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- Nov 18, 2010
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Carstensz Pyramid 11/24/08 dispatch
Greetings from Indonesia! This is Mark writing in from our hotel in Bali where the team all arrived over the last 24 hours, except for Pablo; who will be arriving from Singapore tomorrow morning.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSso91i1RdI%2FAAAAAAAAAGQ%2FuW5rvzlNd58%2Fs200%2FExpedition%2BTraining%2BPoolside.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=297c35fc3f9448d3f5152d35d4b0be4c 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSso91i1RdI%2FAAAAAAAAAGQ%2FuW5rvzlNd58%2Fs200%2FExpedition%2BTraining%2BPoolside.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=43ed8262f07450b88d852710ccee43fb 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSso91i1RdI%2FAAAAAAAAAGQ%2FuW5rvzlNd58%2Fs200%2FExpedition%2BTraining%2BPoolside.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=914df654f9c84b112f34eb82bdaeb993 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSso91i1RdI%2FAAAAAAAAAGQ%2FuW5rvzlNd58%2Fs200%2FExpedition%2BTraining%2BPoolside.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=874a72edd433f6b1e4d6164647e38662 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSso91i1RdI%2FAAAAAAAAAGQ%2FuW5rvzlNd58%2Fs200%2FExpedition%2BTraining%2BPoolside.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=55b509e5fcb7bddac32b45cdfbf2972a 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSso91i1RdI%2FAAAAAAAAAGQ%2FuW5rvzlNd58%2Fs200%2FExpedition%2BTraining%2BPoolside.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=c16d2dc38a2a83a51001c0b7ed392cf9 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSso91i1RdI%2FAAAAAAAAAGQ%2FuW5rvzlNd58%2Fs200%2FExpedition%2BTraining%2BPoolside.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=874424a6438bad17dcfcfe7987be1f01 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSso91i1RdI%2FAAAAAAAAAGQ%2FuW5rvzlNd58%2Fs200%2FExpedition%2BTraining%2BPoolside.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=a091e264e1574b86bd04369ca8919c84 200w)
Expedition training poolside
I arrived on schedule on the 22nd and spent the first couple of days working out details with our local outfitter and buying food for the trip. We have a massive pile of comfort foods, tasty snacks and items that we won’t be able to buy on our main shopping trip when we reach Timika. It is hot and extremely humid here, with spells of torrential rain, but that doesn’t stop dozens of avid surfers from enjoying the great waves along Kuta beach right behind the hotel.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsoTWKrp1I%2FAAAAAAAAAGI%2F2SOe3dTrwa4%2Fs200%2FProvisions.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=99e5faf5343c66c68049919e9314fe17 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsoTWKrp1I%2FAAAAAAAAAGI%2F2SOe3dTrwa4%2Fs200%2FProvisions.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=62574d8d567948814d1e2587bb2e1855 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsoTWKrp1I%2FAAAAAAAAAGI%2F2SOe3dTrwa4%2Fs200%2FProvisions.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=6ca16bb062cba947a4d9840ced8bd74f 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsoTWKrp1I%2FAAAAAAAAAGI%2F2SOe3dTrwa4%2Fs200%2FProvisions.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=ae4e649c57138d4771e3f2864ce870d5 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsoTWKrp1I%2FAAAAAAAAAGI%2F2SOe3dTrwa4%2Fs200%2FProvisions.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=00d78fa45eadc431f6510f265c9bc258 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsoTWKrp1I%2FAAAAAAAAAGI%2F2SOe3dTrwa4%2Fs200%2FProvisions.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=c1d1c5a14869fee74d4a510705c19ef4 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsoTWKrp1I%2FAAAAAAAAAGI%2F2SOe3dTrwa4%2Fs200%2FProvisions.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=cc610c8180784a83d9e9b0aad711f1f1 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsoTWKrp1I%2FAAAAAAAAAGI%2F2SOe3dTrwa4%2Fs200%2FProvisions.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=5f2b54738e33095ded21fe03cf8a481a 200w)
Provisions
