Do you wanna watch the sunrise from Puncak Rinjani? Wake up at 2am chump!
Last night's sunset did not impress as the night before. Crater's Rim proved too high for any fiery action. In order to make the peak one must hike for three hours. Sunrise is at six, hence the early start.
A train of headlamps ascends into the darkness. Rinjani's profile is inky black against deepest blue sky. Far above on steep slopes, headlamps wink, mimicking stellar bodies light years beyond. In these dark conditions the two are easily confused.
We're scrambling over volcanic gravel that runs deep under foot. There is no purchase, every step sinks back to original position. With such a steep slope the trek is akin to climbing the largest sand dune in hell. I can't do it. I don't normally do this but I'm totally drained. Fuck it. I can watch the sunrise from here. Bundle up against relentless wind and wait it out. A hour passes. Slowly, light comes to the land. One moment the east is all orange-on-fire, and then, *bling*, the tip of solar disk hurdles horizon.
Well enough. Get me off this damnable slope. I'm drained. Descent is like skiing through rubble and ash. What took two hours to climb takes hardly an hour to reverse. Breakfast, break camp, tips for the porters and we're headed for exit.
Immediately my knee begins to fail me. Odd this time it's my right, not my usual left. This does not bode well. Frenchman in our group kindly loans his walking stick without which I would surely have failed. The going is impossibly slow. Steep, rocky slope is excruciating, exacerbating a sore joint to no end. Brother Chuck patiently walks behind, offering support both physical and moral. Fortunately we're headed for the other park post which is nearer. A journey that should take three hours takes me six. Climate on this side of the mountain is much drier, yielding more open, expansive views. Interesting, the variety of terrain encountered on this trek.
Finally we make the base. Cram into truck for ride back to Senaru. Pick up our gear and part ways with companions, probably never to be seen again. Taxi to harbor, haggle with the captain, slow boat to Gili Trawangan. Desperate search for a room, an accommodating place found, dinner, settle in for the night and promptly pass out. To think I was choking down volcanic dust just this morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment