MOUNT MERBABU

Local people said that Mt. Merbaboe and Mt. Merapi were wife and husband. Merbaboe stand for “Meroe” and “baboe” these words mean woman mountain (merapi wife’s). Mt. Merbabu have many peaks, the highest ones is Kenteng Songo 3.142 masl (meter above sea level).

There are some trails, which can lead to the summit of the mountain. The most popular track is Kopeng Village from the north and Selo Village from the south.

From Semarang we can ride bus to Solo, but we must stop in Salatiga a small town between Semarang and Solo. We can continue with mini bus from Pasar Sapi to Kopeng. 

Kopeng is good place to relax, there are many hotels and inns, camping side and Umbul Songo waterfalls. Songo (nine) is a big number, local people in merbaboe describe the high of the waterfall and give the name of the waterfall Umbul Songo. Umbul means spring, and umbul songo is a spring from the high. Kenteng Songo is the name of the highest peak, and this means there are many stones (kenteng).

We can stay in a small hotel in Kopeng, to get rest before we climb the mountain. It is better to climb in the night, because climbing in the daylight is very hot. Moreover we must save the water to drink and cook. The water must be carried from the last village Thekelan or Cunthel. There is no water spring in the mountain.

The best basecamp to start hiking Mount Merbaboe is Cunthel 2,5 Km from Kopeng. You can ride Ojek (Motor Cycle) or rent a mini truck usually to carry the vegetables to the Cunthel Village.

The best time to climb mount Merbabu is at the night during dry seasons. Most of the trail are sandy grasslands and open area, so in the daylight it is very hot and dusty, more over we need much more drinking water. 

Between 15th Javaness Calendar, in the full Moon light, we can see some very nice views of some mountains surrounding mount merbabu, a long the night.

MERAPI ROUTE (KALIADEM ROUTE)

Another popular path to reach the Merapi peak is through Kaliurang, Pakem District, Sleman District, Yogyakarta on the southern side.

Mount Merapi | Kali Adem

route

 

Jogja -  Kinahrejo Village, Kaliadem/Bebeng

Kinahrejo Village - Post Bayangan : 15 Minute

Post Bayangan - Pos I : 45 Minute

Post I - Post II ( Labuhan dalem ) : 30 Minute

Labuhan dalem is a place to held Labuhan Merapi on the anniversary of the sultan of  Yogyakarta's coronation.

Labuhan Dalem

The ritual is a tribute to Prince Sapujagat, ruler of Mount Merapi. The procession starts from the hamlet of Kinahrejo at 6:30 am, at Mbah Marijan’s home, and traveled up and misty approximately two hours towards Bangsal Sri Maganti (vegetation boundery) the location of labuhan procession.

Post II - Pos III : 1 hours

Pot III - Pos IV : 45 Minute

Post IV - Kendit : 15 Minute

Kendit - Creater : 1.5 - 2 hours

Kendit is the limit of vegetation.

Note

South Line is very difficult and dangerous, necessary equipment to climb to get to the top. More distinguished track blank, no official channels so it should find your own.

MERAPI ROUTE (SELO ROUTE)

Merapi is ones of the most interesting volcanoes in the world offering volcanic environment uniqueness phenomenon, From very active craters to lava flow.  

The elevation of the volcano is 2.920 maters above the sea level. From distance, its always seen white smoke emerging from the peak of the volcano amidst the moving cloud in the deep blue sky. The crater on peak zone is sandy plateau about four hectares with several smaller crater which are still active. The safest and shortest route way to reach the peak is via northern slope at village of Selo. This route is recommended because save and comfortable enough to reach the peak and as traditional route for the most mountain climber.

Village of Selo

To reach the village of Selo, you can take the bus or train from your area to Jogja or Solo.
You who live in Jakarta can take a train from the Senen station. There is train called “Progo” rates to 35.000 rupiah to the station Lempuyangan, Jogja. or “Senja Utama” rates to 150.000 rupiah. Or if you choose to use the bus, you can take the Solo destination bus with rates to 75.000-120.000 rupiah. Get off at the  Boyolali bus terminal, then take the mini bus in front of the bus terminal, with rates around 3000 rupiah (in 2009) until CEPOGO market. From CEPOGO market continued with a mini bus to the village of Selo with the same rates. 

If you go to the village of Selo from Yogyakarta, you can take a bus headed to Magelang, down in the  Village of Blabak, and followed up minibuses or another goods vehicles destination Selo. It should be noted, at 17.00 pm the vehicle rarely operate. Selo actually easier to achieve from Solo-Boyolali, because of Boyolali, there is direct transport to the Selo.

Village of Selo(1560 m.dpl) is currently the main gate of ascent. Selo village located at the saddle of the Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu. This village has a beautiful natural scenery because of its strategic location. The villagers are mostly farmed vegetables and tobacco.

settlements around the slopes of Merapi

Vertically the body of Merapi can be divided into 3 zone:
1)Conical Peak Zone: This zone is the steepest one, range around 2600 to the peak. The peak consist of volcanic material, included:
a)Young volcanic rock with sulfur gas smoke blowing through narrow crack of the rock.
b)Lava sedimentation on middle of the peak.This lava created by eruption in 1940.
c) Main crater directing to the west.This crater created by eruption in 1961.

