If you’re at all interested in the Seven Summits Quest, you’ve undoubtedly done some homework, and kind of figured that the keystone of the Messner List, Carstensz Pyramid, highest point of the hypothetical continent of Oceania, would be the riskiest, most dangerous of the lot.
Source: carstensz-expedition.com via Charles on Pinterest
Among the obvious and known dangers are cannibal tribesman, porters who are barely any different, the frequent violent insurrections at the mine, random terrorist attacks on Australians, irregular and often impossible transportation issues, local retribution against foreign guides and their clients, having to actually jug a couple thousand feet on ancient unmaintained fixed lines including the elusive and rare Tyrolean Traverse, and a very wet miserable muddy two weeks slogging through a primitive rain forest.
It’s amazing to me anyway that anyone anywhere in this modern information age would not know that. Seriously. Alas …
Yet with so much strife in the area, the Dillards say they knew nothing of the danger that awaited them. – News OK (Oklahoman)
Oklahoma City businessman Mike Dillard and his wife were subjected to just about all of the above in their Carstensz adventure. They had previously summitted Kili and Aconcagua, and to be fair, neither has anything near these types of dangers or risks, though if you do Kili during a weeklong drizzle like I did, the trail and camping can be pretty miserable.
Anyway, just read the article and see if anything stands out to give you some ideas about your own potential trip on Carstensz.