
Carstensz Pyramid
The ‘newest’ of the Seven Summits, Carstensz Pyramid in New Guinea is considered to be the most exotic (and the most technical) of the Seven Summits!
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Price$26,500
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Duration18 Days Door to Door
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Activity Level Ultimate
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Elevation4884m | 16,023 ft.
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Travel Dates Dates will be provided on request
Overview:
The ‘newest’ of the Seven Summits (after Reinhold Messner challenged Dick Bass’s summit of Australia’s Mt. Kosciuszko as the highest peak in Oceania), Carstensz Pyramid in New Guinea is believed to be the most technical.
Located in the Sudirman Range of Indonesia’s Papua province, Carstensz Pyramid forms the highest point between the Himalayas and the Andes at an altitude of 4,884m. This expedition is something completely different from everything else you have ever experienced, including experiencing various tribal communities, basic food and tourism in its infancy. Helicopter fly-in and fly-out options are also available to assist with the logistical challenges of travelling in West Papua!
Skill Level
This is considered the most consistently steep and technical of all the Seven Summits! You will need previous rock climbing and scrambling experience, as well as the ability to abseil and rappel with confidence.
- All logistics up to the summit and back
- All facilitation costs
- 2 lodge nights on either side of the climb
- Climbing permit
- High quality tents on the climb
- All communal kitchen and camping gear
- All group climbing gear
- Good quality food on the climb
- Gas & burners for the climb
- Walkie-talkie sets for the team
- International travel
- All personal climbing gear
- Emergency evacuation
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities and summit bonus
- Personal medical expenses, medical and evacuation insurance
- Any costs arising from flight cancellation/ delays, political disturbance or natural disasters.
CLIMBING EQUIPMENT:
- Alpine climbing harness
- 3 locking carabineers
- Rappel device – figure of 8
- Ascender
- Climbing helmet
- Trekking poles
FOOTWEAR:
- 2 pairs sock liners
- 2 pairs trekking socks
- 1 pair hiking boots
- 1 pair running shoes
- 1 pair sandals
TECHNICAL CLOTHING:
- Down jacket
- Down pants
- Gortex longs
- Gortex shell
- 1 T-shirt
- 1 fleece long-sleeved top
- 1 long-sleeved hiking shirt
- 1 fleece jacket
- 1 waterproof jacket with hood
- 1 pair waterproof longs
- 1 pair trekking pants
- 1 set thermal underwear – tops & bottoms
HANDWEAR:
- 1 pair fleece windstopper gloves
HEADWEAR:
- 1 beanie or balaclava
- 1 sun hat or peaked cap
- 1 pair 100% UV protection sunglasses with side shields
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT:
- Sleeping bag – minus 20˚C
- Sleeping bag liner (optional)
- Day pack (50 litres)
- 1 large duffel bag for gear
- 1 pair trekking poles (optional)
- 1 headlamp
- 2 water bottles (wide-mouth Nalgene) with insulators
- 1 camp towel
- 1 medical kit
- 1 toiletry kit
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Wet wipes
- Favourite snack foods (optional)
- Water purification tablets (optional)
- Spare batteries and bulbs
PRE & POST TREK:
- 1 Large waterproof duffel bag
- Locks
- Shorts and t-shirts
- Mobile phone and charger
- Books
- Passport and travel documents
- 4 Passport photos
- Certified copies of all travel documentation
- Currency / credit cards
- Pens and pencils
- Journal
Visas
You can secure a normal Indonesia tourist visa upon arrival in Indonesia for a maximum visit of 30 days.
Vaccinations
No immunizations are currently required. However, we suggest you chat to your local Travel Clinic for their recommendations.
This training information is intended as a guideline and should be used as such. If you are unsure about anything, please chat to us!
Most importantly, before you embark on any exercise program, please consult your doctor or exercise physiologist to make sure that you are ready for the increased workload.
A focused training program should begin 3 – 4 months before the trip, but working on your base fitness before that is important as it lays a good foundation for the harder work that will follow.
Physical Conditioning
Climbing big mountains requires cardiovascular endurance (via aerobic training), strength endurance (through strength conditioning) and climbing-specific training (i.e. hiking with a pack).
Being in strong physical shape is one of the most important aspects for a successful trek. You should be planning to progressively increase your aerobic training and speed of weekly training hikes to give you climbing-specific conditioning that cannot be matched by any other sort of training.
Cardiovascular Conditioning
Suggested activities include running, cycling, mountain biking, swimming, walking on an inclined treadmill, doing stair stepping or stepmill training, trail running, walking up and down hills, or participating in step aerobic classes.
When first beginning a cardiovascular training program, begin with three workouts (i.e. Monday, Wednesday and Friday) of 30 minutes of sustained activity at a moderate intensity, and build up to 4-5 aerobic sessions of sustained effort for at least 45 – 60 minutes (taking Wednesday and Sunday as rest days, for example).
Be sure to include a 5-10 minute gentle warm-up before working at your target heart rate for the day. For most workouts, choose a level of exertion that allows you to connect a few words together in a phrase, but leaves you feeling comfortably tired at the end of the workout.
Remember to cool down with 5-10 minutes of appropriate stretching of the muscles you used most in your activity, including lower back, calves, hamstrings, hips and quadriceps.
Strength Conditioning
Training with weights, backpacks and gym machines will help you build overall strength, particularly in the lower back, abdominals, upper back, shoulders and legs. Developing strength in your upper back and shoulders will help with carrying a pack and using trekking poles.
The calves, hips, quads, hamstrings and glutes are all involved in ascending and descending steep sections and scree slopes, which will be encountered on Carstensz Pyramid.
Before embarking on any weight training, please consult with a qualified gym instructor so that you are well briefed in terms of using the equipment. Most important in strength training is to be sure that you maintain proper form at all times in order to prevent injury or strain.
Climbing Conditioning
This involves hiking steep outdoor trails, going up and down stairs or training on an inclined treadmill. In the months leading up to the expedition, it is important to do some long walks in the mountains.
Remember: All of your training is geared towards giving you the strength and endurance to summit Carstensz Pyramid and successfully get back down again.
Climbs usually take place between April and November – drier months make navigating the rainforests easier!