“Gunung Bragging!” – The Hall of Fame List December 2012

Below is the third edition of the Hall of Fame (for end of 2012). A new edition of the list is published at the end of every year. Please contact us if you wish to be listed.
Links to previous years… Hall of Fame December 2011Hall of Fame December 2010

Ranking Name Nationality Year of Birth Number of Ribus Number of Spesials

1

Daniel Quinn

British 1981

52

26
Ribus Agung, Argopuro, Arjuno, Batukaru, Besar (Halau Halau), Bukittunggul, Butak, Cikuray, Ciremai, Dempo, Ebulobo, Fatu Timau, Galunggung (Beuticanar), Gamalama, Ili Boleng, Ili Labalekang, Inerie, Karang, Keli Lepembusu, Kerinci, Kiematubu, Klabat, Lamongan (Tarub), Lawu, Liman, Malintang (Sago), Merapi, Merbabu, Moncong Lompobatang, Muria, Mutis, Pangrango, Penanggungan, Pesagi, Pesawaran (Ratai), Poco Ngandonalu, Rajabasa, Rantemario, Salak, Sawal, Semeru, Sibuatan, Sinabung, Sindoro, Singgalang, Slamet, Sumbing, Talang, Tambora, Tampomas, Tanggamus, Ungaran
Spesials Anak Krakatau, Batur, Bongkok, Bromo (Pananjakan), Burangrang, Dieng (Prau), Guntur (Masigit), Iya, Jantan, Kelimutu (Inspiration Point), Kerenceng, Kinabalu (Low’s Peak), Malabar (Puncak Besar), Manglayang, Manado Tua, Patuha, Pulosari, Rakata, Raksa, Rakutak, Sangga Buana, Sebesi, Tangkuban Parahu, Telomoyo, Trusmadi, Wayang-Windu
Notes 2012 has been pretty quiet in Indonesian bagging terms as I spent the first half of the year in Hong Kong. Having moved back recently I have been spending a lot of time exploring some of West Java’s Spesial peaks. Favourite hikes this year have included Kerenceng, Wayang-Windu, reaching my 50th Ribu on Lampung’s Pesagi and meeting Pak Somad at the top and an excellent Christmas week in East Java climbing Argopuro and Liman.Aims for next year include a big trip to NTT, finding out more about peaks in Kalimantan and bagging some of the large but relatively unknown mountains in Sumatra such as Talakmau and Masurai. I may have a go at Raung’s Puncak Sejati.Now lots of near misses and failed attempts to reach the highest point after over 3 years in Indonesia -…. Rinjani summit closed to trekkers (08/2009), Marapi to puncak Merpati only (04/2010), no trail to Papandayan (Malang) (08/2011), no trail to true peak on Parang (05/2011), vegetation on Ijen-Merapi (07/2010) too dense, too scared to climb to highest point of Egon (08/2010), no trail to highest peak of Salahutu (12/2010), guide failed to turn up for an ascent of Cyclops (01/2011) so the hike was aborted, got to the summit cliffs of Kelud (02/2011) but had no ropes, got to within stone’s throw of the highest, densely forested top of Samosir (05/2011), Raung crater rim only (07/2011), Sibayak crater area (08/2011), Pangulubao trig point only (08/2011), failed to find correct trail on Seminung (10/2012) and there is no route to the true summit of Ringgit (12/2012).
Ranking Name Nationality Year of Birth Number of Ribus Number of Spesials

2

Hendri Agustin

Indonesian

27

10
Ribus Agung, Argopuro, Arjuno, Cikuray, Ciremai, Dempo, Kerinci, Klabat, Lawu, Merapi, Merbabu, Moncong Lompobattang, Pangrango, Rantemario, Rinjani, Salak, Semeru, Sinabung, Sindoro, Singgalang, Slamet, Sumbing, Talakmau, Talang, Tambora, Tampomas, Ungaran
Spesials Anak Krakatau, Bawakaraeng, Burangrang, Bromo (Pananjakan), Guntur (Masigit), Kinabalu (Low’s Peak), Manglayang, Patuha, Pulosari, Rakutak
Notes My Favorite hike on 2012 is When I was Hike to Mt. Cireme and Mt. Rinjani it was so many good memory :), My plan for this year is to complete writing my book about introducing 7 highest peak in 7 big island/archipelago of Indonesia. I was introduced this concept to Indonesia hiker/mountaineer on 21 Nov 2008.
Ranking Name Nationality Year of Birth Number of Ribus Number of Spesials

