Hey friends...
Its been a totally crazy month for me, I'm telling you! Who could have written a script like this? Thank God for open doors, man. When He makes a way, take it! :)
Just wanna share with you my two-cents (or maybe five!) worth of thought for those aspiring to conquer our nation's very own pride...Mt. Kinabalu! For those intending to go for the Sabah mission trip in Dec, dont rule out a climb up this mount! Its gonna' be exciting, that's for sure. I'm not a seasoned mountain climber, but being in the outdoors is second nature to me. I guess it runs in the blood of every ranger! So allow me to share with you the do's and dont's, some preparation tips, and what to expect on the trail up Mt. Kinabalu.
PREPARATION
Start working out at least one month before the trip! And I mean serious workout... Trust me, get those legs moving and do lots of hiking up hills to acclimatize your body with the strenuous hike that's coming. I was given only a couple of days to prepare for the trip, as it was a last minute thingie...but I wouldn't advise you to follow suit. I'll be honest with you...this is definitely no hike in KLCC park! A good way to prepare and test your stamina endurance is to fill your backpack up to 10kg, and start hiking up places like Batu Caves, Bukit Gasing, or perhaps take the stairs of the KL tower all the way to the top! Keep repeating this routine till it becomes a norm to you...
ESSENTIALS
Here's some items that are totally essential during your trip. Leave home without em' and you'll live to regret it!
i. Winter clothes - Leave those singlets and baby-tees at home...unless of course you want to experience what's it like being in a freezer! A good, thick and warm jacket should do the job. Someone mentioned something about Long Johns??
ii. Thick winter gloves...dont bother using those cheap wool construction gloves. If you love your fingers, get a good pair of gloves, as you'll be using it for a good long part of the trip.
iii. Snowcap - We dont want to take the risk of having our brains freeze up!
iv. Good, light hiking shoes - Honestly, those thick and heavy hiking boots aren't really necessary. In fact, it'll just make your trip so much more harder. A good pair of sports shoes should do the job.
v. Jeans/2 layers of trackbottom should be sufficient to keep your kaki warm...
vi. Energy Bar!! A definite MUST MUST! Sneakers or MARS bars should be fine. But hey, one funny thing happened...once at the top, these chocolate bars tend to harden/freeze up. Can be quite a challenge just eating them at the top. Bring along some chocolate wafers, just in case.
vii. Redbull and/or Livita! Grab at least 3-4 100ml bottles of these energy boosters! You can really feel the energy flowing back into your legs...avoid 100 Plus / carbonated drinks. They give you the 'air'. For those traditional ones out there, care to try for some Tongkat Ali or Kacip Fatimah?? or maybe some Ali Cafe???
viii. Walking sticks - can be purchased at the park for Rm3. You might even be able to take it back home as a souveneir...or weapon...:)
ix. TORCHLIGHT!!! Or maybe a headlamp...whichever you feel comfortable with. Not very nice to ve walking all alone in the dark. Forget those super-sized heavy duty torches...a good medium-sized one will do. String it up too...
HIKING ITENARY
Once you arrive in KK (by air, sea or just somehow happened to be there...), you'll have to make your way to the spectacular Kinabalu Park Sutera Sanctuary Resort, located almost 2000m above sea level. The vast landscape surrounding the resort area has been classified as a 'World Heritage Site'...lush green forest, krispy kreme air...wildlife sanctuary, spectacular view of mountain ranges...nature's beauty at its very best! Once you've seen it, you'll know why I'm so enthusiastic about this place.
Have a good night's rest in any one of their cottages or hostels, from the luxurious to the simple. Just like any hotel, the items here are a bit pricey. So if I were you, better purchase what you need from back home...Here's how the place looks like:
Kinabalu Lodge...definitely thumbs-up!
The place has everything you need...a fireplace, heated showers, astro (with sports channels!), a kitchen, spectacular view of the mountain, etc etc etc. Rest well, for the journey up the mountain starts early and promises to be a good, long one...
