Trek

The trek through the jungle to base camp takes six days. Some climbers join teams that avoid the trek entirely and fly into base camp. If reaching the summit were my only goal, that would be the wise choice. The trek is very hot and humid, sometimes so muddy that you have to wear knee high rain boots, and it rains almost everyday. It is not easy. I am not a fast walker and I knew I would not be able to keep up with the men. So I spent a lot of time walking through the jungle by myself until I convinced our cook, Joko, to walk with me. Our guide was too slow, even for me (this was odd and rather than press it, we all moved on at our own pace). I put extra food in my bag for the porter to carry but this made my bag too heavy. So after a few days I gave away my food to the porters and their familes. There are definitely things that I would do differently having had this experience. But I would never opt to fly into base camp because this was a great adventure.

Carstensz Pyramid Menu

We trekked from Sugapa to Puncak Jaya base camp
To Suanggama
Our Lead Porter
To Suanggama
To Suanggama
To Suanggama
To Suanggama
To Suanggama
To Suanggama
To Suanggama
To Suanggama
To Suanggama
To Suanggama
To Suanggama
Welcome to Suanggama
Suanggama
Suanggama
Suanggama
Suanggama
Ricky and Friends with Machetes
Suanggama
Suanggama
Suanggama
Suanggama
Suanggama
Girlfriends with cigarettes and knives
Suanggama
To Camp 1
To Camp 1
My Porter
To Camp 1
Camp 1
Camp 1
Camp 1
Camp 1
To Camp 2
To Camp 2
To Camp 2
To Camp 2
To Camp 2
To Camp 2
Camp 2
To Camp 3
To Camp 3
Camp 3
Lunch Break
Lunch Break
Lunch Break
Lunch Break
Lunch Break
To Camp 4
To Camp 4
To Camp 4
To Camp 4
To Camp 4
To Camp 4
To Camp 4
To Camp 4
To Camp 4
To Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
Camp 4
To Base Camp
To Base Camp
To Base Camp
To Base Camp
To Base Camp
To Base Camp
To Base Camp
To Base Camp
Base Camp
Base Camp
Base Camp
Base Camp