July 11, 2011

The view of Carstensz across the Plateau. (Photo by Jim Walkley)

Jason Edwards reports that the team has been making good progress across the Plateau, which averages around 12,000 feet.  The temps have dropped to below freezing at night, and the porters prefer to sleep in caves and build big fires when they can, rather than sleep in tents!

There is a lot of water on the limestone Karst plateau, with many stream crossings and marshy areas.  The clear skies of the first few days have been replaced by “normal” weather (some rain).

So far everyone is hanging in there, and looking forward to reaching Base Camp!

Eric Simonson

July 10, 2011

Larson Lake. (Photo by Jim Walkley)

Jason Edwards reports by sat phone that the team is doing well after surviving several very difficult and rugged days of traversing, river crossings, rock slabs, logs, and mud as they trekked through the forest.

Now, they have climbed to over 12,000 feet up onto the plateau, a welcome change!  The plateau is like going to “Jurassic Park”, complete with grassy moorlands, giant fern trees, highland marsh, and strange rock formations.

Last night the team camped near Larson Lake and tomorrow they climb up and over New Zealand Pass (nearly 15,000 ft), where they will hopefully get their first good views of Carstensz.

Eric Simonson

July 9, 2011

The approach. (Photo by Terry McClain)

IMG senior guide Jason Edwards called on the sat phone to report that the team was doing well, and had reached 10,000 feet.  The weather has been excellent, with clear skies, but they were still glad that they brought rubber boots for the trek, since there has been plenty of sloppy footing.

When I asked him about the terrain they were dealing with, he said Machame X 3, meaning three times tougher than the trip to 10,000 feet on Kilimanjaro!  So far they have waded across a river, scrambled across slabby rock, climbed over logs, and bushwhacked through the forest.  He said that the Dani porters were tough as nails and totally at home in this environment.

So far so good!

Eric Simonson

July 7, 2011

Carstensz Team On The Move

IMG senior guide Jason Edwards reports by sat phone that the team flew this morning from Timika in a Twin Otter for about 45 minutes to a small bush airstrip adjacent the Dani village of Ilaga.  Then they hiked about an hour and a half to the guesthouse, where they are staying at for the night.  Tomorrow the trek begins in earnest.  Jason says everything is going well and the team is excited to finally be on the trail after all the travel.  We’ll keep you posted!

Eric Simonson

July 6, 2011

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Jason Edwards reports by sat phone that the Carstensz team arrived to Timika, on the south coast of Papua, after a long flight across Indonesia from Jakarta.   Today they have been working on checking in with the local authorities, getting their permits all squared away, and doing some further repacking of the gear before going to the airport for a weigh in.  At the weigh in, each member with all their gear was individually weighed, and also all the group food and equipment,  in preparation for the bush flight tomorrow to the small village of Ilaga.  Most of the inhabitants of Ilaga are of the Dani tribe, and it is from here that the team will hire its porter crew.

Eric Simonson

July 5, 2011

IMG senior guide Jason Edwards reports from Jakarta, Indonesia that the entire team made it on schedule to the meeting point along with all their luggage, a good way to start a trip!  After 17  hours of flying from Seattle, Jason said they were glad to see the hotel and get a good rest.  Today, they did some final organizing, and this evening they are flying another 6 hours east, to the town of Timika in the Papua province of Indonesia on the island of New Guinea.  One more flight after that, and they will be ready to start the jungle trek to Carstensz  base camp.

Carstensz Pyramid is one of the most elusive of the “Seven Summits”   (16,023 ft,  4,884 m) tucked away in a very remote part of the continent of Oceania.  Just getting to the peak is one of the most challenging parts of the trip.  We’ll look forward to following Jason and his team as they undertake a week of trekking through the jungle to Base Camp!

Eric  Simonson