Indonesia: Oceania expedition to Mount Carstensz Pyramid (4884 m), a trip with a Russian Mountain Guide 7 Summits Club Collection

Mount Carstensz or the Carstensz Pyramid: sometimes called Puncak Jaya, is a mountain in the Sudirman Range, the western part of central highlands of Papua province, Indonesia. With altitude 4,884 metres above sea level, Mount Carstensz is the highest mountain in Indonesia, the highest on the island of New Guinea, the highest of Oceania (Australia).

Mount Carstensz is one of the more demanding climbs in one version of the Seven Summits. It is held to have the highest technical rating, though not the greatest physical demands of that list's ascents. The standard route is up the north face and along the summit ridge, which is all hard rock surface. Despite the large mine, the area is highly inaccessible to hikers and the general public, requiring a 100-km hike from the nearest town with an airport, Timika, to the base camp, which usually takes about four or five days each way.

Trip overview: Timika - Illaga - Lakes Valley - Yellow Valley - Carstensz Peak - Yellow Valley - Lakes Valley - Illaga - Timika

Why go there?

Carstens Pyramid on the classical way - it's probably technically the most difficult climb of all "Seven Summits”. However, it does not make any special problems for real mountain climbers. Warm equatorial climate makes this route like the Crimean. Rocks have the similar nature have, similar reef limestone. And the rocks of the northern slope of a monolithic and pleasant climbing than the south. In addition, the most difficult places are equipped with fixed ropes.

The main difficulty - to get to the mountains. Trekking to the base camp of the Carstens Pyramid - is a multi-day difficult trekking. Daily trekking about 8-10 hours (for people with average physical training) in the jungle, on the slippery trails.

The island offers a rare opportunity to visit the Stone Age, as the traditional way of life for most inhabitants of the island over the millennia has not changed too much. While globalization has not touched this place - gather and look at this wonder...