This is my first time participating in climbing activities with many team members. 34 members! Usually, I only go with 5 - 10 members.
Our group departed from Pekalongan at night, so they could arrive at the Cetho temple basecamp in the morning and immediately get ready to climb. Actually, to get to the top of Lawu, there are about five paths, but the ones that are often used by climbers are the Cetho temple route in Gumeng village, Karanganyar district, and Cemoro Sewu which is located in Plaosan district, Magetan district, East Java.
Because we came from Pekalongan, the route we took was the closest route to our hometown. Cetho Temple.
Our group arrived at the Cetho Temple basecamp at exactly 05.00 a.m. all members immediately queued for a shower and were ready to re-check the luggage so that nothing was missing.
After breakfast, the team leader divided our members into three; The first team is in charge of bringing camping equipment, such as tents, flysheets and logistics for dinner. While the second team or the middle team is dominated by women and some men, the second team simply follows the first team. The last team, also known as the sweeper, is in charge of carrying the logistics that will be used the next day.
At 09.00, we departed from Cetho Temple to shelter 1 which is called Mbah Branti shelter. After doing the SIMAKSI, the national park staff gave a brief briefing to all members, telling us what to do and what not to do during the trip.
Many myths circulate, that climbers are prohibited from wearing green clothes when climbing Mount Lawu. This opinion is also justified by national park officials.
From Cetho Temple, we passed the Kethek temple. Both of these temples are still actively used by Hindus to pray or perform religious ceremonies. Therefore, it is highly recommended for Lawu mountain climbers to maintain good manners as fellow citizens of the universe.
Towards Mbah Branti's shelter, you will pass a waterway, when it recedes, the water is only up to your ankles, but if the tide is high you can reach your knees. In this waterway provided stones as a pedestal, and ropes for holding.
The path you take is quite gentle. About an hour drive, you will arrive at shelter 1.
Brak Seng
Towards the next shelter, the road that is passed is a bit uphill than before. The terrain is still land. Because the trees in the Lawu forest are dense and large, so climbers will not feel the heat of the sun.
At the Brak Seng shelter, you will find a place to take shelter, and you can still see some trees that were left by forest fires due to the 2015 long drought. Because the time was almost 12.00, our team decided to take a long break and decided to resume at 02.00 p.m.
Cemoro Dowo
From Brak Seng to this shelter, the road continues to climb and is slippery from last night's rain. The field is still soil without roots. At the Cemoro Dowo shelter, there is a source of clean water that climbers can use for self-cleaning or cooking purposes.
Penggik
It has become a common story for climbers, that it is not recommended to spend the night at this shelter. Apart from being a narrow place to set up a tent, this shelter is also prone to landslides when heavy rains arrive. Hence, it is obligatory for climbers to think carefully about the estimated time so that they don't spend the night on the hiking trail.
Bulak Peperangan
Our team arrived at this shelter just before dark. The first team in charge of setting up the tent had set up well. The Bulak Peperangan Shelter is a vast campground in the form of a savanna. When we arrived here it was raining heavily and the atmosphere was full of fog. Visibility is only half a meter. Climbers must use a headlamp for this condition.
Gupakan Menjangan
The next morning, at 05.00a.m, our team rushed to the top of Lawu. Hargo Dumilah!
Towards Hargo Dumilah, climbers will pass through a wide and long savanna, here there is a water source called Gupakan Menjangan . After the savanna, climbers will arrive at Pasar Dieng.
There are many various mystical stories about Pasar Dieng, from the case of many climbers who went missing in dozens of lawu also recently. In Pasar Dieng you will find boundaries that should not be crossed marked by a police line that stretches.
Hargo Dalem
Reporting from Merbabu.com, it is said that Hargo Dalem is the ancient tomb of Prabu Brawijaya. Not far from this place, you can stop by for a break and have breakfast at the highest stall in Java, the Mbok Yem stall. Mbok Yem is very famous among climbers. Not infrequently, climbers who have been to Lawu will miss the elderly figure who has a place to eat on Mount Lawu. Only one kind of food is served. Rice and fried egg. Mbok Yem also has a pet in the form of a monkey named Kliwon.
Hargo Dumilah
After breakfast at Mbok Yem, we continued our journey to Hargo Dumilah. The highest peak of Mount Lawu. The road that passes is a small and large stone road. Continue uphill for thirty minutes.
At 09.00a.m you arrive at Hargo Dumilah 3. 265 meters above the sea.
