Indonesian Students Conquer Mt Himalaya

Surabaya, E. Java (Antara Bali) - Three Indonesian students from the University of Tujuh Belas Agustus 1945, Surabaya, East Java province, have conquered Mount Himalayas, Nepal, in a 15 day trek.

"We managed to accomplish the Expedition of Salju Abadi Mera Peak, Nepal and scaled record-breaking  highs, climbing the peaks  within 15 days," a student, Lanang Bumi Galuh, said here on Monday.

The three students, who reached the Himalaya peak at an altitude of 6,461 meters above sea level, are Lanang Bumi Galuh, Soleman Bomen Wenda and Ezra Dwijoyo.

Lanang said they had to manage three challenges while climbing, namely the weather, altitude and time.

"The normal temperature reaches minus 5 degrees. With 600 meters to go to the summit, the temperature was minus 21 degree. We also had to adapt because oxygen was diminishing," Lanang said.

He added that they had  acute mountain sickness, especially at an altitude of over 2,400 meters.

The climbing time, according to him, was a challenge, as while in Indonesia, their longest climbing time was seven days, while reaching the Himalaya summit needs 15 days.

Meanwhile, Ezra Dwijoyo added that during the climb, they did not build a camp as there was a settlement at height of 5,000 meters above sea level. After day eight, they set up a tent.

"At the beginning, we planned to complete our ascent within 11 days, but because of the snowstorm, we postponed the climb for a day," he said.

According to Soleman Bomen Wenda, before climbing the Himalayas, they  practiced by climbing four mountains in East Java, namely Arjuna, Raung, Welirang and Semeru. (WDY)