October 19, 2013

Dan Zokaites reports that the team was able to spot a landing zone at about 11,500 feet and set down there in the Bell 212 helicopter.  They took a recon hike after that to get the lay of the land, and then today they have pushed up a thousand feet higher.  Dan reports it was thick brush and they really had to fight their way up the flanks of Puncak Mandala until they reached the timberline where they are putting their high camp.  Above here it is mainly slabby rock and the route looks like it will go. We’ll be waiting to hear how they do on their summit bid.  Hopefully the mountain says yes!

Eric Simonson

 

October 17, 2013

Here are a few pictures from our day exploring the villages around Wamena. One of our local guides, Nanang, lived with these guys traditionally for about 1 year. These are Dani people, and it was very cool to have him show us around. The Dani showed us how to make a fire with no lighter and cooked us sweet potatoes. Pretty cool day.

Tomorrow we fly to Mandala. We met with the pilots over dinner, and our plan is to take off at 7am. The pilots are expecting a 1hr 15min flight. It will be an exciting flight. No one on the helicopter tomorrow has been anywhere near this area, and we don’t even know where we are going to land. We have a few ideas from Google Earth but will have to make a quick last minute choice. We get 350kg of total weigh including our body weight. We are planning on a 3 night trip and have some extra food just in case.

Dan Zokaites

October 16, 2013

IMG guide Dan Zokaites reports that the team successfully made it back to Wamena yesterday and are now enjoying a rest day at the hotel.  They will have a chance to explore the town a bit and get organized and packed up for their next climb of Puncak Mandala.  For tomorrow morning they have a helicopter arranged to fly them to this very remote peak which is much farther to the east, quite near the border with Papua New Guinea.  The internet is pretty slow over there, but Dan was able to send some photos they took on the Trikora climb… quite an adventure!

Eric Simonson

October 14, 2013

IMG guide Dan Zokaites called to report that the team reached the true summit (15,584 feet) of Puncak Trikora today, the 3rd highest peak in Papua.  From Wamena it took them four days and three camps.  Dan said they needed their rubber boots on the trek and that the travel was reminiscent of crossing the plateau to Mt. Carstensz with forest, bog, mud and everything in between on the way to the high camp.  The summit day took them over 14 hours roundtrip with considerable 3rd, 4th, and 5th class rock climbing (up to about 5.6) along the way.  All total, they spent over 12 hours above 14,700 feet ascending and descending the long rocky summit ridge with huge drop offs on each side.  The trip out will take two days back to Wamena, accompanied by their eleven porters.  Well done, team!

Eric Simonson