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsn3g7g3rI%2FAAAAAAAAAGA%2FTxUIWXBWUtg%2Fs200%2FSurf%2527s%2Bup.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=acd2d3989e4b1cc84e911a7ac3d03ae8 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsn3g7g3rI%2FAAAAAAAAAGA%2FTxUIWXBWUtg%2Fs200%2FSurf%2527s%2Bup.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=73ec519bba4150145abfd6e96d30dc16 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsn3g7g3rI%2FAAAAAAAAAGA%2FTxUIWXBWUtg%2Fs200%2FSurf%2527s%2Bup.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=89b78681f26168ef4f1150d8743de880 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsn3g7g3rI%2FAAAAAAAAAGA%2FTxUIWXBWUtg%2Fs200%2FSurf%2527s%2Bup.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=fda3d4bdcd0f57544f7a1d659a6a511d 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsn3g7g3rI%2FAAAAAAAAAGA%2FTxUIWXBWUtg%2Fs200%2FSurf%2527s%2Bup.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=4398cdf7d4843f4b9c9d2d86c1f8c9d6 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsn3g7g3rI%2FAAAAAAAAAGA%2FTxUIWXBWUtg%2Fs200%2FSurf%2527s%2Bup.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=c902a1b1c99de87244550f4644caa2dd 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsn3g7g3rI%2FAAAAAAAAAGA%2FTxUIWXBWUtg%2Fs200%2FSurf%2527s%2Bup.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=dc8f4f1c14603822739c3a44c1c8ae65 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsn3g7g3rI%2FAAAAAAAAAGA%2FTxUIWXBWUtg%2Fs200%2FSurf%2527s%2Bup.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=4bd8015ba82d8a8b4ff2ed1114f4f53c 200w)
Surfs up
I had a bit of sun yesterday and relaxed by the pool while reading over Heinrich Harrer’s account of his successful first ascent of Carstensz Pyramid back in 1962. Our overland approach will be similar in nature to his and we are very excited about the upcoming adventure. Everyone is a bit weary from their long flights, but we went out for a nice dinner of traditional Indonesian food at a local landmark called Made’s Warung. Joe and Bill entertained us at dinner with their accounts of earlier attempts on this peak and they both are fired up to take care of unfinished business to the summit. Our impromptu orientation meeting over dinner went well and I think we have a very cohesive group.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsmUI4DmBI%2FAAAAAAAAAF4%2FG5IqO2xsMaE%2Fs200%2FPadma%2BPool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=1fbd3162a39133c2fc71f6617db49cf6 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsmUI4DmBI%2FAAAAAAAAAF4%2FG5IqO2xsMaE%2Fs200%2FPadma%2BPool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=beb38279d30860782c0a798013e89078 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsmUI4DmBI%2FAAAAAAAAAF4%2FG5IqO2xsMaE%2Fs200%2FPadma%2BPool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=b2bfa1c531a279449cbea8d965d8daa6 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsmUI4DmBI%2FAAAAAAAAAF4%2FG5IqO2xsMaE%2Fs200%2FPadma%2BPool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=c55dd773f3047a572889604c4c00541c 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsmUI4DmBI%2FAAAAAAAAAF4%2FG5IqO2xsMaE%2Fs200%2FPadma%2BPool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=31b92cd89e927f79bcc442b84850b55e 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsmUI4DmBI%2FAAAAAAAAAF4%2FG5IqO2xsMaE%2Fs200%2FPadma%2BPool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=901e52d61ffc594038b6200039c0ec58 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsmUI4DmBI%2FAAAAAAAAAF4%2FG5IqO2xsMaE%2Fs200%2FPadma%2BPool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=a55428e21736ce6c12bffedf437c9908 200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSSsmUI4DmBI%2FAAAAAAAAAF4%2FG5IqO2xsMaE%2Fs200%2FPadma%2BPool.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=2662aeff431aadc2f2316c1a9247b3f8 200w)
The Pool in Padma
Tomorrow we will travel to the town of Ubud to experience more Balinese culture and take in the sights. It will be a mellow day so we can make final preparations for our midnight departure to the airport tomorrow night. We are scheduled for a 2:00 a.m. flight to Timika with Garuda airlines on Wednesday. Following that, we are hoping to catch our charter flight in a twin otter up to Sugapa village where our trek and the real adventure begins. Everyone is healthy, happy and excited to get things underway. I will try to send some shots from our excursion in Ubud tomorrow.