2)Midle Slope: This zone is steeper than foot slope, range around 2000 to 2600 m alt. No cultivated vegetation along this zone. And only adapted vegetation can grow naturally.

3)Foot Slope: This zone dominated by cultivated vegetation, such us: grass, vegetable and lowland forest. The zone range from 1600 to 2000 m alt.

The last post before Puncak Garuda/Garuda Peak is Pasar Bubrah. Garuda Peak is the name of Volcano Merapi's highest peak at elevation 2968 m alt. People believe that this post is a ghost market. Here we can see many rocks/stones which their positions have made them like foodstalls of traditional market in Java island.

Last part - Pasar Bubrah to Peak

Start trekking up at midnight and reaching the peak in early morning, a better weather as well as amazing sunrise are experienced well on Garuda Peak .

Sun rise on the Garuda Peak

Normally,it's took 4 hours trekking to reach the peak in early morning

MOUNT MERAPI

Mount Merapi, Gunung Merapi is an active stratovolcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548. It is located approximately 28 kilometres (17 mi) north of Yogyakarta city, and thousands of people live on the flanks of the volcano, with villages as high as 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) above sea level. The name Merapi could be loosely translated as 'Mountain of Fire'. The etymology of the name came from Meru-Api; from the Javanese combined words; Meru means "mountain" refer to mythical mountain of Gods in Hinduism, and api means "fire". 

Merapi  Pyroclastic flows

Merapi is the youngest in a group of volcanoes in southern Java. It is situated at a subduction zone, where the Indo-Australian Plate is sliding beneath the Eurasian Plate. It is one of at least 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia, part of the volcano is located in the Southeastern part of the Pacific Ring of Fire–a section of fault lines stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and South East Asia. Stratigraphic analysis reveals that eruptions in the Merapi area began about 400,000 years ago, and from then until about 10,000 years ago, eruptions were typically effusive, and the out flowing lava emitted was basaltic. Since then, eruptions have become more explosive, with viscous andesitic lavas often generating lava domes. Dome collapse has often generated pyroclastic flows, and larger explosions, which have resulted in eruption columns, have also generated pyroclastic flows through column collapse. Typically, small eruptions occur every two to three years, and larger ones every 10–15 years or so. Notable eruptions, often causing many deaths, have occurred in 1006, 1786, 1822, 1872, and 1930—when thirteen villages were destroyed and 1400 people killed by pyroclastic flows. A very large eruption in 1006 is claimed to have covered all of central Java with ash. The volcanic devastation is claimed to have led to the collapse of the Hindu Kingdom of Mataram; however, there is insufficient evidence from that era for this to be substantiated.

To keep the volcano quiet and to appease the spirits of the mountain, the Javanese regularly bring offerings on the anniversary of the sultan of  Yogyakarta's coronation.

  

For Yogyakarta Sultanate, Merapi holds significant cosmological symbolism, because it is forming a sacred north-south axis line between Merapi peak and Southern Ocean (Indian Ocean). The sacred axis is signified by Merapi peak in the north, the Tugu monument near Yogyakarta main train station, the axis runs along Malioboro street to Northern Alun-alun (square) across Keraton Yogyakarta (sultan palace), Southern Alun-alun, all the way to Bantul and finally reach Samas and Parangkusumo beach on the estuary of Opak river and Southern Ocean.

sacred axis

This sacred axis connected the hyangs or spirits of mountain revered since ancient times—often identified as "Mbah Petruk" by Javanese people—The Sultan of Yogyakarta as the leader of the Javanese kingdom, and Nyi Roro Kidul as the queen of the Southern Ocean, the female ocean

deity revered by Javanese people and also mythical consort of Javanese kings.

Petruk-shaped cloud during the 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi

In 2004 an area of 6,410 hectares around Mount Merapi was established as a national park. Management objective is the protection of water sources, streams and buffers living systems district-town of Sleman, Yogyakarta, Klaten, Boyolali, and Magelang. In the meantime, before the formation hall park managers, TN G Merapi is under the management of Balai KSDA (Natural Resources Conservation) Yogyakarta.

Merapi is a natural ecosystem of tropical forests are affected mountainous volcanic activity. Some of them are endemic species saninten (Castanopsis argentea), Vanda tricolor, and the Javan hawk-eagle (Spizaetus bartelsi). This national park is also a place to live leopard (Panthera pardus).

leopard

Mount Merapi at the top is never overgrown with vegetation due to high activity. Plant species at the top of the typical mountain-type alpina Java, such as Rhododendron and edeweis Java. Somewhat to the bottom of the bamboo forests and mountains of tropical plants. Slopes of Merapi, especially below 1,000 m, is home to two national superior cultivars of salak, which is barked 'Pondoh' and 'Nglumut'.

Salak tree