Charmed by the experience in Gunung Andong, I decided to do a Southeast Asian trip with mountain adventure in Central Java as the highlight. I decided to try Bandar Seri Begawan-Surabaya-Semarang-Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur-Singapore travel circuit! Within this travel plan was the climb to Gunung Ungaran, the most prominent rough terrain near Semarang. Ungaran was suggested to me by Mahupa as an alternative mountain to Merapi Volcano which was closed during my visit due to series of alarming volcanic activities. I did not feel any regret or disappointment upon hearing that Merapi was closed because I was very sure that Ungaran has something similarly spectacular to offer.
I arrived in Semarang at around 8:00 PM of May 14, 2014 after a long train adventure from Surabaya. I was fetched by Pa Anto, my good friend from SCU and immediately proceed to Panjer Enjing (Suster Aboi Kristus), a retreat house in the outskirt of the city of Ungaran were I would be spending my ‘no-climb days’. In the next morning, I was greeted by the lofty Gunung Ungaran which is prominently visible in my bed through the large window of the retreat center room! As if the mountain is telling me to hurry up and climb on its shoulder immediately.
After attending the holy sacrifice of the mass with the community of religious nuns managing the retreat center, I started preparing for the climb. At 10:00 AM, I was fetched by Pa Anto with his two daughters in the retreat house… I was told that Mahupa will be meeting me in Bandungan at around 5:00 PM but we shall be at the place earlier to visit interesting tourist spots.
After a whole day of stroll to interesting places and dining, I met Patricia Devina Utomo and Dwiyento Aryo Pangetsu who will be joining me in the climb; and other Mahupa Members who will be joining us to the jump off within the vicinity of Sakpala- Mawar Base Camp. Via bumpy motorcycle ride (much similar with our habal-habal), we went to the basecamp and arrived at there at around 7:00 PM, registered and proceeded with the trekking at 7:30 PM. While trekking, we met a group of young students from a certain Islamic University and Solo who were also there to experience the mountain. Initially, we travelled across pine forests, coffee plantations and eventually large tea plantations in a plateau halfway to the summit of Ungaran. Although long, the trail was not that difficult, our journey was a gradual ascend up to the tea plantation. It was already 10:30 PM, so, we decided to camp at the tea plantation and decided to assault the summit on the next day while the group of young climbers pursued to a higher elevation.
I arrived in Semarang at around 8:00 PM of May 14, 2014 after a long train adventure from Surabaya. I was fetched by Pa Anto, my good friend from SCU and immediately proceed to Panjer Enjing (Suster Aboi Kristus), a retreat house in the outskirt of the city of Ungaran were I would be spending my ‘no-climb days’. In the next morning, I was greeted by the lofty Gunung Ungaran which is prominently visible in my bed through the large window of the retreat center room! As if the mountain is telling me to hurry up and climb on its shoulder immediately.
After attending the holy sacrifice of the mass with the community of religious nuns managing the retreat center, I started preparing for the climb. At 10:00 AM, I was fetched by Pa Anto with his two daughters in the retreat house… I was told that Mahupa will be meeting me in Bandungan at around 5:00 PM but we shall be at the place earlier to visit interesting tourist spots.
After a whole day of stroll to interesting places and dining, I met Patricia Devina Utomo and Dwiyento Aryo Pangetsu who will be joining me in the climb; and other Mahupa Members who will be joining us to the jump off within the vicinity of Sakpala- Mawar Base Camp. Via bumpy motorcycle ride (much similar with our habal-habal), we went to the basecamp and arrived at there at around 7:00 PM, registered and proceeded with the trekking at 7:30 PM. While trekking, we met a group of young students from a certain Islamic University and Solo who were also there to experience the mountain. Initially, we travelled across pine forests, coffee plantations and eventually large tea plantations in a plateau halfway to the summit of Ungaran. Although long, the trail was not that difficult, our journey was a gradual ascend up to the tea plantation. It was already 10:30 PM, so, we decided to camp at the tea plantation and decided to assault the summit on the next day while the group of young climbers pursued to a higher elevation.
Vina decided to stay at the camp and prepare our breakfast while Aryo joined me in climbing the summit of the mountain. We cut across the vast tea plantation and started grappling and pulling up ourselves with the help of protruding volcanic rocks and cogon grass along and within the trail. Eventually, we found ourselves traversing through a number of large boulders until we arrived at the summit. We started ascending at 2:30 AM from the tea plantation and arrived at the summit at around 5:30 in the morning. The summit has 360-degree view of the Central Java. Visible are the city lights of Semarang and surrounding cities, major peaks of the province, some crater lakes and the vast farm land. There is a flag pole at the peak and two monuments dedicated to the gallant citizens of the country. The summit is also a good campsite, as a matter of fact the group that we met camped in the area. We waited for the sun to rise in a chilling temperature 14 deg C… without any jacket! But our desire to witness the mountain peak as its best gave us enough warmth and patience to survive the cool breeze. Between 5:30 AM to 6:15 AM, we were delighted by the good downhill view… it was so beautiful! The view of Andong, Merapi, Merbabu, Sindoro and Sumbing on the southern horizon as enhanced by the dramatic sunrise and cloud formation is the highlight of the whole scenery. It was another remarkable climb in Indonesia.
Overjoyed and ‘hyper excited’, we started descending at around 7:00 AM under the smiling sun. We reached the campsite (tea plantation) at around 9:00 AM where a good breakfast which was passionately prepared by Vina was waiting for us.
After enjoying our breakfast and breaking our camp, we descended at 10:20 AM and reached Manwar Base Camp at 12:30 PM. At the base camp, we were welcomed by other Mahupa members and proceeded to a nearby small food stall for our late lunch. After the lunch, we proceeded to the jump off of Gunung Merbabu, our next climbing destination via motorcycle ride.