mount Rinjani Hike
Mount Rinjani, the notorious peak of a volcano that jots out of the island of Lombok, Indonesia. Many come from all around the world to try and summit, yet sitting at 3,726 above the warm waters that surround it, many fall surprised to the scale of the hike. For 3 days, 2 nights, we trekked around the Mount Rinjani National Park. An experience well worth the time if backpacking across the Indonesia islands. This is an account of our experience told in a photo-journal format for you to drink in if you are questioning to add to your itinerary. Both breath-taking and hardworking, it is a rewarding hike that I would certainly recommend.
We began hiking through the forest with rich compact soil under foot and surrounded by lush rainforest, typical to the tropics.
Our porters quickly became the main attraction and the talk between the group of us on our tour with two woven baskets full of food, camping equipment and all the essentials bridged together by a thick cut bamboo trunk, slung over one shoulder. If that in itself wasn’t impressive, that hiked the entire three days in flip flops.
The from the forest, it opened steep rolling green spines travelling down from the steep incline we so ventured up. Right from the beginning, it was a steep climb, yet the views all kept us eager to strive forward.
After lunch acquainted by other hikers, the porters and the local macaques, the terrain became more dramatic as we hiked further into the clouds that encased the volcano.
The temperature began to drop as we hiked further into the clouds. After pushing all day, we finally started to catch a view of the peak and our path up towards the summit. As the afternoon was coming to a close, we finally rounded the the lower outer rim, where we would be camping for the night.
What opened before us was the entire crater lake and a smoking eye at its centre. It was a huge landscape, a demanding presence that opened the imagination to the forces that carved this great landscape.
We were the first few to reach the summit that morning with the sun only having just risen.
Despite what one might imagine while being in the humid equator, while on the summit, the wind chill was biting at any exposed skin, indeed even rendering what layers we wore inadequate. There were even some who donning their sleeping bags so they may sit and enjoy the view of the rising sun over the laden atmosphere. scanning the horizon, one could see surrounding islands that dotted the horizon.
We began to make our way down to the crater lake where it became warmer and the clouds began to role over head again.
Spending the night within the crater literally in a ancient crater felt otherworldly. The third and final day was spent hiking back up the steep terrain to round back over the adjacent rim to where we camped the first night.
Once you round the the lip and look towards the route back down below the clouds and into the jungle.
My brother and companion, Chris and yours truly on summit. (Classic, the photo you take of them, and the one they take for you.)
I would absolutely recommend doing this hike. It is every bit challenging and rewarding from the upwards slog towards the summit to the beautiful scenery that remained constant throughout the entire trek.
As the temperature dropped, we stuffed ourselves into sleeping bags and enjoyed our meals. the day was gruelling, we needed our rest before waking at 3am to hike up to the summit at sunrise.