Nov 2000 : Mount Kinabalu

Travel Title: Mount Kinabalu Climb 2000

When: November 2000

About The Trip:

Purpose: To conquer Mount Kinabalu and obtain the climber’s Millenium Certificate 2000.

Days/Nights: 3 Days 2 Nights

Arrangements: ~~Travel Agent~~ / Self-guided Tour

Route: KUALA LUMPUR – Kota Kinabalu SABAH – Ranau SABAH (1 night) – Half peak of Mount Kinabalu SABAH (1 night) – Ranau SABAH – Kota Kinabalu SABAH – KUALA LUMPUR

Traveling Method & Time:

Kuala Lumpur – Kota Kinabalu = aeroplane (2 hours).

Kota Kinabalu – Ranau = a chartered van (2 hours).

Ranau – Kota Kinabalu = a chartered van (2 hours).

Kota Kinabalu – Kuala Lumpur = aeroplane (2 hours).

Details:

Mount Kinabalu – No travel agent was used during this whole trip except a guide (which is compulsory) during our ascend up the mountain. A guide is mandatory. Eventhough Mount Kinabalu is the most safest mountain to climb than many commonly climbed mountain in other parts of the world, you are still not allowed to climb the mountain without a climbing permit and a guide. You will obtain a certificate only if you have successfully conquered the peak of Mount Kinabalu and you need to pay for it.You need to secure an acommodation package (especially at Laban Rata and Gunting Lagadan – half peak) first and foremost before everything else. To get to Kinabalu Park (located at the foot of the mountain) from Kota Kinabalu, one needs to charter a van or car.

We were told by the guide that climbing half way up wouldn’t be so tough but the air would be getting colder and colder, so make sure you bring warm clothes and gloves. Layers of gloves were my only protection from the hand-numbing cold.

The trail up the sea blue mountain extended from lush tropical rainforest through gnarled montane oak forest and right up to sheer rock face. Exquisite view of the summit greeted us when we reached Laban Rata, half way up to the peak. There at Laban Rata, we collapsed into cold soggy beds of a hotel room we had pre-booked earlier.

Rising up at 0200 hours next morning, we started climbing again. We needed to reach the peak before the sun rose at 0600 hrs. Aided by a fixed icy rope, we made our way on a steep rock all the way to the summit. Eventhough it was a tough climb but it required no special skills or equipment. The arrival of daylight reveals the remarkable summit plateau of the mountain. A vast expanse of smooth rock with a weird assortment of rocky pinnacles rising from it welcomed us.

Inhaling fresh air, I moved slowly, one step at a time. Mesmerised with the scenic view around me, I totally ignored the dizziness I felt due to the increasing altitude pressure. Upon reaching the summit (The Low’s Peak), there was no other word to describe how proud and overjoyed I was to be at the top of the mountain. I felt like a conqueror standing at the top of the world.

“Veni, vidi, vici”

I came, I saw, I conquered.

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