Trek Day 2

Day 2 started off a bit chilly and with quite a steep hike but only for a short while until we reached the first crater rim. We sat at the crater rim and looked at the lake surrounding the active volcano, Gunung Baru, and watched some monkeys trying to get food from other hikers. After this we continued down off of the rim on a very senic downward hike towards the lake (all the while Nichole and I are marveling at how the porter could do this? At some points we were sliding on our bums down rocks and we definitley used our hands many many times too!)... We watched the volcano puff black smoke and we were in awe of the natural beauty surrounding us.


Once we reached the lake, still at 2050m, it began to pour... We were completely soaked and our shoes and wet clothing never recovered. So while the guide and porter cooked us a delicious lunch we went to the hot springs just over the hill to warm up. They were steaming! We could only put our legs in but it felt great on our tired muscles. We also found several Hindu offerings to the gods around the hot springs as we later found out that many Hindus (we saw several groups) come to Mt. Rinjani to pray as it is one of 3 sacred mountains in Indonesia to the Hindus.



After lunch we continued on in the fog crossing mountain ranges and a few wobbely bridges.


Nichole and I kept saying how it looked like a scary movie outside... Fog and mist in the air, spooky trees covered in wet moss, the sound of light rain and rocks sliding in the distance and of course steep steep drops that we couldn't even see because of the fog.


Eventually after a very steep hike up we finally reached crater rim 2. We were FREEZING. It was now pouring and again our guide and porter set up our tents and we all took a rest until the rain cleared.


We checked out the beautiful view (see above), our guide and porter cooked us dinner and since we were still freezing (we were about 2700 meters up, the wind was whipping, the air was freezing and our feet could not get warm) we watched When Harry met Sally on my IPhone and called it a night before our 3am departure for what they told us would be a 3 hour hike to the summit.

Xoxo
Jenny & Nichole

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