Mount Semeru (Part I) - Ranupani to Ranu Kumbulo

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Mount Semeru (Part I) - Ranu Pane to Ranu Kumbulo
Mount Semeru (Part II) - Ranu Kumbulo to Kalimati post
Mount Semeru (Part III) - Kalimati post to Semeru Peak to Ranu Pane
Mount Semeru (Part IV) - Ranu Pane to Bromo

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This is unplanned hiking expedition in 2010. What i mean by unplanned is the decision taken to hike is less than 3 month. The original plan by the original team is actually to go to Bromo and Kawah Idjen. But due to some poison.. they 'upgraded' their plan to hike semeru and later i join their expedition team..   What a wonderful experience.. For this expedition, Mas Huda aka Mas Kaboel is our guide assisted by his friend, Mas Candra and Mas Danang.

The first part of the expedition to Semeru is a 12km jungle trekking from Ranupani to Ranu Kumbulo. The path goes along the zigzag hill slope where the steepness is minor to moderate.  There is four hut erected along the way. The trekking duration is around 3-5 hours depending on your speed and resting time. (first hut is about 4km from the entrance.. 2nd hut is a mere 2km from the first hut..  the next is located at about 3km.. and the last hut is facing ranu kumbulo lake - this is only estimation)

Ranu kumbulo is a beautiful place with a medium large lake.  The place is surrounded by other high hill with a V shape at the east side. Located at a relatively high altitude of around 2390m, this area feature alpine like fauna. It is far more picturesque and beautiful if compared with the small lake of Ranu Pane and Ranu Regulo (blogged here during previous trip) at Ranupani Village.

Ranu Kumbulo is the common first camp site for hiker going to Mount Semeru. There is two small house available here which can be used by camper. We camped here. During the night, if the sky is clear.. you can enjoy seing the star.. if you want you can try to do startrail too here (which we did at around 1am until early morning.. :D)

The view of Ranu Kumbulo from the V shape entry point

Side view of our camp site

Another side view of our campsite

Startrail during the night.. taken for about an hour duration

Next day.. while preparing to go for the next destination (kalimati).. found a memorial for Andika Listyono Putra just before tanjakan cinta.. you can read more about him in the news link.. Every mountaineering expedition would involve some risk. What we can do is to minimize the risk. Saying that, after successfully scaled Semeru to the peak.. i would say that Mount Semeru is not an ordinary weekend mountain. You need to prepare yourself physically and be careful not to stray off the safe/correct path. Must always stay in a group especially between kalimati-peak area where you can easily get lost and might be fatally stranded in deep ravine.


In memory of Andika Listyono Putra, may him rest in peace
News 1 | News 2 | News 3 | News 4

Another scenery of Ranu Kumbulo just before Tanjakan Cinta.. you can see the V shape clearly from here.. that is the entrance from ranupani direction

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Mount Bromo & Ranupani Village - Kembara Jawa Timur Part II

A scenery OTW to Ranupani Village, we'll be back for Mt Semeru :D

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Kembara Jawa Timur Part I - Mount Bromo from Mount Penanjakan
Kembara Jawa Timur Part II - Mount Bromo & Ranupani Village
Kembara Jawa Timur Part III - Bromo from Gardu Pandang & Madakaripura Waterfall
Kembara Jawa Timur Part IV - Kawah Ijen - A mountain of surreal pain and beauty
Kembara Jawa Timur Part V - From Kalianyar Village to Papuma beach
Kembara Jawa Timur Part VI - Human interest around Surabaya

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After spending a few hours at Mt Penanjakan (until every tourist gone back already), we went straight to Mount Bromo area. The jeep stop a about 500m distance from the crater and then we continue on foot. Some of us opted for horse riding towards the crater.

One thing that our authority should learn from them is how their local government distribute the wealth of tourism.The villager provide the accommodation, built some stall/warung for breakfast & lunch. Others provide the transport (jeep) from the accommodation to the Mt Penanjakan & Mt Bromo .. and then at Mt Bromo the jeep can only send to a certain distance only so villager with horse can provide horse riding services... everyone get a share of the cake..

In Malaysia how they do it? They simply privatised everything (accommodation,food catering, local guide & even porter) (read: MONOPOLY) to a single company that will dictate exorbitant price making local hiking far more expensive than oversea hiking.

Upon reaching the crater, instead of hiking the Mt Bromo crater, i with Jasni decided to venture to another part of the area. We scout the canyon like area between Bromo & Batuk. After spending around an hour in Mt Bromo area, we proceed to Ranupani Village. Ranupani village is the highest village in East Jawa. Residing at 2100m, it is the starting point to hike Mt Semeru. I always dream of hiking Mt Semeru but this hiking trip is simply not for beginner. We were told that hiking Mount Semeru is among the toughest hike compared to other more famous volcano mountain in Indonesia. Well, next year we target to hike Mt Merbabu (& most probabily Mount Merapi as well) followed by Mount Jade in Taiwan and then a repeat of Mount Rinjani. If all successful then can start thinking of Semeru hike in 2012 maybe. :D

The canyon like area between Mount Bromo and Mount Batuk

Horse rider at Bromo

Ranu Ranupani Lake

Regulo Lake

Ranupani is just an ordinary village. Located strategically at 2100m above sea level provide it with agriculture advantage coupled with its fertile land. There is two small lake here, name Ranu Ranupani and Regulo. Both are just an ordinary lake. Unlike Ranu Kumbulo Lake which is really beautiful with majestic scenery. I take this opportunity to snap some macro picture here.

Ranupani village boy, every boy bring sabit with them as they need to cut grass to feed their livestock

Before going home, we ate lunch at one of the houses in the village then proceed back to our hotel. I promised myself this would not be the last visit to Ranupani village, but we'll return to conquer Mount Semeru later... insyaAllah.

The Bromo jeep

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