Mountain climbers follow the path to reach the peak of Mount Rinjani.

It was quiet and serene when a number of mountain climbers marked the nation'€™s recent historic moment '€” the inauguration of the country'€™s new President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla '€” the way they knew best: high among the clouds.

Unlike what is usually done for festive activities and joyful celebrations held in Jakarta and most big cities, they climbed to the top of Mount Rinjani in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Barat, to congratulate Jokowi and Kalla.

Originally, the inaugural event was to have been observed at the summit of Rinjani at an altitude of 3,726 meters. However, extreme weather forced them to mark the occasion at the base camp of Lake Segara Anak, 2,010 m above sea level, instead.

'€œWe did not belong to the Jokowi-Kalla campaign team or volunteers. As citizens, we share the happiness of our fellow countrymen in celebrating this momentous time in line with our hobby right here on the mountain,'€ said Hendriana Kridatani, one of the climbers from Jakarta.

The participants came from West Java'€™s Sukabumi, Bekasi, Bogor and Depok, as well as from Lombok.

However, reaching the peak of Rinjani, the second-highest mountain in the country, was an arduous climb.

The climbers had to take the village route through Sembalun Lawang at the foot of Rinjani in East Lombok, passing a vast savanna in the heat of the sun.

They then still had to go up seven hills before arriving at Plawangan Sembalun, which is 2,700 m high.

'€œNormally it takes 10 hours from Sembalun Lawang to Plawangan Sembalun,'€ said Sofyan Rosidi, a Lombok climber. '€œBeginners need 12 to 14 hours for the exhausting savanna trek in the dry season.'€

After a six-hour nighttime respite, at 1 a.m. on Oct. 20, the hikers braved the chill of the small hours of the morning and proceeded on their venture to reach the peak of Rinjani at sunrise.

But the adverse weather with strong winds battered them halfway to the top, forcing some to withdraw and leaving only a small number to push their way to the summit.

'€œRinjani'€™s peak offers fascinating beauty. When the sky is clear, climbers can watch the summit of Mount Agung in Bali in the west and Mount Tambora in Sumbawa in the east,'€ Sofyan said.

On the same day, they left Plawangan Sembalun for Lake Segara Anak, which was also a grueling hike as they had to descend steep banks.

Reaching the lake and wasting no time, they unfurled a banner congratulating the country'€™s new leaders.

Text and photos by JP/P.J. Leo

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