Climbing Mt Rinjani, the Sandy Volcano

Judging by distance (28km return) & altitude gain/loss (2,600m) alone, summiting Mt Rinjani over 3D/2N wouldn't - by most regular hikers - be considered as "demanding".
However, the fact that a quarter of the trail from the Sembalun crater rim up to the summit consists of very loose, volcanic sand/rocks (scree) on a 25° slope, renders it a demanding hike.
Mt Rinjani (3726m) is still an active volcano, with the latest eruptions having taken place in 2010, 2015 and 2016 at the relatively small Gunung Barujari within the crater lake, with lava reaching the lake in the 2015 eruption.
From a geological and volcanological perspective, it is a very interesting area to visit and to hike in.
That said, if you're looking for a tranquil hike in unspoilt wilderness, then this is the wrong place to go. The amount of waste (plastics, food, human etc) in the camps & along the trail is a sore sight to see, and the number of visitors/guides/porters makes it a busy place.
I sincerely hope that the waste problem can be addressed in a way that results in better park management AND visitors still having a positive impact on the local economy.
I'm fascinated by volcanoes, but if such do not attract you, the views are nevertheless fantastic and well worth the hiking effort.
Cheers!
Retiree in The Wild
May 2024

[@nasyua98]

Love this !!! Very well done!

[@retireeinthewild-5905]

TQ! 🙏🏼

[@MrHumlebaek]

Just found your channel and have to say that you are doing a great job on the editing. Way to much people and just sad to read that they don't respect the nature in so many ways. What you bring out you bring back. Problems with "basecamps"... Sherpas doing the hard work, mountenerining industry... Just the character of the people sadly. Keep up the work.

[@retireeinthewild-5905]

TQ! 🙏🏼 In the last year or so, I've been thru a steep learning curve wrt editing 🤓 Indeed. While people everywhere need to make a living, I hope that more sustainable ways of doing so can be found, so that local economies can benefit AND natural environments still be protected. Sadly, we fail in that in many locations around the world.

[@birkhaali6878]

Superb! Thanks for capturing this beautiful moment, Inge😊

[@retireeinthewild-5905]

TQ for your kind comment 🙏🏼

[@olivebranch.777]

Beautiful view but too bad spoilt by too many people and noises. NZ south Island is true heave for hikers not many people and views were stunning.

[@retireeinthewild-5905]

Yes, I agree. Further reducing (I think it was earlier on even higher than ~450) the number of hike permits would however negatively impact the local economy, so that may not happen. But, in my view, as an absolute minimum they need to fix their serious waste problem.

[@zijianxu6125]

I was there two weeks ago lol. The view up there is stunning!

[@retireeinthewild-5905]

Indeed it is 👍🏻