HORROR OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS
THE MYSTICAL STORY OF MOUNT CIREMAI

“Ciremai Neng, Kang, ojek”, said some Mamang Ojek as soon as I and Janatan got off the elf that took us from Chileunyi to Maja Terminal, Majalengka.

We both planned to climb Mount Ciremai, spontaneously. Although we have heard mystical stories about the ascent of Mount Ciremai, we still want to climb the highest point in West Java.Toh we have good intentions, surely along the way will also be fine. Two stories that had made me shudder and guts to climb Ciremai. But in the end so also I went there and chose the path of Apuy rather than Linggarjati or Palutungan.

I subtly rejected Mamang Ojek's offer and covered a terminal side stall, putting a carrier, sitting down to eat yellow rice and sipping warm tea while waiting for the clear sky. We plan to find other groups that may be able to be invited to pay a pick-up to the Apuy basecamp.

But until the sky changed color from blue, orange, gold, we did not find another group in the terminal. Maybe because it was Sunday so deserted climbers. In the end we agreed Mamang Ojek who from the beginning did not stop persuading us to ride the ojek. There is no harm in sharing your fortune with them. The asking price is also not too expensive, Rp 60,000,- per person for an hour drive from Maja to Basecamp Apuy. We also did not want to be late because the climbing plan was only two days, so had to leave as early as possible, climb until the last post and immediately summit attack the next morning and immediately go down. As the initial plan.

“Come Neng put in front of her bag”, said the Mamang. I gave it and went up to the splat with the camera clad in leheer. The view from Maja to Basecamp must be immortalized. Especially that morning the weather was clear and the air was cool.

The duck motorbike is gassed continuously by the Mamang down the incline which is sometimes perforated. After the asphalt road runs out, we pass on the dirt road where several times we have to go down for fear of slipping down.

Until about 7 o'clock in Basecamp Apuy, we immediately register at Post 1 or Berod Post. Registration fee is Rp 50,000, per person. Pretty expensive too. We had asked if it is possible to cross the line, for example going up via Apuy (Majalengka) and down via Palutungan (Brass) and the answer is no. The reason is that all climbers can be organized data up and down, minimizing the number of climbers who get lost because of rising and falling from the same path. Said the officer of Mount Ciremai National Park, a lot of climbers lost in Ciremai and the main cause is because they cross the path up and down.

Fyi, the highest mountain in West Java has a level of climbing difficulty that is appreciable so must prepare physically from far away. Even though he said climbing the mountain was more of a mental test, still if his physique was weak ya zonk. So must know very well the capacity of each self when climbing the mountain.

Plus the absence of water sources on the Apuy hiking trail, will make the climb heavier due to the water load. For the two-day climb, we bring 4 bottles of 1.5 liters of water, 1 bottle of drinking capacity of 1 liter and 1 bottle of capacity of 700ml. We also arrange a food menu that does not require a lot of water such as soup or instant noodles soup.

After warming up, we started to walk slowly. From post 1 to post 2 (Pos Arban) takes about 30 minutes and the path can be passed by the motor. Walking slowly while adjusting our breath, we laughed all the way. There weren't many climbers we met on the trail and it made me happy.

But we had met a climber who was not wearing footwear, was walking down. I asked him why he didn't wear shoes, he said it was better than wearing shoes. I am disappointed with a climber who neglected his safety. If the porter okelah we understand they are used to wearing flip-flops or even barefoot. What about the ordinary climber? Slipping and breaking his leg? It will only trouble her and others too, right? According to TNGC officials, climbers who are caught disobeying climbing regulations, will be withdrawn insurance and the National Park will not be responsible for anything that befalls the rogue climber.

The journey continues again from Pos 2 to Pos 3 (Tegal Masawa), the path has started “yahud” with an estimated climb time of 2 hours. An elevation of 45 to 80 degrees is waiting. Several times we had to climb by holding on to the roots. Arriving at Post 3 it turns out there are some climbers who are istirahat. Since it was almost 12 noon, we took out the stove and cooked lunch and brewed milk.

It rained just as we were about to finish eating. We quickly pack, install rain cover and wear rain coat and prepare to walk again. When it rains, we walk more slowly and carefully so as not to slip. The journey continues to Post 4 (Tegal Jamuju) with an estimated time of 1 hour. The rain continued to fall until the way to Post 5 and thankfully the rain stopped and we were able to remove the rain coat.

