31/01/2025
Last Wednesday at dawn, Wayan & Andrew ~ cool, calm and collected atop Agung's Crater Summit ~ welcoming the sun's rays to warm for the descent.
Wednesday was Chinese New Year, a busy holiday in Bali, and despite summit crowds, Wayan and Andrew had the summit almost to themselves.
idGuides are professional treks & expedition operators, specialising since 2009 in community-guided trail experiences which are as natural and crowd-free as possible. For Bali's popular summits Agung & Batur, accessible as part of with Team idGuides Sebudi Agung community mountain guides, we program our ascents to avoid peak crowd times.
Our goal is not to be on summits for sunrise, but to be on the summit approach with the final 30-45' left to ascend, for sunrise. This is for asthetitic as well as safety reasons.
Aesthetics & Quiet Summit experience: By targetting our summit to be at 6-7am post-dawn, we miss the main pre-dawn crowds both on the summit and the jostling on the approach. More often than not, we arrive on summit when the pre-dawn crowds are leaving, experiencing a quieter summit.
Safety & Optimal conditions to summit:
The final hour of a volcano summit approach is often the most exposed and technically difficult. When undertaken during pre-dawn at 4-5am when temperatures are coldest and darkest, this coincides when hikers are most fatigued, dealing with altitude, cold and wind, and when glycogen stores are fully depleted. Taking time in the lee to refuel and reset is key to both morale, safety and optimising your chance of a successful summit and safe descent.
Ideal conditions to allow for rest and refuelling before a responsible summit approach, is at first the glimmer of dawn. Gradual light and warmth boosts morale and the chance to rest and refuel energises. The last 30-45' are thus tackled in a refuelled, mentally-rested state, much more easily and safely.
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Book your Agung Crater Rim 1D volcano summit with idGuides / Team idGuides Sebudi, Agung's community mountain guide team
www.greatbalitrail.com
+62 812 1800 8401
