UNAIR NEWS – The arrival of the Indonesian Airlangga Denali Expedition (AIDeX) athlete team in San Francisco, United States, was warmly welcomed by the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) on Thursday (18/5).
AiDeX Team is part of Mountaineering Student Club UNAIR (UKM WANALA) member, was welcomed by Consulate General Ardy Hermawan, Chairman of Culture and Social Affairs Frederick Bernard Loesi, and his staf.
M. Faishal Tamimi, said that meeting with KJRI san Frasisco lasted two hours. Quoted by Ardi’s message, Faishal said that the athletes were asked to keep the teamwork either during ascent or post-climbing.
“We also were asked by consulate to uphold the nationalist insight and spirit of nationalism,” Faishal said
In addition, Faishal said that the team was asked to stay at Wisma Indonesia while in San Francisco.
While in San Francisco, the athlete team attempted adapting to the surrounding environment. Previously, the athletes had to travel for 23 hours from Indonesia to the United States. In addition, the difference of time zones made them feel jet lag.
However, the athletes also keep the physical condition to stay fit before the ascent. Every morning, Faishal with two other athletes M. Roby Yahya (Faculty of Fisheries and Marine) and Yasak (alumnus of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences) jogged around the Golden Gate area.
“We also do jogging in the Palace of Fine Art and checking the equipment list. We did the Friday prayer at the Islamic Society of San Francisco. The temperature conditions in the San Francisco area is between 13 to 17 degrees Celsius, “added Faishal who is also a student of the Faculty of Vocational.
AIDex team will climb the Mt. Denali for 18 until 22 days. They went from Surabaya to Jakarta on May 10th, and then headed to US on May 17th. They will continue trip to Anchorage on May 21st and the ascent will begin on May 26th until 9th June.
Mt. Denali is not the first peak that has been climbed by UKM WANALA member. Previously they had climbed Four of seven highest summit, included, Mt. Cartenz (Indonesia/1994), Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania/2009), Mt. Elbrus (Rusia/2011) and Aconcagua (Argentina/2013).
After Denali, other expedition to Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctic and Mt. Everest in Himalaya will complete the expedition seven summit of UKM WANALA.
Author : Wahyu Nur Wahid (Manager of AIDeX)
Editor: Defrina Sukma S
