A Story Piece of 2821 m Above The Sea

19-21 June 2015

Hi nature, hi mountain. It is a pleasure meeting you again.  Thanks for uniting us at this beautiful 2821 m above the sea. At the end of this June, we chose Cikuray Mountain, which is located near Garut, West Java, Indonesia, as our place to leave our comfort zone, to break a while from our routines as well. I am hopeful this short break become unforgettable climbing ever. 

I do love climbing mountain. I do not know why. Sometimes people asked me or perhaps to my friends who had the same hobby with me, “What are you looking for through climbing the mountain?” Maybe I can’t answer it correctly. I find something which couldn’t be explained by words. I’ve just started this hobby in 2011, but it was suspended for a moment and I’ve started again since last year. Cikuray will be officially my seventh top of mountains! So happy! But it doesn’t matter how many mountains you have conquered or how strong you are to reach the top. It is about finding the meaning of life. It is about your togetherness with your companions, decrease our “ego”, prioritize other needs more than yours.  

Let me introduce my Cikuray companions:

kak Andreas, Fr. Danang, Fr. Ardi, kak Thomas, kak Diana, kak Bella, kak Stepen, kak Nino, kak Jawa, kak Monjun, kak Imel  

Photo credit: Kak Monjun, kak Andreas, Fr. Ardi, kak Bella, most of our photos are taken by them. Thank you so much guys for capturing these beautiful moments! 

I always go with different groups/persons every time I climb the mountain. I do love it; meeting new people, finding new family, sharing new stories. It is priceless and cannot be compared to anything. :) 

It is fasting month, so we have prepared every stuffs we have to bring especially for foods and drinks. On Friday night, we gathered in Wisma SY Depok. We took the bus from Kampung Rambutan to Garut. As I felt very tired after working, I slept during our way to Garut. The traffic is friendly, it took only 3 hours more or less from Kampung Rambutan to Garut. A little problem happened on our way to Cikuray base camp in our pickup, but because of His grace, everything was solved. You made our plan beautiful in Your time:) We almost canceled our plan to Cikuray as the gate to "Pos Pemancar" was closed.

Cikuray mountain, one of God’s wonderful creation, the fourth tallest point of West Java gave us its own comfort. When nature greets us with its piercing wind which blow in the whole body, when the sun shines bright and give us more spirit. The trees whisper from its leaves and the birds sing beautifully. This is the time that we've waited. Enjoy this wonderful day!  

Cikuray has called us, let us go! :)

We started our journey from “Pos Pemancar” at 6.40am

The weather was nice. Good companion, good stories, good food, still good route (we haven’t met the difficult part haha). Thank you so much God. We enjoyed everything that happened to us. Keep going!  

Second stop, 8.20 am

it is still a long journey

Third stop, 10.20 am. As many people has told us that Cikuray route was difficult but we enjoyed so much our togetherness. We support each other. Sharing, laughing, singing, and everything becomes so much easier. 

Post 4 11.30 am

The way was still nice. We met other people who hike together with us. As a matter of fact, other climbers we met later on were fasting. They are amazing. They have willingness to finish their journey even though they have to fulfill their obligation. 

We kept walking. We're going through fourth stop, fifth stop, sixth stop. In the middle of sun, our bag were getting heavier. The way seemed unfriendly. Going up, up, and up. They never give us time to take a break. Our energy has decreased. We reached "shadow stop"/pos bayangan in the afternoon around 13.40. 

It was the hardest part for me. I almost gave up. The sun was burning us, the trees, the branches, the roots which we passed, everything became so hard to be passed. It was also because our strength almost reached its lowest point. But giving up is not my option. On the other hand, I fully motivated myself. Reaching our place to stay near the peak, I was together with kak Diana. If I give up in this way, how can I reach my dream? My positive thinking whispered to me and gave me more energy. Remember your goal. So, you will not have time to stop :)

Finally, all of us arrived at ur camp, near the top of mountain! We took a rest for a while. We're having lunch, and preparing for welcoming the sunset! 

As my “habit” in every top of new mountain I hike, I have to pray, be grateful of His blessing. The weather is tremendously gorgeous. Cloud's carpet are around us!  

God unites us at 2821 m above the sea

All of us were enjoying Cikuray view. Tomorrow, we have to go back for welcoming the sunrise.

Sunrise and cold weather. What a perfect combination!  

We are ready to go down. It took around 4/5 hours (more or less) to go down, It was quite hard as our strength has decreased particularly our feet, but our spirit is still alive. Nothing can beat that. We walked fast but stick together. 

small part of our journey

smile on our way down, We're almost reaching Pos Pemancar:D

Hiking mountain is like the mystery of life. Perhaps, we will not know how long we will pass the difficult part but keep believing. We will pass it as we have our willingness to solve that.

Meeting nature always brings color and stories in every corner of them. The journey towards gorgeous mountain at the end of this month brings memory which will forever stay in my mind. Spending 2 days at this mountain flew so fast. To be honest, I did not want to go home, hehe but our life’s mission has waited us. So, let us face it!

Like Soe Hoek Gie once said when he hiked Pangrango mountain, I do feel the same with Cikuray. I do love you Cikuray, as I love the courage of life. :)

When the sun is shining, I can do anything, no mountain is too high, no trouble too difficult too overcome-Wilma Rudolph

Maria Anindita Nareswari