Climb one of the “7-Summits”
Standing at 16,024′, 4,884m, the Carstensz Pyramid is the tallest peak in Oceania. Rising out of the remote jungle of Papua New Guinea, it is often regarded as the most exotic of the 7 Summits. This steep limestone peak is the only 7-summits that involves rock climbing, making it a unique experience for 7-summiters and adventure seekers alike.
Route Description
Our journey to the summit of the tallest peak in Oceania starts in Bali. After arriving in Indonesia, we’ll spend the first day organizing gear and resting from the long day of travel. From Bali, we’ll take a flight to the city of Timika on the Island of Western Papua. After arriving in Timika, we’ll re-pack and make sure that we are all dialed in for the coming expedition.
Weather permitting, we’ll take a helicopter to the Carstensz base camp the following morning. Upon arriving in the yellow valley we’ll put up base camp and settle in. This will also be the first of our two day acclimatization period as we prepare for our summit bid.
After two days of acclimatizing, we’ll be ready to push for the summit. An early start and a short trek from base camp will see us at the foot of the Carstensz Pyramid. The route follows a series of gullies with technical climbing up to 5.8 as we work our way up the North face of the peak. There is about 500 meters of solid rock climbing before reaching the summit ridge.
Once we make the ridge, we’ll start traversing as we make our way towards the summit. This section is pretty straight forward, with some awesome exposure and a Tyrollean traverse across a gully.
After making our way across the razorback ridge, we’ll arrive at the summit of the Carstenz Pyramid. Standing at 16,024’ (4,884m), the summit of this incredible peak rewards our climb with stunning views of Western Papua. We’ll celebrate having summited one of the coveted “7-summits”, and start to work our way back down to base camp.
Quality Logistics
We work with an incredible local logistics team that helps us navigate the complicated logistics that comes with climbing on this remote island. Taking a helicopter from the city of Timika to base camp allows us avoid difficult local political disputes and reduce the time spent away from family and business. Couple with the best guides in the business and a high emphasis on quality logistics, food, camp infrastructure, and Alpenglow office support allows us to provide the best climbing experience possible.
