Trekking volcano Inerie

Mt.Inerie is a perfect triangular pyramid-shaped volcano, where, viewed from its summit the mountain casts a perfect triangular shadow over the valley. Ascent is best taken starting before dawn for the climb takes around 2.5 hours to 4 hours, over steep slopes that still has plenty of volcanic scree, and deep ravines at both side of the path.  But attaining the summit with its fantastic view is ultimate reward indeed!

Watch the sun rise slowly from the east, gradually revealing neighboring Mount Ebulobo in a stunning play of color and light.  To the south is the coastline, while due north are vast mountain ranges.

This ascent of Mt. Inerie should be ventured by advanced climbers only, preferably those who have experienced climbing a number of Indonesia’s volcanoes.

The climb to the summit starts from the village of Watumeze, some 15 to 20 minutes from the town of Bajawa.  Climbers usually start at 04.00 am or earlier to watch the spectacular sunrise from the summit of Inerie, also to avoid the sun’s heat because Inerie does not offer any shade.

The beginning of the trek is not too difficult, as the path passes bamboo houses. At 1,810 meters the climb starts to be potentially hazardous with deep ravines on either side of the road and loose gravel and sand along the slopes.  At 2,115 meters above sea level you will have reached the crater, but it takes another very steep climb to get to the summit, reached by circling the crater. The summit is indicated by 3 crosses.

Since this is a pretty difficult and slippery climb, arm yourself with a good pair of gloves to hold on to bushes and rocks without cutting your hands and fingers. Of course wear sturdy but flexible walking shoes. Also bring food and water that you can obtain in Bajawa.

While the ascent is quite challenging, be especially aware of the down journey which is particularly hard, especially the first 100 meters from the summit where the mountain is very steep with plenty of scree and loose gravel. Therefore it is best to trek with an experienced local guide, who will know the best routes to take.

If you still have sufficient stamina, ask the guide to take you to the villages along the route, among which are Bena, Langa and Luba. A trail from the ecotourism village of Lekolodo to the village of Langa is being made. Bena is a particularly interesting village, since this village is believed to be central to the traditional belief of the area. Here the houses have steep sharp roofs, and there are also large groups of megalithic stones, where village elders make their decisions affecting relations with the supernatural beings.   The annual reba cycle begins in Bena on 25 December before moving to other villages.

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