PAPUA - Carstensz Pyramid Expedition - 13.10.2014-3.11.2014

route of advance - 16.10. - 22.10.

arrival in Timika/Papua

first view to Carstensz range on flight to Illaga

flight to Illaga

landing near to Illaga

landscape around Illaga

our plane on the way back

first contact with locals (Dani people)

first day and overnight stay in Pinapa village

local children

preparing lunch

preparing lunch

preparing lunch

preparing lunch

local women

body care

sitting in front of typical house

farming by hand only

child with selfmade toy

strict weapon and drug control of our backpacks

setting our tents for the first time

small riverbed

last bridge, wilderness ahead

crossing last local village

typical house arrangement

hand work

childs with selfmade toys

childs with selfmade toys

local school

only a few Dani caring for traditional koteka anymore

only a few Dani caring for traditional koteka anymore

leaving farmland, wilderness ahead for 14 days now

last view back to civilisation

demanding ascent through dense forest

abundant flowers around

view to the forested hills around

dangling above slippery roots and muddy ground

first wilderness camp above tree line (3700m)

our porters and guides while leaving camp in early morning

walking through a new vegetation type

view back to the lowland

unknown flowering plant

mosses and fern are a sign for high rainfall

local flower

abundant tree ferns, reaching Kembalo plateau

dry pools telling about unusual dry weather

entering limestone area

dead tree as home for other plants

typical plants

heavily eroded limestone

heavily eroded limestone

heavily eroded limestone

heavily eroded limestone

heavily eroded limestone

heavily eroded limestone

crossing rolling hills with small river-canyons in between

dry riverbed documenting unusual dry weather

dry riverbed documenting unusual dry weather

our porters on the way

our porters on the way

often small rivers have to be crossed

first view to mountain range

sudden ground depression with entries to a unexplored cave system

entry to a unexplored cave system

entry to a unexplored cave system

dry pools telling about unusual dry weather

local flower

lunch break

locals depend on improvised tent with firewood for the cold nights

we are used to tents and sleeping bags

after 4 days we are coming closer to the mountain range

in far distance Ngga Pulu, one of the main summits

bypassing one of many lakes

Carstensz range to the left

undisturbed lake to the left of our route

distant view to Ngga Pulu

bypassing one of many lakes

local flowers

our porters - always ready for hunting...

always ready for hunting...

ant plants with antcolonies inside

typical plants

river crossing

first contact with moraine terrain

our group walking through typical vegetation

local flower

fern trees

fern tree

typical vegetation

approaching the Larson barrier via the really wet Larson drainage

soon to be crossed Larson barrier ahead

our porters preparing for the night

another nearly mythical lake

typical mud-climbing on our way

bypassing last lake before Larson barrier

view back

view back panorama

view back after climbing first step of Larson barrier

our porters analyzing the way ahead

first mountain impressions

Larsen barrier in front of us

Ngga Pulu to the left

soon to be crossed New Zealand pass ahead

bypassing another lake

heading to New Zealand pass

on the way up to the pass

last view down before bad weather approaches

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