Mt. Rinjani to Crater Rim via Senaru — July 2023 Summit Report¶

Rinjani fights back. The Senaru route from Lombok's north coast plunges into dense tropical forest before emerging on ridge after ridge of volcanic scree. By the time we reached the crater rim on Day 2 — thighs burning, lungs burning from the altitude — the view down into the Segara Anak caldera lake stopped all thought of complaint. The turquoise lake filling an ancient volcano caldera, with the new child cone (Gunung Baru) steaming gently at its centre, is one of Indonesia's defining landscapes. We chose not to attempt the full summit in the heat. The crater rim was more than enough.

Trip Overview¶

Mountain: Mount Rinjani (3726m) Date: July 22, 2023 Duration: 3 days Party Size: 4 Outcome: Summit

Conditions¶

Weather: Hot and humid in forest zone (34°C on Day 1), cold and windy at crater rim (5°C on Day 2). Stunning views of Segara Anak caldera lake. Wind strong and gusty on the exposed rim. Snow: No snow. Volcanic scree and loose pumice on the upper sections. Temperature: 5°C to 34°C Wind: Gusty 35–50 km/h on the crater rim exposed sections

Difficulty Assessment¶

The physical demand is relentless — dense forest on Day 1, brutal scree on Day 2. Porter assistance is almost essential for the weight carried. The volcanic loose ground underfoot requires careful footwork. Summit attempt to 3,726m adds significant scree climbing and should only be attempted by strong parties in good conditions.