First time to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah was in June 04 (i think), but didn’t make plans to climb Mt K. Just went to one of the starting points of the climb (Timpohon gate) to sightsee. It was very misty and cold, and I felt that it was a pity not to climb Mt K since I’m in Sabah.
Second time to KK was in Nov 09, helping to bring a group of students there. It was a last minute decision as there was a sudden vacancy and since I’ve always wanted to try climbing Mt K, I agreed and went without much training.
For those familiar with the usual schedule: Day 1: from Start point ascend until Laban Rata and stay for the night, Day 2: from Laban Rata to summit, then back to Laban Rata and then descend. (Of course, it is also possible to complete everything within one day or extend for one more day at Laban Rata before descending)
It was raining heavily, so we were soaked and tired and decided not to summit the next day but instead get more rest, and descend earlier, thus, regret no.2 – didn’t manage to summit after coming so far.
But this climb showed me how unprepared I was: (1) I didn’t have sufficient water-proofing: my one and only poncho tore and so I was soaked, (2) I didn’t have a rain-cover for my backpack, so it was also soaked too and thus heavier. (3) I didn’t bring enough drinking water, and had to refill from the water tanks along the way (which could have caused the serious stomach upset throughout the night at Laban Rata). (4) Didn’t have enough warm clothing (as it gets cold from Laban Rata upwards), so was freezing throughout the night (the soaked clothes didn’t help).
Third time to Kota Kinabalu was Sept 13. Going to attempt to summit Mt Kinabalu again with a few of my friends. We started from Timpohon gate – the more popular starting point because of the shorter distance but also a steeper and tougher track.
(Pic: Map of Mt Kinabalu)
(Pic: Walk to registration point just after dawn)
(Pic: Fresh and energetic before start)
After registration and meeting up with our guide, we ate breakfast (fried rice with egg) at the starting point and collected our packed lunch before starting the journey. We started off well, charged by the carbo load and quickly completed the first 1 km of the uphill climb.
(Pic: One of the many trees)
This cute tree was spotted beside one of the first few huts of the trail. After the initial 1 km, there was no chance (and no energy) to take any pictures as it started pouring (again). We battled through the rain for the next 5 km to Laban Rata. We were still soaked through despite taking precautions (e.g. poncho, raincover for bag etc).
(Pic: Tired faces)
We reached our shelter for the night after about 6 hours of tedious uphill climbing, changed into dry clothes and had an early dinner. All of us were very tired but couldn’t really sleep well probably due to nerves or that we tried to force ourselves to sleep too early as we know that we had to wake up at 2 am for the summit climb.
(Pic: Tired but can’t sleep)
At 2 am the next morning, we woke up and got ready for the summit climb in the dark. We made our way slowly and carefully up the dark and damp wooden stairs and uphill slopes, following a white marker rope. The first part of the summit climb was still manageable, with steps along the way until Sayang Sayang hut….. After the hut, the climb was steep on slippery granite rocks. We had to haul ourselves up a nearly vertical slippery slope, and balance on the along the edge of the cliff wall, all in the dark. The darkness was a blessing (by the way), since we could not see the potential danger of the route we were taking. One false step could send us to the hospital (if we are lucky)…
Of course, there are no photos of that part since its dark, and both of my hands are used to hang on to the rope (for my dear life). I’ve lost contact with my friends at that point since they were all faster and went on ahead. I was glad that it did not rain, because if it rained, the summit would be out-of-bounds, and it would be a waste of effort climbing all the way but didn’t manage to attempt summit.
(Pic: At the summit!)
I took too many breaks and didn’t push myself to go fast enough for the summit climb, so only managed to reach the peak after the sun has risen. Nonetheless, happy to have reached there after an exhausting uphill climb, only to realise that its only half the journey 😦
However exhausting the uphill climb was, the descend was 10 times worse. I had to balance on top of unstable boulders on the way down, and abseil down steep granite walls. Since the sun has risen by now, I could see the actual path we took when ascending. And I couldn’t imagine how I managed to get past those treacherous paths while ascending in the dark.
(Pic: View of other peaks)
It started raining (again) on the way to Laban Rata. And the wooden staircase got so slippery at certain points that I (and another person behind me) slipped and fell. Upon reaching Laban Rata, I felt that my legs were going to buckle under me at any time. Was really tempted to stay one more night at the lodge and descend the next day. No such luxury though. Had to drag my tired body and try to command my legs to descend each step in order not to tumble all the way down.
As usual, murphy’s law at work even on the mountains, the rain started getting heavier until we were wading through ‘rivers’ and mini waterfalls cascading down the steps…. No energy to move, knees and muscles protesting, toes bruised, cold and wet from the rain, but no choice, I couldn’t just give up in the middle of nowhere. After 6 hours of descending, I’ve finally managed to reach the end point! (my friends reached first and they waited for me, shivering in the cold… sorry, my dear friends.)
I took 6 hours of ascending, 6 hours of summit climb, and 6 hours of descending in 2 days. 4095 m asl. The highest place I’ve set foot on, as of now. Like what one of my friends said: once is enough (for now).
Without this quote, I don’t think I could have made it to the top and back: “It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves” ~ Sir Edmund Hillary.
adventures of a couch potato 