3

Heinz von Holzen

Swiss

27

5
Ribus Agung, Argopuro, Arjuno, Batukaru, Butak, Cikuray, Ciremai, Dempo, Ebulobo, Galunggung (Beuticanar), Inerie, Kerinci, Kiematubu, Lawu, Merapi, Merbabu, Moncong Lompobatang, Muria, Pangrango, Penanggungan, Rinjani, Salak, Semeru, Sindoro, Slamet, Sumbing, Ungaran
Spesials Batur, Bromo (Pananjakan), Dieng (Prau), Kaba, Kelimutu (Inspiration Point)
Notes
“This year a few more times Agung. At the end of January I will go back to Merapi in East Java and with the help of some sulfur Porters will see if we can hack our way to the very top of Merapi.
Rantemario is on the list for 2013 and so is a trip to the very summit of Raung. Then later in the year back to Timor and Flores.”

Visited Kemiri, Raung, Tambora, Ijen-Merapi and Marapi but didn’t get to the true summits. Has climbed Agung  45 times! Got to within 300 metres of the summit of Papandayan (Malang) in October 2011.

Ranking Name Nationality Year of Birth Number of Ribus Number of Spesials

4

Andy Dean

British 1977

27

3
Ribus Agung, Cikuray, Ciremai, Dempo, Ebulobo, Fatu Timau, Gamalama, Inerie, Karang, Keli Lepembusu, Kerinci, Kiematubu, Klabat, Lawu, Malintang (Sago), Merbabu, Mutis, Palung (Ponti), Pangrango, Penanggungan, Rinjani, Salak, Semeru, Singgalang, Slamet, Tambora, Tampomas
Spesials Bromo (Pananjakan), Kelimutu (Inspiration Point), Lokon
Notes “Vancouver, British Columbia, was the base for fantastic hiking in the Cascades, Rockies and Coast mountain ranges. I only summited one mountain – Whistler Mountain – by cable car at the local ski resort! This is the reality of northern latitudes where the ultras and notable summits usually require mountaineering skills.  The big plan for 2013 is training for a climb of the ice cap summit of Mount Baker, a 10,000 ft plus volcano just across the border in Washington, USA.”
Notable attempts: Pangulubao trig point (02/2010), Butak, Papandayan, Anak Krakatau, Raung rim (07/2011).
Ranking Name Nationality Year of Birth Number of Ribus Number of Spesials

5

John Hargreaves

British

25

10
Ribus Agung, Arjuno, Batukaru, Butak, Cikuray, Ciremai, Dempo, Fatu Timau, Gamalama, Karang, Kiematubu, Lawu, Mutis, Pangrango, Penanggungan, Rajabasa, Rantemario, Rinjani, Salak, Sawal, Semeru, Sinabung, Singgalang, Slamet, Tampomas
Spesials Anak Krakatau, Banda Api, Batur, Bongkok, Bromo (Pananjakan), Kaba, Kelimutu (Inspiration Point), Kinabalu (Low’s Peak), Lokon, Sangga Buana
Notes My most ambitious hike in Indonesia was a six-day trek to Binaiya, in Seram. After slogging through mud, dense jungle and drenching rain, we crested the peak on the morning of the fourth day, only to notice immediately that ours was a secondary top, while the true summit was actually a kilometer or more away across an unbridgeable chasm!Other notes : also climbed to Sibayak crater (December 2011).
Ranking Name Nationality Year of Birth Number of Ribus Number of Spesials