I loved traveling from Post 4 to Post 5 because I found a lot of big trees that were not quite embraced by one person. In addition to trees, roots also further beautify the climbing path. So happy and amazed, we did not realize that we had reached Post 5 (Sanghyang Rangkah) which turned out we took within 1.5 hours. We plan to set up camp in Post 6 to be close to the summit. In Post 5 we met with climbers who were about to go down, chat for a while and continue the journey.

I am tired but as usual Janatan always looks relaxed, there is no fatigue. The journey to Post 6 from Post 5 takes 2 hours, with a narrow, rocky track and quite steep. Especially after meeting the branching path Apuy and Palutungan, the distance to Post 6 is close but it feels really heavy.

Happy while on the track, we were entertained by black starlings that had orange lines to jump and occasionally fly near us. Local people believe that these birds are not just any birds. Never disturb, hurt or bring them home if they do not want to be doomed. I can't believe yaaaa…. But it is true that we should not disturb other living beings.

Goa Swallow is a bit confusing because he said many swiftlets here so named like that, even though not a single swallow that I see or hear his voice. There were only pieces of Aqua bottles left behind p

endaki to hold water from stalactites in the cave, even if only small droplets. The water will only drip during the rainy season. If the dry season there may be no water droplets at all. So do not rely on water droplets from the cave, prepare well the logistics of climbing.

We chose the camp inside the cave, looking for the flat part and building the tent. After changing into warm clothes, we cooked dinner. It was so cold that I kept wanting to drink milk. We eat a lot to keep our bodies warm. But it's still cold. Finally we went out and invited Abi and Nopri to chat and make a small bonfire from small branches scattered but unfortunately failed. We tried for almost an hour but nothing came to fruition. We went into each other's tents and prepared to sleep. The four of us promised to get up half five in the morning to walk together to the top.

As usual, every midnight I wake up to the cold, as warm as any clothes and sleeping bag. As always, Janatan must have woken up to cook warm milk, spooned bread and milk, opened my thick socks and rubbed my feet to warm and then slept again. Janatan surely my best travel/hike mate ever.

Towards the Ciremai Peak

“Bi, Pri has not woken up yet?” call me to a friend in the tent next to us at the sound of the alarm. From Post 6 (Goa Swallow), it only takes 30 minutes to get to the top. We got up at half-five and immediately prepared for the summit with water, snacks and tripods.

The temperature outside was extremely cold, making them reluctant to move. But so imagined in the imagination of the beautiful sunrise from the top of the mountain makes me tempted and want to quickly walk, warm up.

We walked down the cobbled streets slowly. The coldness of the air and the thinness of oxygen, made me take a deep breath, as much as possible. Occasionally look back and see the lighted scenery of Majalengka and Kuningan.

“Peak, puncak”, shouted Nopri. Yes, the top is near. While dragging heavy feet, I was so happy when the four of us made it to the Top. There were only four of us, no other climbers. The sky was already starting to light up and began to emit a tinge of orange. Nopri and Abi said they wanted to take a walk to the other side of the crater and we were both, Janatan and I.

Once the sky is very bright, in the distance we can see Mount Cikuray and Mount Slamet in the distance. The peak of Mount Ciremai which is actually the crater lip is wide enough that I thought to fly from the top using paragliding parachute. Sounds exciting huh? Hopefully it can materialize. Amen!

Crater of Mount Ciremai which is Mount Stratovolcano is still active until now so every morning we can see sulfur soaring from the bottom of the crater. We can sit casually on the edge of the crater as long as we always see a safe distance so as not to slip into the crater.

We relax at the top at eight in the morning, get down to Post 6, prepare lunch to take, clear the tent and pack. We were surprised because there was another tent near us that only consisted of tents without frames. It was his sleep inside how yes, I thought. Abi and Nopri who had finished packing first, said goodbye to go first and we promised to meet in Post 1 alone to take a pick-up ride to Maja Terminal.

It took four hours to get down from Post 6 to Post 1, it was already running fast even half a run. It was so nice to be snuggled when I got to Post 1. The four sauces also fit in the descending lane and we bobbed in the lane. Along the way down we only met other climbers in Post 5 and Post 2. The rest of us are just two on the track and the fog down feels again in the movie “Silent Hill”.

Arriving at Post 1, our trash was checked and after clearing the administration, we got the certificate and badge from Ciremai Mountain National Park. Asooooyyy. It turns out that in the past, the cost of climbing was Rp 50,000, which includes a one-time meal compliment and sweet iced tea, but now replaced with a certificate. Funny too yes, my whole-age mountain riding never got “gift”. It feels like that…