Elevation	3,320 m (10,892 ft); Prominence: 2,985 m
Province	Jawa Tengah (Central Java)
Ribu Category	Sangat Tinggi
Links	Wikipedia English ; Wikipedia Indonesia

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Bagging It!

This huge mountain is separated from its similarly conical neighbour, Gunung Sindoro, by the Kledung Pass (1,404m) and is the second highest peak in Central Java. There is some debate about just how high it really is – estimates vary from 3,320m to 3,371m. Its only known eruption was in 1730 but there is still minor volcanic activity in the crater. It is most commonly climbed from the north from the basecamp at Garung village, which is very near to Kledung where there is a decent hotel. Public transport from Yogya is frustratingly slow so the area is better approached from Semarang if you are not using a private car. There are frequent buses through Kledung which run between Semarang and Purwokerto.

Garung village is just ten minutes on foot from Kledung. Guides can easily be arranged at the Garung basecamp or Kledung Pass hotel. Take the road leading south from the main road through Kledung next to a mosque and BRI bank. The basecamp is on your left (1,420m) and permits can be arranged there if your guide hasn’t already dealt with it. You can also ask for a basic map and route description (in Indonesian).

From Garung, the road leads up through Garung village and the trail through farmland begins at approximately 1,478m. You will almost certainly be able to get an ojek to the end of the road. There are actually two routes – old and new – that you can take (‘jalur lama’ and ‘jalur baru’) and they join together at two possible places further along the hike. However, this can lead to confusion as there are no signposts and guides have known to become lost themselves on minor farm tracks on the lower slopes! The new trail has presumably been opened to combat erosion on the old route but the lack of signs and vast number of farm paths means it is more of a hindrance to hikers at the moment. It is usually not a major problem but do take extra care if climbing at night.

Experienced hikers should be able to reach the crater rim in 6 hours because although the trail is steep it is only 7 km long. ‘Jalur baru’ (new route) is better for water sources as a stream runs parallel to it on the west. On ‘jalur lama’ (old route) the last place for water is a large stream on the edge of farm plantation at 1,900m. Jalur lama has Pos 1 (1,932m) and Pos 2 (2,234m) which are both very basic wooden frames. They will protect you from rain but are of little merit as places to actually camp. There are numerous places to pitch a tent on the way up but most places can only accommodate 2 or 3 tents at most. At 2,317m is a monument to a hiker who died on Sumbing and a slightly larger camping area. Beyond this, the forest becomes thinner and thinner and views over to Gunung Sindoro become correspondingly magnificent. After the two different routes have met, the first major landmark on the hike is ‘watu kotak’ (stone box) at 2,876m. The trail leads along the left side of this and a second rocky cliff of considerable length (known simply as ‘tebing’) a little higher up at 3,000 – 3,040m. This is near in area known to guides as ‘tanah putih’ (white land).

The edge of the crater is soon reached and in good weather conditions hikers are rewarded with the tremendous view over to Merapi and Merbabu. Down below is the large crater – smoke may be billowing from the middle section and there is a large pool of water on the eastern end of the crater complex. It is possible to explore the crater by descending into it from the rim but be very careful of the gases and do not camp there.

The point of the crater at the top of the trail from Kledung is known as ‘puncak buntu’ (3,300m) although use of the word ‘puncak’ (peak) is confusing given that the highest point is a steep rocky part of the crater rim further south-west. Most hikers are happy to consider the crater rim as their destination. Although the real summit is not far away, to reach it is quite a task. Experienced rock climbers and keen scramblers may think nothing of the challenge but average hikers are warned considering the dangerous terrain. Undoubtedly numerous hikers have managed negotiate it but there are huge drops on the rim itself and a little mistake would have terrible consequences. Indeed, by following the very crest of the rim you will encounter drops that are impassable without ropes. You could try to reach the highest point by following a minor trail a few metres below the rim which skirts the side of the volcano. However, it is probable that the other trail from Cepit – which leads directly into the crater itself (see below) – is a better option for accessing the very highest point of the rim from the other side. Please contact us if you have reached the top from either route.

To descend the same way to Garung from the crater rim takes about four hours.

Sumbing is also climbed from another basecamp at Cepit (near Pagergunung village) which lies 7km from Parakan. This route leads directly into the caldera but it is a longer trail. It is requested that you register and pay a small fee at the basecamp. There is no water along this route so take plenty with you. The route (which takes about 7 hours) goes via forest and savanna before reaching Batu Kasur (Stone mattress) and Batu Lawang (Stone door). After these landmarks you reach the caldera and sulphuric gases and also some caves, the biggest of which is called Jugil. There are also local ancestral tombs, known as Ki Ageng Makukuhan.

Practicalities

Bagging information by Daniel Quinn