2M Merbabu-Merapi

Our pics from the Merbabu-Merapi traverse, from Kopeng, North of Merbabu to Selo via the 7 summits [ highest  3150m] then the loop from new Selo to the Merapi crater rim [2905m], in 3 days and 2 nights.

1st night: Camping overnight at menara antena, first of the 7 Merbabu summits [there is a army cement shelter and water at 20min]

2nd night: Ratria Guest House in Selo

Trekheads/Basecamps:      

- Kopeng or Selo for Merbabu [5000Rp/person]

- New Selo for Merapi [0/1500Rp/person]

Access: 

-Kopeng can be accessed quite easily from Semarang via Salatiga [3h], Angkot from Salatiga, 6am to 6pm

- Selo via Solo [2h] or Magelang [2h]

The Story

        Inspired by the succeed of 2S in late of 2011, we try our best luck to do the same thing: double summit in one hint. As you have read about these mountains locations as above and also the access. The trekking itself took 2D3N. We arrived Thursday evening in Semarang after few delays from delay airline as you all might know. Taxi is the best solution to go to Terboyo Bus Terminal which is located outside of city center. From Terboyo, we took a good bus company (Taruna) that will take us to Pasar sapi in Salatiga. The trip took only 1.5 hours. With fairly cheap ticket and comfort bus, we are quite happy. In Pasar Sapi, good friends of us called "ojek" already waiting to chase some clients. I thought our starting point, Kopeng is not too far from Pasar Sapi, that is why i said NO to ojek who proposed 50k / person to go to Kopeng. The following day i knew, 50k probably reasonable price if you are in hurry and attached to this shortcut type of transport (read: quick). However, almost all the time, we prefer walk.. some people it is slow travel, well it is frankly true but for some reason that difficult to be explained, we just love to walk and capture all the human interests by inhabitants, such a moving story that you can always keep in your mind.

        We were not lucky that night because after we decided to walk, rain was pouring down and seems so hesitate to force to arrive in Kopeng. Luckily, we found a Hotel which i forgot the name but at least i still remember the name of the street; Jl. S. Hasanudin. So we rest at the nice budget Hotel and easily sleep because tired.

The following day, we catch the bus at 6am to go to Kopeng. The bus passes the main road of Hasanudin. Merbabu trekking is famous so the co-driver bus could notice if you are a hiker and will advise you where you should stop. There are few routes from Cuntel to go to Merbabu, we chose Cuntel was accidentally. Before we were planning to go via Tekelan, but never mind the precise, narrow asphalt road in the end brought us to Cuntel base camp. The guys in Cuntel BC were friendly and informative; water,shelter, etc

        After getting the map and chat, we started at 7.45am. We took water from the pipe which runs to the village. Next water will be available in Pos 2. You will have to Pos Bayangan 1 and 2 before Pos 1 (which is funny arrangement). There was one group in front us, we shared lunch in Pos 2. The trek from BC to Pos 3 was quite easy, not too steep but consistently climbing up. In Pos 3 we met a group of 3 people who came from the summit and collecting trashes along way to BC (see picture, Gilles stood next to 'aqua man'). Such an amazed to meet them and to see that we need more people like them. Pos 3 to 4 was slightly steeper than BC-Pos 3. At least we can see the tower clear, which reference point for Pos 4/tower/TNI shelter. That is good so i can motivate myself and force to walk faster. Finally we arrive at Pos 4 around 2pm. There were already some groups with tents there. The good news was we can build our tent inside the permanent shelter, oh so happy! Since we still have few hours before dark, we were thinking to go to Puncak Syarif today, then to Puncak Kenteng Songo (3167m - Puncak 6) in the following day when we descend via Selo. That was a good plan, sounds, before we know the trek from Puncak 4. As it is copied from www.gunungbagging.com (our trustful guide before trekking):

After the 4 pos, there are the seven summits. The first is Watu Gubug (2,735m) and the second is more obvious and called Watu Tulis (2,900m) where there is a old radio mast. It should take strong hikers no more 3 hours to get to this point. After Watu Tulis, the path drops down before the climb starts to Summit 3. Just before the climb starts to summit 3, there is a source of good water near to an obvious geological feature – a large area or outcrop of white/yellow sulphurous clay soil. You drop down an obvious path to the right and can hear the stream below very clearly. This area is a popular camping spot for those who do not want to hike all the way to the summits over 3,000m. If you do camp here, it means an early morning start if you want to get to the summits for sunrise, and you’ll miss the best views of the sunset. Geger Sapi (2,987m) is not really much of a summit, and is more of a small hump on the fairly relentless steep climb towards Summit 4. As you reach the summit ridge, you turn left to climb the last few metres to Summit 4, Syarif (3,142m). This is a fabulous camping spot, with views of Sumbing, Sindoro, Merbabu’s highest summits and Merapi. There are surprisingly many good flat camping areas, and you may well have the whole summit to yourself, until the sunrise hikers make their way up from Summit 3.

        After puff breathing and steeply rocks we finally reached Puncak Syarif, unluckily it was too cloudy for 2S view. We stayed here not too long as we still have to come back to our tent in Pos 4. I was doubt to pass this trek again tomorrow, i was not sure if i could walk faster, true it was not the most effective plan to stay in the shelter (but there was something happen in the night that again made me change my mind). We arrive in the tent just right on time, almost 6pm. The time to prepare hot tea and dinner. We have a companion who also want to build tent inside the shelter. The group consists of three young guys, coming from Solo. as usual we have dinner in our tent, enjoying the most ordinary meal in the mountain; noodle, hot coffee and nice biscuits. It was just a perfect day, i said to Gilles, perfect trek, weather, foods, and shelter. Look how lucky we are now as i heard rain starts poring down outside. And then.. i felt something wet from my mattress then through to my trouser and hit in my panty, it was only few seconds before both of us swearing to what we saw. Water!! Shit!! Flood!! ... to be continued...