Carstensz Pyramid Base Camp

There are two ways to approach Carstensz Pyramid Base Camp : by trekking from Sugapa village or by helicopter. To complete an expedition needs about 20 days by trekking and only about 7 days if you fly by helicopter from Timika. Unfortunately the trekking expedition is not available since November 2016 due to security reason.

Sugapa is the starting point for your trekking to Carstensz Base camp. On you way you will pass It was a many small villages, then you will arrive at the last village called Suwamggama, overnight here.  On the next day you will leave the main trail and headed along side a river. The track is very muddy with lots of ups and downs ,slow going and after 7 hrs of walking you are only 7 km (straight line) from the village .

So, you have to be prepared that you will all covered in mud and wet . There are  also many wooden bridges to negotiate which was made that much more challenging by our muddy boots.

There was an interesting (and sometimes tense) hour as some local tribesmen wouldn't let us cross one of these bridges and were threatening to cut it down if we tried to cross but eventually a price was reached and everyone was happy and on we went.

In fact, Carstenszs Pyramid was one of The Seven Summits goal  in the world with the six others being Mount Everest (Asia), Concagua (America), Kilimancaro (Africa), Elvurus (Europe), McKinley (North Pole) and Mount Vincent (Antartica).

The Carstensz Base camp lies at the height of 4300m (14 107 ft). It is situated  at the foot of Carstensz Pyramid, in a romantic picturesque alpine valley just next to a glacial lake, which serves as a source of drinkable water. Just from the Base camp there are picturesque views of the Carstensz Pyramid or Puncak Jaya but also of Middle Peak, Nga Pulu and to massive of New Zeland pass.

It often rains in the Base camp but when the weather is fine and the sun shines it is tempting to bath in glacial lake. When there is no wind, the surface of the lake looks as a mirror and the temperature on the sun can reach up to 30°C (86 °Fahrenheit). And this weather really comes off time from time. Seasonal climatic variations on the Puncak Jaya massif are very slight. Monthly mean temperatures vary by less than 0.5 °C during the year, and there appears to be no marked seasonal variation in precipitation, radiation, or cloud cover.