Extreme Weather, Climbing To Mount Gede Pangrango Is Closed Again

The entrance to the Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park in Cipanas District, Cianjur, West Java. (ANTARA/Ahmad Fikri). (Ahmad Fikri)

CIANJUR - The Center for Mount Gede Pangrango National Park (TNGGP) in Cianjur, West Java, has again closed the hiking trail to Mount Gede Pangrango due to extreme weather factors.

Public Relations Officer of the Cianjur TNGGP Center Agus Deni said the closure would be carried out from May 15 until an undetermined deadline.

The reason is that the location of the Suryakancana Square at the top of Mount Gede is filled with garbage and submerged in water due to heavy rains.

"The closing of the climb is based on circular number 6/BBTNGGP/tek.2/05/2023, the closure is carried out in addition to extreme weather factors as well because of the rise of illegal climbers and the accumulation of garbage on the hiking trail to the square," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, May 12.

According to Agus, climbing will be reopened after a thorough evaluation and improvement of climbing management, including cleaning the hiking trails of garbage left by climbers and not being taken down.

TNGGP asks climbers to become smart climbers and be an example, especially in maintaining cleanliness and sustainability of the national park environment by following climbing procedures and complying with all applicable rules.

"Travelers should make official climbing or according to procedures through official registration and protect the conservation environment while in the national park area, do not pollute or damage the ecosystem during climbing," he said.

Agus emphasized that his party would impose strict sanctions on climbers who violate the rules that must be obeyed every time they climb.

"The irresponsible behavior of climbers on Mount Gede Pangrango had occurred several times with a 5-year sanction of not being able to climb mountains in Indonesia," he said.