It's Indonesia's second-highest mountain and offers one of its most breathtaking treks. If you're planning to climb Mount Rinjani in Lombok anytime soon, here's a heads-up – The Forestry Ministry will soon make it mandatory for climbers to use a real-time tracking application.
According to Jakarta Globe, this requirement will come into effect in late August, though an exact date hasn't been provided yet. The tracking application is being developed together with the Indonesian Mountaineering Federation, and will be able to monitor hikers' locations via mobile phones.
The ministry says that this measure is meant to boost hiker safety and aid rescue operations. It will also be used to prevent littering along the trail.
The Forestry Minister has said that Mount Rinjani will serve as a test bed for the tracking application – so, you can expect the same initiative to be rolled out to other mountains in Indonesia soon. The ministry is also preparing additional safety procedures, such as mandatory health checks, proof of hiking experience, mandatory licensed guides, and premium insurance coverage.
These moves come after a series of accidents on Mount Rinjani, the most recent being the death of Brazilian hiker Juliana Marins in June this year. She fell from a steep cliff while on the trail, and tragically died before rescue teams could reach her.
In light of that, the new safety measures are certainly welcome, so you can enjoy one of Indonesia's most beautiful and challenging treks with greater peace of mind.
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