Christian Stangl

Puncak Trikora

Puncak Trikora versus Puncak Mandala

On January 14 2010 I reached the main summit of Puncak Trikora. The GPS showed 4.743m, highest elevation in the recorded GPS track 4.745m.

According to the Papua Guide I was supposed to reach the summit of Puncak Trikora after +/- 1 hour crossing the western ridge. That was far off! From the notch, that you reach via the grassy Northern flank, it is about 3 hours climbing via the Western ridge. According to the GPS 1,6km as the crow flies in a difficult scale of 3.

There are many pre summits to pass but I knew from an old picture that the main summit was not composed of solid limestone but it is more like a plateau with loose rocks. On the summit itself is a metal bronze plate the reads: "Puncak Trikora Desember 1983 Ekspedisi Maoke". (see pictures).