UNAIR NEWS The 51动漫 Mountaineering Student Club (WANALA), in collaboration with the Indonesia Big Wall Expedition (IBEX), held a talkshow titled 淭he Story of Trango Tower Expedition at the MERR揅 Campus on Saturday, April 4, 2026. The event, which began in the morning and was attended by nature lover student groups from various universities, aimed to inspire participants while highlighting the challenges faced by Indonesian climbers who successfully reached Nameless Tower (6,251 meters above sea level) in the Trango Towers range in Pakistan.
WANALA Chairman Abdul Hafizh Zakariyya explained that the organization has currently completed five of the world檚 Seven Summits and is now focusing on the remaining two peaks.
淚n fact, WANALA has reached five of the Seven Summits, and we are now concentrating on completing the final two. Achieving such a major mission requires individuals who are both physically strong and highly driven, Zakariyya said.
Thorough preparation and strong ambition
Zakariyya also expressed strong support for WANALA members who are interested in participating in major climbing expeditions with IBEX, provided they demonstrate serious preparation and commitment. 淚f our members show real readiness and determination to take part in large climbing expeditions, I will fully support them and delegate them to participate. These expeditions require careful preparation and unwavering ambition, and we must stay resilient until the end, said the student from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP).
The event featured three Indonesian national climbers: Freden and Nazib, who completed the Eternal Flame route on Trango Tower, along with Yuli, a member of the Women檚 Batu Daya big wall expedition team in West Kalimantan. They represented IBEX delivering the main presentation.
淲hen IBEX was first established, our goal was to pursue some of the world檚 largest rock walls. That ambition motivated us to climb Trango Tower and bring pride to Indonesia on the international stage, Freden said.
Weather assessment and evacuation equipment
Freden further explained that climbing Trango Tower requires careful weather monitoring and the use of lightweight evacuation equipment. According to him, IBEX aims to complete a global list of major big wall climbs, similar to WANALA檚 Seven Summits mission.
淚n reality, planning always has limitations because conditions in the field are unpredictable. But we move forward because we are prepared, not because we are reckless, in pursuing the next major expedition, he said.
淚n reality, planning always has limitations because conditions in the field are unpredictable. But we move forward because we are prepared, not because we are reckless, in pursuing the next major expedition, he said.
淣o Indonesian climber had previously climbed there before. Even in Asia, we became only the second team to reach it through a different route. It has long been a major dream for Indonesian climbers, Nazib said.
As one of the female climbers, Yuli offered a distinct perspective by discussing women檚 resilience in big wall expeditions, drawing on her experience climbing Batu Daya in West Kalimantan.淲omen should never feel discouraged or see physical limitations as an obstacle. With strong determination and genuine effort, many things can be achieved in the wilderness, she said
Author: Muhammad Yasir Dharmawan Diniy
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