6

Gill Dean

British 1977

25

3
Ribus Agung, Cikuray, Dempo, Ebulobo, Fatu Timau, Gamalama, Inerie, Keli Lepembusu, Kerinci, Kiematubu, Klabat, Lawu, Malintang (Sago), Merbabu, Mutis, Palung (Ponti), Pangrango, Penanggungan, Rinjani, Salak, Semeru, Singgalang, Slamet, Tambora, Tampomas
Spesials Bromo (Pananjakan), Kelimutu (Inspiration Point), Lokon
Notes My first Ribu in Indonesia was Gunung Rinjani, including a wonderful full moon, clear sky ascent to the summit for sunrise. After that experience I was hooked, and many more Ribus followed. Rinjani is still among my top trips, although other special peaks include Tambora due to its remote location and spectacular crater, and Kerinci as it’s the highest volcano in Indonesia. As well as all the highs, there were a couple of low points, including failing to get to the summit of Butak in torrential rain, and missing a flight to Bali to bag Batukaru during our final weeks in Indonesia! Still on the list are all the Papua peaks: we’ll be back for those someday!
Notable attempts: Pangulubao trig point (02/2010), Butak, Papandayan, Anak Krakatau, Raung rim (07/2011).
Ranking Name Nationality Year of Birth Number of Ribus Number of Spesials

7

Jan Smeenk

Dutch  1945

23

12
Ribus Agung, Argopuro, Arjuno, Batukaru, Bukittunggul, Butak, Cikuray, Ciremai, Klabat, Lamongan (Tarub), Lawu, Liman, Merapi, Merbabu, Pangrango, Penanggungan, Rajabasa, Rinjani, Semeru, Sindoro, Slamet, Sumbing, Ungaran
Spesials Anak Krakatau, Banda Api, Batur, Bromo (Pananjakan), Burangrang, Dieng (Prau), Guntur (Masigit), Halimun (North), Kelimutu, Kelud, Patuha, Tangkuban Parahu
Notes Have also visited Papandayan crater, Egon crater rim (2009), Puncak Trikora area (2008), Lokon crater (2010) and Angkasan in the Leuser range (2010).
Ranking Name Nationality Year of Birth Number of Ribus Number of Spesials

8

Taufan

Indonesian 1970

23

2
Ribus Agung, Argopuro, Arjuno, Binaiya, Cikuray, Ciremai, Dempo, Kerinci, Lawu, Merapi, Merbabu, Pangrango, Rajabasa, Raung, Rinjani, Salak, Semeru, Sindoro, Slamet, Sumbing, Talakmau, Tambora, Ungaran
Spesials Bawakaraeng, Pulosari
Notes Have also visited Marapi puncak Merpati (West Sumatra). Comments on his ascent to the true summit of Gunung Raung: “The true peak of Mount Raung is the special one, the trek is very challenging.  An extra effort and well planning is needed to reach the highest point, and climbers will meet all the expected challenges at that mountain. I must say this is the hardest trail in Java.” I’ve formed the expedition team for mount Ama Dablam (6856 m), Himalayan Range, Nepal. The team is not the pro mountain climbers, but consist of Jakarta’s urban community member,  like IT expert, marketing and advertising expert, lecturer and web designer.  The plan is we going to start the expedition around mid October 2013, that will be 35 days expedition. We’ve been preparing the expedition since February 2012, so everyone has been on training for 10 months.  You can see our preparation at this link http://www.facebook.com/road2amadablam
Ranking Name Nationality Year of Birth Number of Ribus Number of Spesials

9

Roman Gerber

Swiss

22

4
Ribus Agung, Argopuro, Arjuno, Batukaru, Butak, Ciremai, Dempo, Ebulobo, Inerie, Kerinci, Lawu, Liman, Merapi, Merbabu, Moncong Lompobatang, Pangrango, Penanggungan, Rinjani, Semeru, Sindoro, Slamet, Sumbing
Spesials Batur, Bromo (Pananjakan), Kelimutu (Inspiration Point), Kinabalu (Low’s Peak)
Notes Visited Kemiri, Raung, Tambora, Ijen-Merapi and Marapi but didn’t get to the true summits. Has now climbed Agung 50 times!
Ranking Name Nationality Year of Birth Number of Ribus Number of Spesials

10

Wolfgang Piecha

German

20

5
Ribus Agung, Argopuro, Arjuno, Ciremai, Dempo, Egon, Gamalama, Ijen-Merapi, Kerinci, Lawu, Liman, Merapi, Merbabu, Pangrango, Rinjani, Semeru, Sindoro, Slamet, Sumbing, Tambora
Spesials Anak Krakatau, Batur, Bromo (Pananjakan), Kelimutu (Inspiration Point), Sebesi
Notes Has also visited the craters of Papandayan and Kelud

Why Have a Hall of Fame?

