On Saturday, August 29, I finally returned to Gunung Pasang after several months away from my hiking workouts. I had deeply missed the simple rhythm of the trail—the sunlight sparkling on the water and the constant sound of the river running alongside the path toward Tancak Waterfall.
This trip carried an extra spark of excitement because I was breaking in a new pair of trail running shoes. Unlike my standard road running shoes, which always struggled on loose, off-path terrain, these were engineered specifically for the dirt. It was time to put them to the test and see if the specialized soles would deliver the extra grip and stability needed to make the climb feel effortless.
Arriving late in the afternoon, I was almost certainly the last visitor of the day. The parking attendant offered a friendly warning as I pulled in, reminding me to head back down before Maghrib. I nodded, promising myself that once I reached the waterfall, I would only stay long enough to snap a few photos before making a swift descent. Beyond testing the shoes’ traction, my personal goal was to break my previous record and reach the falls in under an hour.
Partway up, I crossed paths with a group of local youth heading down. They shouted cheerful words of encouragement, sending a wave of fresh energy that pushed me to maintain a strong, steady stride.
Uphill Tancak Panti
The real test came on the way back down. Descending steep, uneven terrain usually demands maximum focus to avoid slipping, but the new shoes performed exceptionally well, biting into the soil and giving me complete confidence. I finished the descent in just 45 minutes.
At the trail base, the parking attendant looked surprised by my quick return and remarked on my pace. I smiled and mentioned that I had tackled this route quite a few times before. It turned out to be a thoroughly satisfying afternoon. On the drive home, I stopped to pick up a warm pack of tahu lontong for my wife—the perfect end to a great Saturday journey.
Downhill Tancak Panti