Sunrise begins around 5.45am - 6.ooam. So dont start panicking, thinking you've lost track of time or something like that. Get washed up and ready by 7am. Have a good breakfast, filled with lots of carbohydrates. Rice, noodles and hot drinks are available at the local restaurants. The nasi lemak looks pretty tempting...but pls do opt for something else. We dont want to end up like our Malaysian football team...*ouch*
Meeting point is at the Kinabalu Park office. This is where you'll have to register yourselves, get a climbing tag, buy insurance (just incase it ends up as a one-way trip...), get yourself a guide for about RM80 (one guide for 6 climbers), and get a feel of things. At any one time, there's probably about 180 - 220 ppl going up the mountain in a day. Its interesting to see how people prepare themselves for this trip. Some look as though they've packed their whole house, while some came only with the clothes they're wearing. Amazing! There's also a weighing scale that lets you weigh how 'light' your backpack is. Anything below 4kg is good. Mine weighed 8kgs...
The view of Mt. Kinabalu from Kinabalu park...
Get your registration done at the Kinabalu Park office...
Next, you'll be transferred to the Timpohon Gate via shuttle buses. From this point, there's only one way to move...FORWARD! Oh, don't forget to do some stretching and get your muscles all warmed up. Definitely not fun having a cramp right at the very start. And also, plenty of toilet facilities at beginning point. A good idea to get your system cleaned right at the start....
One bottle of water should be sufficient for the journey, as there are at least 6 - 7 checkpoints along the way where you can refill your bottle with untreated mountain water. Toilets stops are also available throughout the 6km hike to the mid-point known as Laban Rata, where you'll spend the night. Word of advice...you dont have to wear your winter clothes or thick hiking boots during the first part of the hike to the mid-point. Shorts, dry-fit shirt, and a good pair of sandals is sufficient. Keep your raincoat prepared just in case.
Always pack your items in plastic bags before placing them in your bag. Try not to talk too much during the hike up, instead try to enjoy the beauty of nature all around you. There are spectacular views to see along the way. Have regular breaks along the way. There are checkpoints located at every 0.5km. Drink lots of water, have some energy bar, and most importantly, dont over-exert yourselves. Everyone has their own level of tolerance. Rest if you must!
Remember, this is not a race to the top...
Along the way, you'll come across many porters (orang Dusun) shuttling and carrying items up and down the trail. You'll be amazed at how strong these ppl are, esp their women! Carrying loads of up to 50kg, items like gas tanks, metal pipes, steel bars, bags, food supply...you can even hire their services to carry your luggage for RM7 per kg. For an average person, the hike to the mid point takes around 6 hours. If you're fast, you can do it within 4-5 hours. The porters can go up and down within 3 hours! Amazing people, I'm telling you...
The path to the midpoint is filled with rocks, stepping stones, mud terrain, sand, grass...so be prepared for all types of surfaces. Life gets more fun when it rains...:) To be honest, at some points along the way, the journey feels as though its never-ending. Some people might even think of turning back...but hey, what awaits you at the top is worth all the effort! Its definitely no stroll in the park as it goes uphill all the way! Pre-climb training is absolutely vital for all! Cut down on all those unnecessary late night mamaks, roti canai and nasi lemak la...
After almost 5 hours of hiking, we finally reached Laban Rata, and boy...was I glad to be there! The place was covered by a blanket of mist. At almost 3000m above sea level, the air was chill and fresh. Temperature at Laban Rata is usually around 10-14 deg C during the day and around 5-7 deg Celcius at nights. So pls be prepared! Do what it takes to stay warm at all times...
Laban Rata...now you see it...
Next thing you know its lost in the mist...
Sunset at Laban Rata...simply beeee-autiful!
What to do while at Laban Rata?
To be honest, there's not a whole lot of stuff to do. Apart from indulging yourself in taking tons of pics, or sun-bathing under our Malaysian sun (yup, some kwai-los were doin' just that!), you could also watch the locals slug it out in a game of highland sepak takraw... Here's a few things that you'll DEFINITELY need to do:
1) Eat and eat and eat! Always good to stock up...buffet meals are free (included in your accomodation charge). Its about RM30 per night. Replenish your energy, but of course...golden rule: Never Over-Eat!
2) Rest! Try to get in to bed after dinner around 7pm. Try your best to get a good night's rest. You'll definitely need it. You'll be required to wake up around 1.30am and get ready for the summit climb. You might wanna give yourself a nice massage and apply all sorts of cream that your grandma would probably use...Deep Heat, Vicks, Yoko-Yoko, Minyak Kapak, Minyak Gamat.... zambok....
