Student climbers 'inexperienced'

Student climbers 'inexperienced'

TIMIKA, Irian Jaya: The two students who died after being
caught in a snowstorm last week while climbing the Cartenz Peak
of Mt. Jayawijaya were inexperienced and poorly equipped.

Bona Venture, 26, and Herman C.R., 23, both students of
Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java, were reportedly caught
in the snowstorm on Thursday. They were found dead the next day.

Antara quoted a friend, M. Sigit, as saying yesterday that the
two left Nabire, the capital of Paniai regency, for Ilaga on a
twin-otter aircraft on Sept. 30. Along with Sigit, another
mountain climber, Rully, and 23 porters, the students trekked
from Ilaga to the foot of the Cartenz Peak.

While Rully and Sigit set up tents, Bona and Herman went on
climbing. Sigit said that Bona had only very limited experience
in mountaineering, while Herman had none. He added that their
clothing was inadequate for an assault on Cartenz.

Vice governor Basyir Bachtiar paid his respects to the
deceased students yesterday before dispatching the bodies for
home.

"They chose a different route from the ones that most climbers
take," Sigit said of his friends. (swe)