How to get there:
This peak is the high point of the island Ternate. The mountain completely
dominates the island. Ternate has pretty good connections to major
Indonesian airports on Java and Sulawesi. The trailhead is located where the
paved road going uphill, ends. This location is North 00.80405, East 127.36422, elevation slightly above 400 meter.
A quick overview of peaks climbed on this Indonesia trip.
Route description:
The trail starts as a pretty wide track heading uphill. Several smaller huts and structures are
passed in the beginning. A couple of signs may also confirm that you are on track.
A nice bridge of bamboo followed
by a concrete staircase, just
a trail that is popular and well maintained.
The first notable place where people camp is actually before one reaches Pos 1.
The trail gets slightly steeper, but baboo steps have been made leading to this quite
popular location with several buildings.
A steeper section climbs on the (climbers) right hand side, then turns left and
follows a fence. The trail is now a more typical Indonesian trail, the lower part
luxury has ended. You will eventually reach Pos 5, located on the crater rim. From
here, one may have a first view of the summit.
After a short descent, the trail
"tunnels" through the typical high jungle gras,
then emerges into an area of only
rocks, almost no vegeatation. There may have been fairly recent volcan activity here.
The route crosses this area in a diagonal fashion aiming for the obvios ridge
leading up to the summit (left to right). An additional issue in this area is
sulphur gas, bad for breathing and burns in your eyes.
Ascend towards the ridge, then turn right and climb pretty obvious tracks that
will gain the summit ridge near the top.
A short final stroll and you have arrived.
A track is posted on Peakbagger.
Comments:
After a more difficult than expected climb of Kiematubu the previous day,
it was the local peak, Gamalama, that should be attempted. Again, I just took an ojek from the
hotel to the trailhead. This was defined as the end of paved road.
I started walking right away, the time was 0700. A very nice trail lead me uphill to the buildings
serving what is a popular location to camp. Quite a few are happy just hiking here, with no summit goal.
Just as I started more steeply on a considerably rougher trail, it started to rain. I had been lucky
with no rain except on the final descent from Tambora, so I guess this was about time. I wondered just
how slippery the surface might be, but there was really no problem to continue uphill. The rain reduced
its intensity and eventually stopped as I was getting close to Pos 5, the crater rim. A short descent,
then tunnel walking in the high gras. The trail was fairly good, but you really see nothing. This
leads to a barren area with sulphur smoke in the air. The sulphur was annoying, but I felt confident
that the problem would get smaller near the summit. I arrived there
at 1015, so 3:15 up. No views, but no rain. I left after 5 minutes. Just as I got back up on the rim
near Pos 5, the heavy rain started again. This time it continued until I was back down on the
nice, lower part of the trail.
The retun hike had taken about 2:30, including a couple of stops to improve the rain
protection of my backpack.
Again, I found a boy that could take me back down to the hotel in less than 3 minutes.
