Our Overseas Adventure

Mt Agung Climb

Highest point in Bali. Last known eruption 1964. Summit elevation 3,142m 10,308ft.

Picked up at 12 midnight driven at break neck speed for an hour and a half through many villages and the Bali countryside arriving at the Pura Passer Agung Temple. Just before the Temple the cab driver picked up my guide Made (this name given to the second male son of most Bali families). The cab driver then sleeps until our return.

We walked up the steps to the Temple and Made had to pray and light a few incense sticks. We then proceeded around the back of the Temple and started our climb. There were four other parties climbing all with their own guides. I got chatting with a Polish couple who lived in Aussie. They also had a guide. Both guides sang, chanted, and talked for the entire tramp.

We must have made good time because after 2 hours we stopped and our guides laid down and had a sleep for about 40 minutes. That was OK but it was getting bloody cold and I was glad I had taken my good jacket and a polar fleece. I had also taken some track pants and they also got put on. I should have had them on from the start as got a few leaches from the wet forest and when I flick them off my leg bleed quite a bit.

The other parties caught us up and we proceeded to the top arriving about 6am. Our climb ended about 100m below the actual summit but on the crater rim about 3000m. It was bloody cold and I put on my last spare top. Some of the others really struggled with the cold and were not adequately clothed. Made the guide lit some more incense sticks. We waited for the sunrise but not that great as a bit cloudy. Stayed on top for about an hour and the headed down.

Some of the ladies really struggled going down as it is quite hard on your legs and knees. The guides were great giving them a hand.

Back down the scree and rock and then into the forest. One incident on the way down one of the guides had a dog and he was chasing the monkeys what a racket sounded a bit like a good old pig bale in NZ maybe two or three even. We saw the monkeys from a distance heading up the ridge opposite. I thought the dog was going to get killed but much to my amazement a little bit latter we came across a small dead monkey next to the track. The guides appeared to be a bit upset about it.

Back through the forest had to strip down a bit got hot quite quickly and back to the temple about 10 am. Another taxi ride home at lightning speed had to close my eyes several times arriving at noon.

All of the photos below are on the trip down.

Shrine at top of Agung

Guides preyed and lit incense