GUNUNG · Réunion (Prancis)

Le Cimandef

Le Cimendef

Puncak piramida Le Cimandef dilihat dari sisi Salazie, Réunion. Photo: source

Information

Elevation: 2.228 m
Country: Réunion (Prancis) (RE)
Location / Range: Massif du Piton des Neiges, pada persimpangan punggungan La Roche Écrite–Gros Morne dan crête de la Marianne; batas komune La Possession dan Salazie, Pulau Réunion
Mountain type: Puncak batu berbentuk piramida di punggungan massif Piton des Neiges — sisa gunung berapi perisai yang telah punah dan tererosi dalam, bukan gunung berapi aktif
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: -21.0298, 55.4531
Difficulty: Sangat berat / teknis: jalur hors-sentier dengan sesi panjat mudah (marche-escalade) dan rappel di sepanjang arête sempit; banyak sumber menyarankan pemandu profesional
Best Season: Musim kemarau austral (Mei–November) dengan cuaca stabil dan batuan kering; hindari saat basah karena arête menjadi sangat berbahaya
Permits & Rules: Tidak perlu izin resmi, tetapi karena karakter teknis dan eksposur tinggi, pendakian umumnya dilakukan bersama pemandu (guide) profesional berpengalaman
Hazards: Arête sempit yang menganga curam di kedua sisi, sesi panjat dan rappel, risiko jatuh terutama saat turun, kabut dan angin di ketinggian; bukan pendakian untuk pemula

Description

Le Cimandef (also spelled Cimendef) is a 2,228 m peak in the heart of the Piton des Neiges massif on Réunion. Its distinctive pyramidal/triangular form stands at the junction of the ridge running from La Roche Écrite to the Gros Morne — the divide between the Cirque of Mafate to the west and the Cirque of Salazie to the east — and marks the boundary between the communes of La Possession and Salazie. It is named after a legendary marron (escaped slave) who called himself Cimendef, which Malagasy etymology reads as 'non-slave' (tsy 'not' + andevo 'slave'); his companion Marie-Anne gave her name to the nearby crête de la Marianne. Unlike Réunion's more touristic summits, Cimandef is a demanding technical climb: an off-trail route along a narrow arête with easy climbing pitches and rappels, often cited as one of the island's most vertigo-inducing ascents. Because of the exposure and danger — especially on the descent — many climbers tackle it with a professional guide.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Dari Grand Îlet (Salazie) lewat arête Cimendef

Sangat berat / teknis — marche-escalade dengan rappel

Sekitar 6,5 jam (± 9 km, +1.350 m)

The classic route starts from Grand Îlet in the Cirque de Salazie. Per Randopitons it runs about 9 km with roughly 1,350 m of gain over some 6.5 hours. The trail crosses fields, fords the Ravine Casabois, climbs in many switchbacks to a point called 'la Fenêtre', then follows the Cimendef arête for about 800 m with easy climbing pitches and rappels to the pyramidal summit. It is rated very difficult and dangerous, especially on the descent, so many sources recommend a professional guide.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Accounts of Le Cimandef consistently stress its character as a technical, exposure-heavy climb-hike (marche-escalade) along a narrow arête, far removed from Réunion's usual tourist trails. The route guide, local media article, guide-operator videos and vlogs below convey the difficulty, the climbing/rappel sections, and the history behind the marron slave's name.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.