Climbing Mountain Kinabalu (second attempt)
Oct 04
This is a re-post from archive.
On top of Malaysia – Posted on 13 Feb 2007
It’s high, it’s cold, it’s crazy… and it’s peak of Mount Kinabalu. After recuperating from the unsuccessful attempt 6 months ago, I finally made it to the top… in a day! Yes, we (Ong, Joe and me) climbed from mountain foot (Timpohon gate) directly to the peak in a day.
I still can’t believe I walked up there
Group photo before climb.
In order for us to complete the journey in the same day, we have to make it to Laban Rata rest house before 12 noon. Based on my last climb, which took me almost 4 hours to reach the rest house, we have decided to start our journey as earliest as possible. We began at 7.30 am, the earliest group to start on that day.
The reasons why we wanted to make the journey in the same day are because…
- Escape from the crowd. From my previous experience, almost everyone took the sunrise trip. That makes the journey to the peak crowded with climbers and we have to walk at slower pace.
- Safer. Journey from the rest house to the peak requires you to cling on to a white rope. If one person in front or behind you slip, chances are you will fall down along with him. So less people means less risk.
- Double the chances of reaching the peak. From my previous climb, the weather can get very nasty and caused every climbers to abandon their journey. If the weather is bad on the afternoon, then I still can try again on the usual sunrise trip. I don’t come this far to face the similar fate again.
- Travel lighter. When you climb a mountain, every ounces count. Climbing on broad daylight means no need to bring along torch light, head lamp, extra batteries and extra clothes to keep warm.
- I have seen better sunrise from airplane’s window.
A long “stair case” up the mountain.
Unlike my last climb, the weather was generally perfect. We can see our surrounding clearly. But I began to worry when it started to drizzle when we reached 4 km mark. Doina; our mountain guide seem unperturbed at all. Perhaps, it was expected and normal over there. I put on my poncho at Layang Layang hut and continued to climb.
After 3 hours and half enduring cold rain water, I finally reached the rest house; half an hour faster than my last climb. As expected, we were the first group of climbers to reach the rest house that day and we have plenty of time recharging our energy. After few cups of hot Milo and few chocolate bars, we felt good and confident that we can make it.
We left our backpacks at the reception office, wore my track suit and brought along only the necessities; camera, spare glove and socks, energy bar and water. We continued our ascent around 12 noon.
The total distance from Timpohon Gate to the peak is 8.7 km and the distance from Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata rest house is 6km. The last 2.7 km to the peak made the 6 km climb to the rest house seemed relatively easy. It took me another 3.5 hours to reach the peak from the rest house even though the distance is only half the distance from Timpohon Gate to the rest house . The steps to 6.5 km mark were very steep. I had to stop to catch my breath after every 10 steps because of the thin air.
Hold on to that rope if you don’t want to break any bones
After reaching 6.5 km mark, the route was even more challenging even though it was not that steep. We have to cling on the white rope to prevent from falling down the cliff. The rain continued. After few minutes, the chill broke through our cotton and latex gloves. Then, I felt like my hands were dipped in ice water. It makes my grip more difficult.
Waterfall on top the mountain?
The rain seemed to last forever. Waters were everywhere. It flowed down from the granite surface, some as big as waterfall. I had to go across it cautiously, not because I was afraid of slipping, but to prevent my sock from getting wet. The RM4.50 rubber shoe did a remarkable job in keeping my feet on the slippery granite surface but not so good in keeping my sock dry.
What a relief when we saw Sayat-Sayat hut. There was no one there, only 4 of us. We took a short break to shelter from the rain and and refresh ourself. We had our remaining energy bar and refill our empty bottle. Doina went to survey the area and decided it is still save to continue. Thank god! I’m not going cut short my trip at the same place again. This time I must make it…
The last few km’s were an easy stroll along the white rope. No need to hold on it anymore. The landscape has changed drastically. There were no plants in sight, only small scrubs with beautiful red flowers. It was all gray colored granite ahead of us.
It still rain mercilessly. I thought we were suppose to be on top of the cloud but it was more like we were inside it. I could hardly see any peaks.
In front of the famous South Peak. However, it is not the highest peak.
Perhaps because lack of tree, the wind was strong up there. Cold water and cold wind made a dreadful combination. It broke me physically. I almost gave up but the sight of Low’s Peak keep me going. Oh yes, the sky was getting clearer.
Now we can see some peaks.
I pushed myself on the last 200m. Launi and Joe were already waiting for me on the peak. Even though I was the slowest among them, but I was glad that I finally put my feet on top of the highest mountain in Malaysia and my heart sang out…
tinggi-tinggi gunung kinabalu
tinggi lagi sayang sama kamu
biru-biru puncak kinabalu
tengok dari jauh hati saya rindu
A dream came true
See the rest of the photo here…
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This is a great post! Thank you for posting it! Love the pictures and the videos!
Weren’t you a tad underdressed for a 4,000mt climb? A plastic poncho (seems like a recipe for sweat, try gore-tex or similar materials), low shoes (try mountain boots) and – I assume – no sandwich or proper food, just energy bars? For a hike that lasted several hours?
You were lucky.
Hi Claudio. We survived it and so does everyone else. it was a little bit uncomfortable but then again, Mount Kinabalu is suitable for any amateur climbers and it was guided.