UNAIR NEWS The preparation of athlete candidates for Airlangga Indonesia Denali Expedition (AIDeX), Student Activity Unit of Nature Lovers , is entering the final stage. From 22 to 29 March 2017, they took the third or final try out at Mount Argopuro and Bromo for a week.
The ones who took part in the training that time were Muhammad Faishal Tamimi (alumni), Mochammad Roby Yahya (Faculty of Fisheries and Marine/2011), and Yasak (alumni). They were escorted by one of the summiters from the student organization of at Parahyangan , Sofyan Arief Vesa.
This third training is to find out how far is their physical readiness, techniques mastery, and teamwork to climb Mount Denali, explained Roby, the operational chief of AIDeX and one of the athletes.
The athlete candidates left Surabaya on 21 March and headed toward Baderan Post, Situbondo. After completing the administration, the following day they left for Water Spring 1 point and took almost six hours to get there. Each carried a load proportionally measured with their weight. Roby carried a 38 kilogram load, Faishal 32 kg, and Yasak 30 kg.
The following day, the team continued the journey to Cisentor for 15.2 kilometers. The four people were divided into two pairs namely Yasak and Sofyan, then Roby and Faishal. They were trained to walk nonstop for more than 12 hours. This is because the average time needed to reach the summit is 12 hours. Team Yasak-Sofyan successfully reached Cisentor in 11 hours 42 minutes, while team Roby-Faishal in 14 hours 56 minutes.
From Cisentor, they then continued the journey to Lonceng Square which is 5.7 kilometers away. The plan was they headed toward Rengganis and Argopuro by using moving together technique. In moving together technique some people climb together and are connected by a rope.
The initial plan was going to Rengganis and Argopuro by moving together, but the condition isnt as planned, so we cancel it, Sofyan explained.
On 25 March, the team climbed up to Argopuros summit then down to Bremi Village, Probolinggo and took 11 hours 41 minutes. During the journey, the weather was not very conducive. The team had to go through thick fog since morning and get along with rain which poured almost every afternoon. The following day, when arrived at Bromo, they took a rest for a while to maintain and refresh their stamina after a long day walking.
When at Bromo, these athlete candidates tried out a simulation of snow tracks. They practiced with tools such as crampon, ice axe, and snow safety equipment like anchor. This is to introduce and get them familiar to use tools in snow tracks, explained Faishal.
They once again practiced the moving together technique, to do sledding or pulling a sledge with a wheel, and rescue simulation or self-preservation.
During the training in Argopuro and Bromo, they had been doing evaluation on themselves also on the teamwork. According to Sofyan as the escort, the physical condition of each individual is ready to do the climbing at Denali. Moreover, the teamwork and the co-operation between them are really good. However, they do need to practice more on how to use the tools and on the climbing techniques at snow tracks.
According to Faishal, even though the try outs at mountains are over, the AIDeX athlete candidates will always do physical training regularly. In accordance with the plan, names of the chosen athletes will be announced on the next 4 April 2017.
Author: Wahyu Nur Wahid
Editor: Defrina Sukma S
