Mount Kinabalu the highest peak in South East Asia - My Experience

Salam to all

Mesilau and Timpohon Track

Hope everyone is well. This posting is about mountain climbing again. The trip I did in January 2006, right after I registered my PHD at UiTM. My intention of climbing was mainly about experiencing the challenges and enjoying fantastic flora and fauna of the world class recognition. If I am not mistaken Mt.Kinabalu is a United Nation heritage site. We followed the Mesilau track. It took about 8 hours to reach the Laban Rata challet. Then 3.30 a.m in the morning we started the climbing again and reaching the summit around 7 a.m. More than one hundred people were there in the wee hour to watch the sunrise. After the photo session and resting a while, the decending started again at around 7.30 a.m. We reached Laban Rata around 10.00 a.m. After packing up we continued the decending journey around 11 something through Timpohon Gate and arrived at the mountain base before 4.00 p.m. The Mesilau track was very beautiful with bonsai trees, and I would highly recommend for those we have high interest on tropical flora and fauna. On the other hand the Timpohon Gate is rather shorter in distance and the walking trip to Laban Rata only took 6 hours. Laban Rata was cold at night, and some challets did not have any heating facilities. If anyone has altitude sickness, you can feel it at this level. You might feel dizzy or nausea and your journey might just end at this level. The guide for sure will advise us to go down as soon as possible due to the impending danger.

Some tips

Make sure wearing proper attire especially at nights and while climbing to the summit because the temperature normally would be less than 10 degress celcius. The sports shoes are not suitable, must use a mountain climbing type because the slippery zone for the last 3 km to the top. Furthermore a downpour usually happens in the afternoon. If it is raining heavily the ascending mission to the summit cannot be continued for that day. So pray hard so that your mission is attainable. Another thing a climber should bring a good raincoat or jacket because the downpour can disturb your comfort. Oh ye! there is a restaurant up there at Laban Rata, so do not burden yourself with heavy load especially foodstuff. Otherwise hire a porter. Enjoy the view on the summit.... Allah is the Al-Mighty. Subhanallah..Alhamdulillah ..mission accomplished

Wassaallam

Puziah Ahmad

11.02.09/15 Safar 1430H