descended early the following day, we avoided the afternoon sun, the trek was cooling and refreshing.
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| Close-up view of Segara Anak as we descent towards our new campsite at the lake |
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| Clarence jumping for joy by the lake |
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| Catherine and Colla had a good catch |
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| Chu tried really hard but to no avail |
We stayed one night by the lake and the following day we trek from the lake to Senaru. We started at 8.15am and arrived at end of the trek by 4.20pm. Colla commented that she had never descent on a trek at that fast pace before. I am personally very impressed with Colla’s performance and endurance. I guess you just do well in the things you enjoy doing.
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| Joyce posing by the rim of Palawangan I, overlooking the lake and the summit of Mt Rinjani, before we descent into the jungle trail towards Senaru |
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| With Colla, our first trekking trip together, we climbed at Safra Yishun on wednesday evening. |
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| We cajoled into feasting at Lombok Tanjung (I was biting on to an Ikan Sate) |
In summary, we had fun trekking together. We didn’t get to the summit of Mt Rinjani, but we hold loads of good memories. In life, we win some, we lose some. I am pretty sure, I’ll be back again! 😀
Joanne's climb 
