Indonesian readings / Intermediate 1 / Environment & Nature

Hiking Mount Rinjani

Mendaki Gunung Rinjani: Perjalanan Pribadi

Sejak lama saya bermimpi mendaki Gunung Rinjani di Lombok. Saya berlatih berjalan jauh di akhir pekan, menyiapkan sepatu, jaket hangat, dan senter. Pagi hari, tim pendakian kami bertemu di pintu masuk taman nasional. Cuaca cerah, tetapi angin terasa dingin. Pemandu menjelaskan aturan keselamatan, seperti menjaga jalur, membawa kembali sampah, dan minum cukup air. Saya merasa gugup namun juga bersemangat. Saat kami mulai melangkah, hutan tropis menyambut dengan suara burung, bau tanah basah, dan sinar matahari yang menembus daun. Jalan menanjak stabil, kadang licin oleh pasir dan akar. Saya belajar menjaga ritme, menarik napas pelan, dan beristirahat singkat setiap beberapa puluh menit. Kami mengurus izin pendakian, menimbang ransel, dan membagi beban dengan porter lokal yang ramah. Menjelang siang, kami mencapai pos perkemahan di tepi Danau Segara Anak. Air danau berwarna biru tua, dikelilingi tebing dan bekas lava. Asap tipis naik dari Gunung Barujari yang masih aktif. Saya mendirikan tenda bersama teman baru dari Bandung dan Surabaya. Kami memasak mie hangat, membuat teh manis, lalu berbagi cerita tentang perjalanan. Saya merasa kecil, tetapi juga dekat dengan alam. Malam itu langit penuh bintang. Udara semakin dingin, sehingga saya memakai topi, sarung tangan, dan kaus kaki tebal sebelum tidur. Saya memeriksa tas, menyiapkan lampu kepala dan camilan untuk pendakian puncak sebelum fajar. Sekitar pukul dua pagi, kami bangun dan mulai menuju puncak. Jalurnya gelap dan berpasir, membuat langkah mudah tergelincir. Namun pemandu terus memberi semangat. Kami bergerak perlahan sampai cahaya pertama muncul di timur. Saat tiba di punggung gunung, pemandangan terasa luar biasa. Laut terlihat jauh, awan mengalir seperti sungai, dan matahari terbit memberi warna emas pada kawah. Saya bersyukur atas tubuh yang kuat, teman yang saling membantu, dan alam yang kami jaga bersama. Turun kembali, saya berjanji akan menghormati gunung dengan tidak membuang sampah, menggunakan air secukupnya, dan menceritakan pengalaman ini dengan jujur.

English Translation

For a long time I dreamed of hiking Mount Rinjani in Lombok. I trained by walking long distances on weekends, preparing shoes, a warm jacket, and a flashlight. In the morning, our hiking team met at the national park entrance. The weather was clear, but the wind felt cold. The guide explained safety rules, such as staying on the trail, carrying all trash back, and drinking enough water. I felt nervous but also excited. As we began to step forward, the tropical forest welcomed us with the sound of birds, the smell of wet earth, and sunlight piercing the leaves. The path climbed steadily, sometimes slippery with sand and roots. I learned to keep a rhythm, take slow breaths, and rest briefly every few dozen minutes. We handled permits, weighed our backpacks, and shared loads with friendly local porters. Toward noon, we reached the campsite on the edge of Lake Segara Anak. The lake water was deep blue, surrounded by cliffs and old lava. Thin smoke rose from Mount Barujari, which is still active. I set up a tent with new friends from Bandung and Surabaya. We cooked warm noodles, made sweet tea, then shared stories about the journey. I felt small, but also close to nature. That night the sky was full of stars. The air grew colder, so I wore a hat, gloves, and thick socks before sleeping. I checked my bag, and prepared a headlamp and snacks for the summit hike before dawn. Around two in the morning, we woke up and started toward the summit. The trail was dark and sandy, making steps easy to slip. However, the guide kept encouraging us. We moved slowly until the first light appeared in the east. When we arrived at the ridge, the view felt incredible. The sea looked far away, clouds flowed like a river, and the sunrise gave a golden color to the crater. I was grateful for a strong body, friends who helped each other, and the nature we protect together. Going down, I promised to honor the mountain by not leaving trash, using water as needed, and telling this experience honestly.