All Carstensz Pyramid expedition dispatches

Carstensz Pyramid Base Camp

Awesome news received from Indonesia, the team has arrived to Carstensz Pyramid Base Camp! The Madison Mountaineering expedition is underway after a volcano eruption near Bali had delayed the team’s departure. Yesterday the team flew to Timika in the Papua province by jet, then a quick helicopter ride to base camp. Weather is overcast with light rain reported. Our climbing team will be spending these first couple days acclimatizing to the altitude change. A team member on our expedition has backpacked in a DJI Phantom 3 drone, needless to say that we expect to receive some AMAZING content following this epic life adventure. More to come as this expedition progresses up the mountain!!

Attached is a audio dispatch received from our expedition leader, Joe Butler. At times the audio can be difficult to hear. I found the most effective way to listen was to play this audio on a louder sound system.

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Eruption of Mount Barujari in Indonesia

With the eruption of Mount Barujari in West Nusa Tenggara settling, the Madison Mountaineering team is preparing for liftoff in Bali. The spread of volcanic ash from the volcano is moving to the south and west of the eruption point. With any luck, our climbing team will be headed to Timika and then board a helicopter to base camp today. While in Bali the team has enjoyed the breathtaking forested volcanic mountains, iconic rice paddies, beaches and coral reefs. Bali is a part of the Coral Triangle, a famous oceanographic area with some of the highest biodiversity of marine species in the world. The weather has been warm for the most part in the low 80’s, with occasional thunder storms in the area.

Earlier today, the Jakarta Post wrote an article that details the Bali airport gradually reopening and the continued effects of this powerful volcano eruption. The Madison Mountaineering team will receive daily updates as the climbing team progresses toward Carstensz Pyramid. Daily dispatches will be posted here!

For family members and friends, my email is andrew@madisonmountaineering.com. Feel free to email me if you have any questions as this expedition continues. Onward!

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Gear check with Ankur and Sangeeta in Bali:

CP1

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Team welcome dinner in Bali! The adventure begins:

CP2

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Team prepares for Carstensz Pyramid expedition!

The Madison Mountaineering team is preparing for a expedition to the highest island peak in the world! This massive rock formation is the largest mountain in Indonesia as well as the Australian continent. Carstensz Pyramid, or Puncak Jaya, is one of the least climbed peaks in the “7 Summits” and a formidable objective located in Papua, Indonesia. Our expedition will begin in the beautiful island of Bali, where the team will then fly to Timika then Sugapa to begin the trek to base camp. Madison Mountaineering’s high end logistics, local staff relationships, and mountain guide experience ensure the group will be well taken care of throughout this expedition.

 

Carstensz Pyramid was developed by the collision between the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates. The rock formation that exists today is composed of limestone that rises from the thick forest below to just over 16,000′. This mountain ascent will be a exciting adventure filled with many challenging rock formations. Along the ascent the team will push through multiple glacier fields across the mountain such as Carstensz Glacier. Upon reaching the peak the summit will typically be free of ice. The team’s rock climbing ability to ascents includes mostly 5th class terrain on fixed ropes. Stay tuned as this expedition prepares to launch!!

Carstensz Pyramid

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Team prepares for Carstensz Pyramid expedition!!

The Madison Mountaineering team is preparing for a expedition to the highest island peak in the world! This massive rock formation is the largest mountain in Indonesia as well as the Australian continent. Carstensz Pyramid, or Puncak Jaya, is one of the least climbed peaks in the “7 Summits” and a formidable objective located in Papua, Indonesia. Our expedition will begin in the beautiful island of Bali, where the team will then fly to Timika then Sugapa to begin the trek to base camp. Madison Mountaineering’s high end logistics, local staff relationships, and mountain guide experience ensure the group will be well taken care of throughout this expedition.

 

Carstensz Pyramid was developed by the collision between the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates. The rock formation that exists today is composed of limestone that rises from the thick forest below to just over 16,000′. This mountain ascent will be a exciting adventure filled with many challenging rock formations. Along the ascent the team will push through multiple glacier fields across the mountain such as Carstensz Glacier. Upon reaching the peak the summit will typically be free of ice. The team’s rock climbing ability to ascents includes mostly 5th class terrain on fixed ropes. Stay tuned as this expedition prepares to launch!!

Carstensz Pyramid

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Carstensz Pyramid

– Oceania 4,884m / 16,024ft.

Carstensz Pyramid (photo by Terray Sylvester)

Carstensz Pyramid, one of the least climbed of the “7 Summits” is a formidable objective located in Papua, Indonesia. Our expedition begins in the beautiful island of Bali, where we fly to Timika then onward to the Yellow Valley base camp. Our high-end logistics, local staff, and mountain guides ensure you are well taken care of throughout the expedition. The mountain is limestone that rises from the thick forest below, jutting to just over 16,000′. This rock climb requires basic rock climbing ability to mostly 5th class terrain on fixed ropes.


Note From Garrett: I am very excited to lead our trips to Carstensz Pyramid! This expedition will be a “fly in and fly out” as current circumstances in Western Papua necessitate air transport. Our recent expedition to Carstensz Pyramid utilized air transport and was very successful: click to read the expedition dispatches. I look forward to again repeating this high success and safety with you on our next adventure!


Helicopters:
Using helicopters to fly in and out allows us the best chance for an overall successful expedition, reaching the summit and returning safely. Recent logistical difficulties have resulted in some climbers not reaching the mountain, as well as detainment by tribesmen and the security company overseeing the mining operation adjacent to the mountain. Until the last few years, trekking was the normal way to access the peak, with heavy reliance on local Dani Tribesman. Helicopter transport, in general, reduces the number of variables in reaching our destination. Utilizing the helicopter also reduces the chance of contracting an illness while trekking, avoids the local politics, and offers easy and reliable evacuation.

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