July 14, 2011

Base Camp is situated by the turquoise lakes at the foot of the mountain. (Photo by Jim Walkley)

Jason Edwards reports that the team has successfully reached base camp, after seven days of trekking.  This is one more than the planned six days, and was due to an adjustment made at the request of the porters, who wanted to pull up short on the next-to-last day, so they could make it to BC early the following day and be able to turn around and make it back to their camp (where they have wood and water).

The weather has been excellent for the team, with only occasional rain, and clear skies for much of the time.  The sun was nice, because they got wet many times a day with all the stream crossings on the plateau.  Jason says they wore their rubber boots for the entire trek, except for the last day of hiking to BC!

Now, they are preparing for the climb of Carstensz.  The plan is to try tomorrow, with a departure about 3am, and about 12 hours projected for the round trip ascent/descent.

Eric Simonson

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  The clear skies of the first few days have been replaced by “normal” weather (some rain).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