Although looking at lists of mountains like the Ribus is always secondary to the actual experience of being out there in the mountains – enjoying the fresh air, the scenery and the exercise – there is an undoubted pleasure in keeping track of the peaks you’ve visited. Unlike in several other countries where mountain climbing is equally – or more – popular, there has not to our knowledge been any attempt to create a record of people’s hiking achievements in Indonesia. The Ribus are based on objective criteria (i.e 1,000 metre prominence) and so we hope to utilise this to keep a record of people’s hiking achievements – if they want to be included. Given the immensity of the challenge of climbing all the Ribus (and the fact that nobody knew where they all were until now) it is pretty much impossible that anyone will have climbed all 226 of them! Indeed, we think that at present no single person has reached the top of more than about 50 Ribus, although it is probable that at least 100 peaks on the list are relatively accessible and have been climbed on at least several occasions. Perhaps 50 Ribus or more are visited by hikers on at least a weekly basis during the dry season.

Hall of Fame Criteria

If you have climbed 20 or more Ribus (excluding Spesial peaks) you can join the Gunung Bagging Hall of Fame. If you would like to be added, please contact us with a list of your bagged Ribus and Spesials, and including any “significant attempts” when you came close but failed to reach the absolute summit for some reason. There can be many reasons for failing to reach the summit:

  • Volcanic activity (or the weather) can make it too dangerous to reach the highest point. The trek to Merapi (Central Java) is an example of a relatively straightforward hike to the summit area of a volcano, but not to the summit itself (which was completely altered, in 2006 and most recently in the 2010 eruption). Hikers who visited the highest point prior to 2006 (Garuda’s Wing) can reasonably claim to have reached the summit if they managed to get their head above the highest point of the huge piece of rock. Between 2006 and 2010 however, the highest point was part of a new lava dome which was simply too dangerous and utterly irresponsible to visit. However, since the 2010 eruptions, the summit area is vastly different once again – with a new 400m wide crater and is now baggable!!!
  • Technical climbing skills are required. Gunung Raung (East Java), Puncak Trikora (Papua) and Egon (East Nusa Tenggara) require climbing ropes and/or intermediate rock-climbing skills in order to reach the highest point.
  • Dense vegetation / jungle / no trail. Some peaks are covered in dense vegetation. Occasionally, finding a route to the top can be very difficult, if not impossible. Trails become overgrown quickly and if tops are not visited for a number of years the vegetation can become so dense that there is no visible trail and/or the vegetation is just too dense to walk through. Papandayan and Galunggung (Beuticanar), both in West Java, are notable examples of overgrown trails. Marapi in West Sumatra is not baggable by any conventional route, although a handful of hikers have apparently opened up a new trail which does reach the summit from a totally new direction. We hope this site will help encourage new hiking routes and the regeneration of old, forgotten trails.
  • Mystifying legal reasons. There are a number of peaks in Java (and elsewhere) officially closed to the general public. This a fairly recent problem – peaks which were often climbed in the past have been closed by Forestry or National Park authorities, mainly because they do not have sufficient resources to maintain a network of trails in the short-term even though in the long-term the amount of tourism revenue would probably be high if people knew of their existence. Annoyingly, waivers stating you are entirely responsible for your safety and behaviour (which you would be normally, anyway) are rarely granted except to scientists conducting research. It’s a lose-lose situation but in general Indonesian hikers don’t seem to mind and the media have bigger fish to fry. You can either enter the lengthy and expensive process of negotiation with authorities or just get on with it and try to climb them anyway.
  • Not knowing where the summit actually is. A less common and more humorous reason for not reaching the highest point will be simply that you didn’t know where the very top was, perhaps due to excessive vegetation or a very flat mountain top with several peaks of seemingly similar elevation. Even a guide might not actually know where the true summit is and they can even get you lost. Liman, Palung (Ponti) and Rajabasa fall into this category but we have tried to provide information on this site which specifies the likely highest point.

