| Hailed an opelet (Look out for green vans with 'Kama' letters anywhere along Jln Veteran in Berastagi) to bring us to Pondok Masuk (~1500m). Started from Pondok Masuk at about 9:30am and reached the crater in abt 1hr45m (1930m). Apart from the main summit, there are two smaller highpoints, the higher of the two has a radio antennae. After lingering at the crater, taking in the Sulphur fumes, scrambled up the lower highpoint (~2005m), for a fine view of Sinabung. Didn't go up the real summit.
Came down the same way as going up, but turned left at a road junction (where there is a thatched shelter) to go towards the hotspring. The road was pleasant as it goes along a valley, with a variety of crops planted on both sides of the road, and the air was cooling. The hot spring was a good way to end a hike. I have an impression that opelets don't come up to the hotspring regularly, but can be requested to come up to pick you up, if you just ask the people running the hotspring or the coffee shop across it, to make a phone call. |
