The Expedition Trip Notes provide detailed information and background for Adventure Consultants' Carstensz Pyramid Expeditions.
You can view the trip notes online by clicking the image or download a pdf by clicking the following link:
Carstensz Pyramid Expedition Trip Notes 2024
Team Membership
The team will have a minimum size of 3 members and 1 Adventure Consultants guide (plus local guides) and a maximum size of 7 members and 2 mountain guides (plus local guides).
Our Guides
Your expedition leader will be scheduled approximately six months out from the trip start. All of our trip leaders to the Seven Summits peaks have extensive experience at high altitude and a proven record of safety, success and compatibility.
Mike Roberts
Expedition Leader
Mike Roberts has been guiding for nearly 30 years and during his career has climbed many of the world’s highest mountains including 9 ascents of Everest including back to back ascents of Everest and Lhotse.
He has also managed to fit in 14 seasons mountain and ski guiding in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, 18 seasons in Antarctica as a Field Leader / Guide to the USA and NZ Antarctic Programs, SAR Leader for the Joint Antarctic Search and Rescue team, has worked as a Professional Ski Patroller / Avalanche Forecaster and is a qualified Physiotherapist. Mike is also a fully qualified IFMGA Mountain & Ski Guide.
Head Office Support Team
Running successful journeys and expeditions is more about experience, knowledge and strategic management than any other factors. As an organisation, we place a substantial amount of time and resources into ensuring our trips are well planned and supported. You can be assured that the AC staff will provide you with friendly advice and knowledgeable support throughout the planning stages of your trip and we will be there to provide backup while the trip is running.
Hayley Furze, Client Liaison
Hayley joins the AC team with a wealth of experience working in the tourism and hospitality industry along with a love of travel. She works as Client Liaison on a number of our European and international ascents, treks and expeditions.

Your Health
Expedition members will be provided with pre-trip medical advice, including information on immunisations and a medical questionnaire and asked to visit their family physician to receive a full medical examination. This information will be sighted only by the expedition leader and our medical adviser and treated with full confidentiality.
Difficulty Rating
Each of our trips is individually rated according to its physical and technical difficulty, displayed in the icons towards the top of each trip page. You can click on the accompanying question mark for additional descriptions and the full run-down of our grading system is available on our Difficulty Ratings page.
What You Carry
While on the mountain you will simply carry your pack containing water, snacks, camera, jacket and extra warm clothes.
From time to time we have departures that trek out from Base Camp. During the four-day trek you would have a personal porter to carry a maximum of 15kgs of your equipment and you must carry the remainder of your own gear, plus your lunch and snack food for the day. This should equate to around 7-10kg or more if your gear becomes drenched by the frequent rainfall. Due to the uncertain nature of travel in Papua we must be prepared for changes in the itinerary which may include trekking into the mountain if necessary. For these reasons, we cannot emphasise enough that team members must be pack fit and willing.
Should you wish to employ an extra porter to carry your equipment out of Base Camp please let us know well in advance so we can arrange that facility for you.
Specific Training Recommendations
In order for your Carstensz Pyramid expedition to be both more enjoyable and to increase your chance of success, you need to train specifically for the expedition during the months prior to your climb.
A focus on pack carrying on steep and varied terrain is required, aiming to carry 5-10% more than the required pack weight. Training to carry 20kg loads should see you well prepared. If you do not live close to any significant elevation gain, train on a Stairmaster or treadmill, whilst wearing a pack, but also on varied terrain such as grass, gravel or hilly sand dunes for a more complete training outcome. You should also incorporate downhill training to increase your quad strength for the descent.
Interval and endurance training can help prepare your body for exertion at altitude – see our Fitness Training Programs page.
You will also need to brush up on your rope skills, so if you are not a regular rock climber schedule some sessions at your local gym, aiming to climb routes up to 5.8 (grade 16 Australian) in your mountaineering boots.
Hopefully, you’ll have a 4-6 month lead-in for training prior to your expedition to Carstensz Pyramid but if you only have 2 months to go before your departure, there is still time to get ready for this unforgettable journey!
History
Carstensz Toppen, or Carstensz Pyramid, is a Dutch name, deriving from the 1623 voyage of exploration undertaken by the Dutch Empire as they strove to rule the lucrative trade routes of the East Indes. The navigator, Jan Carstensz, recorded his surprised sightings of ice-covered mountains soaring high above the Arafura Sea.
In 1872 Captain J.A. Lawson led an exploratory expedition inland, reporting an ascent to 7,500m/24,606ft on a Mount Hercules! This sparked rumours that Carstensz was higher than the recently surveyed Mt Everest.
Ensuing Dutch and English expeditions failed to climb this legendary peak, but confirmed extensive glaciation in mountains so close to the equator.
The New Zealand expedition led by Philip Temple in 1961 finally got to the base of Carstensz Pyramid after an epic trek through the jungle but was forced to retreat after a failed airdrop of supplies. The following year Temple was asked to guide Heinrich Harrer over New Zealand Pass, the key to reaching Carstensz. Harrer and Temple then pioneered the steep rock climbing route to the summit. The pair went on to make ascents of many other peaks in the region.
In recent years, Carstensz Pyramid has become regarded as the highest peak on the continental landmass known as Australasia and thus one of the coveted Seven Summits.
Food
Our expeditions are renowned for the quality of the food but we are only able to provide basic fare on Carstensz as it must be carried to Base Camp and weight is an issue. Hence please note it will be basic, although completely adequate, compared to our normal fare. Please bring a supply of your favourite snack food for the summit day.
Clothing & Equipment
Expedition members will be sent a list detailing all necessary clothing and equipment to be individually provided.