3) Have a good breakfast before the climb. Once again, consume food with lots of carbs...or sweet stuff! If you must...pack some sugar packets along that you can get from the restaurant!
The second part of the climb (to the summit) will start around 2.30am. By now, the place should be pretty cold...so if you're a true 'anak Khatulistiwa' like me, stay wrapped up at all times! Thick jacket, extra layers of long pants, good shoes, socks, snow cap, neck scarf, and gloves! Something like this...
Ok...you can stop laughing now...
You'll be hiking in total darkness all the way up. Pls make sure you have a good torch that doesn't just KO in cold weather. Dont forget your camera too...Worst case scenario is when you reach the top only to forget to bring your camera or extra batteries! Adui...
After almost 3 hours of body-aching, gruelling, mountain-top hiking...I was finally there!
I'm officially sitting at the highest point in South East Asia! You'll know you're right at the top once you've arrived at the legendary signboard in the above pic. Just ignore the dude next to me...one of my yellowman friend :)
The view from the top...its tough to put it in words. Its just simply breath-taking and so magnificent. One word describes it..."Indescribable!" I have heard about the amazing view from the top. Now I have heard and have seen it from my own eyes...I wish you could be there with me to see it. I kept on thanking God for helping me get up there...and once I was up there, I began to realise and understand how small I was...and how great is our God. The God of the stars, the sky and the mountains...
A group of us had to wait almost 30 mins at the top for sunrise. And let me tell you...it was worth the wait! Another point to note is that when the wind blows, the temperature drops below zero deg Celcius. So, its practically freeeeeezing up there! Wouldn't recommend you to stay too long up there. Take all the shots and pics you need, then head back down. Plenty of other sights to see...trust me. Hope you'll find them enjoyable!
The view gets better even as the sun begins to rise....
If you're a person who loves colour, you'll definitely enjoy your moments up there...
You can practically see the whole of Sabah from up here!
Kinda' reminds me of a scene from the movie 'Lord of The Rings'...
You gotta be careful at the top. At times, the rocks can get pretty slippery..and if you're not careful, its gonna be one long fall from up here!
Everything looks so different once daylight approaches. Nothing much to see during the night, but once daylight breaks...Whoaaa!!
The walk to the top at the final km will mostly look something like this. Plain rocky surface all the way. Still, its something that many has not experienced or seen in their lifetime...
There are ropes all along the way to the top to guide you in case you get separated from your group. Always stay close to the ropes, and you'll know you're on the right track.
That's the summit right at the top...
Once you've had enough of the mountain-top experience, its time to head back down to earth. Dont get conned into thinking that the journey down is so much easier. Trust me, its equally tough as going up! Its about 2 hours back to Laban Rata, have a quick breakfast, rest for about an hour or so...and then its another 3-4 hours hike back to the Timpohon Gate, where you'll be shuttled back to the base camp office. By this time, my knees were hurting badly. Love your legs, love your knees...take it slow!
By the time you reach the bottom, dont forget to collect your certificate! Apart from photos, this is the best proof that you ACTUALLY reached the summit! Haha...many people stopped half-way at Laban Rata. Apart from being physically-challenging, this trip is definitely a test of your mental strength and determination. As for me personally, keeping my eyes focused on the peak on the mountain kept me determined to go on. Getting there was a killer...but it was worth every effort once you're finally up there.
Well, I hope this piece of article will be helpful for those of you aspiring to climb this mountain. And I really hope you do make this trip one day. Not only because of what the mountain has to offer us at the top, but also to learn and discover a few things about our own character and determination. Let's see if we can make this happen at the end of the year...and then we'll earn the rights to be called...'King of the Mountain'! Haha...
For your info, there's going to be a Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon in Aug 24-25th. Its basically a race to the top and back down. Current record holder did it in 2 hours and 53 mins! Anyone interested in breaking that record???
God bless...
You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior,
The hope of all the ends of the earth and of the furthest seas,
Who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength...
Psalms 65: 5-6
The grass-cutter, Shoun! Trust me, he certainly knows a thing or two about grass...
