Indonesian Climbers Completes Mission to Climb Europe’s Most Dangerous Cliffs

RRI.CO.ID, Madrid - The Indonesia Bigwall Expedition (IBEX) team has successfully completed its mission to climb three of Europe's most dangerous cliffs, concluding its mission with the raising of Indonesian Red-and-White flag at the summit of Naranjo de Bulnes in Spain.

Five Indonesian climbers completed the extreme mission as Indonesia marked the 81st anniversary of its independence. The historic achievement followed their earlier ascents of Le Petit Dru in France and Troll Wall in Norway.

Rising 2,519 meters, the limestone peak of Naranjo de Bulnes stands isolated in the heart of Spain’s Picos de Europa. All members of the team reached the summit together on September 12, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. local time.

Deputy chair of the Natural Rock-Climbing Division of the Indonesian Climbing Federation (FPTI), Dodi Liswardi, said the climbers carried 30 kilograms of logistical supplies each to the Advance Base Camp (ABC).

“We hope this Earth Expedition Europe can inspire our friends in Indonesia to take up rock climbing. It should not be limited to young people, because even at my age of 62, it is still possible, as long as there is the determination,” Dodi said.

The team traveled from Norway to Madrid on September 4 before continuing to the climbing area. From the last village, Sotres, the climbers trekked 10 kilometers on foot to reach the route.

The international expedition began with the ascent of Le Petit Dru on August 3, 2026, at 11 p.m. local time. The team climbed the 30-pitch American Direct route on the granite cliff in the Alps over four days.

IBEX Team Manager Nazib Fadlullah described the technical challenges posed by the cliffs. Trollveggen, in Norway’s Romsdalen Valley, features a massive overhang extending nearly 50 meters from its base.

“Troll Wall is a dream cliff for climbers around the world because it is known to be extremely challenging: the route is prone to rockfall, the rock is fragile, and the weather is extremely cold. So, please keep us in your prayers back home, and hopefully our expedition will proceed smoothly and safely,” Nazib said.

The team began climbing Norway’s 1,200-meter Norskeruta route on August 19. Heavy rain and falling temperatures forced the climbers to halt the ascent for four full days.

They eventually reached the summit of Troll Wall on August 29 at 9:30 a.m. local time. Earlier, falling ice and rock at Le Petit Dru had forced an Italian climbing team to cancel its ascent.

Chair of FPTI’s Natural Rock Climbing and Recreation Division, Robertus Robet, praised the team’s achievements. The expedition to climb the three steep European cliffs was led by Freden Sembiring Milala.

“With this achievement, Indonesian climbers have once again demonstrated that their abilities are on par with those of the world’s elite climbers. We know that every inch of progress carries great significance for the development of this entire sport,” Robertus said.

The expedition also carried a global message on environmental conservation and sustainable climbing ethics. The team brought home the principle of leaving no trace, with the aim of passing it on to younger generations of climbers across Indonesia.

The European expedition builds on Indonesia’s previous successes on El Capitan in the United States and Trango Tower in Pakistan. Together, the international achievements underscore Indonesia’s standing alongside major climbing nations on the world rock-climbing stage. (Diffa Sephiawardhani)