my first mountain ride

The story began when i joined in PALASMEGA. In this organization suppose it's member to have member's number. We often call it "nomor anggota". To have this number I must follow the mountain climbing event. This is my first experience.

It was excited listen the stories of my seniors bout climbing the mount. I sure it will be so challenging, but also weary.

Our team consist of 8 person. We started gathering on our secretariat of PALASMEGA early morning. It was 15 May 2006. We went to bus terminal to looked for Magelang track bus. Oh, I haven't told that we were climb the Merbabu Mount. It's located in Magelang, Central Java. It's 60 km from my town.

We arrived on Tidar Bus Terminal ( in Magelang city) 1,5 hour later. Then, we continued our trip by Kopeng track bus. We dropped in Wekas after 2 hour of trip. There was a big gate greet us. "Welcome to Forest Tourism of Merbabu Mount". I thought the journey was start. We walked bout 3 hour till basecamp in the last village on the slope, Mr. Min's house. OMyGod, so it just the beginning??

We had a break for a while. At night we continued to climb up, went to camping ground: Pos 2, maybe 2400 MSL. The trip that should 3 hour, we passed over 5 hour cause of night trip so we couldn't see the track clearly. Unfortunately we had choose the detour track. There are many ways to Pos 2 actually. At midnight finally we arrived in Pos 2. We immediately open our tents n took a rest.

2 days we spent our time in Pos 2. There was no other climber while we were there. Maybe it was cause at that time wasn't a holiday or weekend. Our days filled by joy n fun, sharing each other n of course endless jokes. We also stared at the sky full of stars every night. It felt so close, really. It looked so clearly.

At 4th day, we decided to continued our trip to the mount top. We walked over the hills n valleys with the beautiful grass-shrub n edelweiss tree. Finally we arrived at afternoon in Kenteng Songo Pass, the highest top of Merbabu Mount. It's 3142 MSL. Wow, i was really amazed with the view. I could see Merapi Mount n it felt really close. Merapi which was emit the eruption lava. I could see it pulled out the hot cloud. What a trip! Then I realized that people was nothing compared by the other God's creation.

This journey really teach me many things. Bout the togetherness in the nature, brotherhood, help each other to reach the common goal n many more. My senior's principle that I remember till now is "you will never ever can conquer the mount top, you just conquer your ego n yourself to reach the top"

Till now, Merbabu Mount always have its own place in my heart, cause i have learn so many things from it.

they are the girl in the team
from left: Mbak Leilan, Mbak Resti n Mbak Upik

PALASMEGA JAYA!!!

Kenteng Songo Pass

note:
there are some song which remind me to this mount like Gomenasai - Tatu, Sandaran Hati - Letto, Dasar Pengecut - Tahta, n Bersama Bintang - Drive. i knew it doesn't match n maybe you ask why that songs. Just a simple answer: because when we walked to Pos 2, Mas Cimeng, one of my senior, brought radio n turned it on along the way. n perchance that songs were popular at that time. When moved the radio channel we just got hear that song play in every channel. haha