Of course, reaching the highest point is not the most important part of going for a hike and considering the dangers you may face it is occasionally unwise to attempt at all. However, we want to keep this list as stringent and professional as other mountain lists worldwide. For Gunung Bagging purposes, (and despite probable accusations of pedantry!) this means that if you haven’t reached the highest point then you can’t claim to have ‘bagged’ it. However, be sure to mention such attempts in your email to us so that other hikers know what to expect on tricky or particularly active peaks.

Known Difficult Peaks

Many of the Ribus and Spesials are very hard to conquer! This is due to a number of reasons. The highest point may be in dense vegetation with no path whatsoever, part of an active lava dome, on a knife-edged crater rim or ridge, in a tribal conflict area or require moderate rock climbing skills or a hike of two weeks or more! Here is an initial list of some of the trickier summits that we know about so far – please see individual mountain pages for more details. N.B. Most peaks in Kalimantan and Papua are likely to be very difficult. We hope to make updates as and when we have new information. We also hope to conduct expeditions to these summits if/when it is safe to do so.

Java:

  • Papandayan (Malang) – The summit is in dense vegetation and there would appear to be no trail there at present.
  • Galunggung (Beuticanar) – The summit is rarely-visited and so the trail is vague and overgrown. In June 2010, Gunung Bagging conducted an expedition along with Napak Rimba hiking club from Tasikmalaya to re-open the trail. It is currently marked from Telaga Bodas with yellow and blue string but is likely to become overgrown again soon.
  • Parang – The summit is in dense vegetation.
  • Kelud – The summit rocks require rock climbing skills – ropes are probably needed.
  • Liman – this remote mountain is difficult to reach given the terrain (rarely-used) and lack of local knowledge about what is a very complex range of peaks.
  • Lamongan (Tarub) – The summit is rarely visited and overgrown. In October 2008, local hiking enthusiast Pak Iwan Erfanto led what was one of only a handful of recent expeditions to the summit of Tarub from Klakah via Lamongan, taking 4 days there and back. Gunung Bagging went to Tarub in January 2011 from Ranu Gedang.
  • Ijen (Merapi) – Whilst Ijen crater is very popular with visitors, the top of the massif, Gunung Merapi, is hardly ever visited. It is a great place – there are several sandy craters to explore. The highest point is covered in dense vegetation. Java Lava either reached the summit or got very close indeed in 2006 but since then all attempts have been thwarted by the density of the vegetation.
  • Baluran – This mountain peak is very rarely visited and there is only a vague trail through the dense forest. You need to contact National Park staff well in advance to try to arrange local help.
  • Sumbing – The highest point of the crater rim is mildly difficult to reach. Confident scramblers should have no difficulty.
  • Raung – The highest point of the crater rim is difficult to reach. It requires a very long hike in and ropes for rock climbing.

Sulawesi:

  • Karangetang – The volcano is incredibly active and dangerous.

Sumatra:

  • Pangulubao – The trig pillar is visited at least once a year but the true highpoint likes 1.8km along a densely forested ridge from there.
  • Sibayak (Pintau) – The true summit of Pintau has apparently only been climbed once or twice.
  • Tujuh – The climb to the summit is very steep and has apparently only been climbed once or twice.

Maluku:

  • Salahutu – Although local hikers climb to a lesser nearby top, the highest peak of the range is rarely visited and if there is a trail it is likely to be very vague.

Nusa Tenggara Timur:

  • Egon – The highest point of the crater rim is difficult to reach. It requires good scrambling skills over very exposed and slippery terrain. Rob Woodall made a complete circuit of the rim in August 2010 and Wolfgang Piecha reached the summit on a Java Lava trip in April 2009.

Kepulauan Riau

  • Daik – At present, nobody has reached the top of the mountain. Apparently it is a very difficult rock climb.

Papua:

  • Puncak Trikora – Ropes are needed for a rock climb at the very top.
  • Arfak (Umsini) – There is a current conflict between two neighbouring tribes which makes access to the peak rather difficult.
  • Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) – Indonesia’s highest mountain is very expensive – especially for foreigners – and rock climbing skills are needed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top