Mt Kinabalu Labour Day 2011: Finale: Part 1

Finally, after the countless weekends of training in Apek, Gasing, Angsi, Nuang, Puchong, Batu Caves, Bkt Kiara.

With the quantity and duration of the training, I was pretty confident that everyone is fairly well prepared for Mt Kinabalu. This group has put in the most, in terms of training, there were even weekends, when outdoor nuts like me couldn't make it.. but the training went on.. sometimes with Derek taking the lead, and other times Goh will lead them to various parts of Apek & Saga Hill complex..

Everyone arrived early at LCCT - this is the hallmark of our group, always early for all our meetings. Even Airasia's caught the spirit of punctuality from our group & did not delay our flights !!

Soon after picking up the rest of the group from Promenade we were off to a great lunch to try our KK speciality of Fish Chap Noodle. The day before any major physical activities is one of my favorite - as it is the day when I can eat more than my usual share. If available, I will always order Pasta, and buy a loaf of Wholemeal bread - for snacks during the entire day. I will also try to have rice - Gunung Tahan guides trusted sources of Carbo is Rice, rice and rice. I will also stuff myself on bananas and plenty of water.

Carbo Loading at KK - Fish Cap Noodles !! Made of fish stomach, fish lips, fish head, and various other fish parts: Yummy !!

Final Shopping at Pekan Nabalu - 10 min away from Park HQ - Best place to stock up on bananas - excellent source of carbo !

Dinner was a surprise and a real treat - Buffet Dinner at Balsam Restaurant. Sutera Sanctuary Lodges has packaged it all together for us.. no wonder it cost so much per person for the climb and accommodation at the Kinabalu Park. Few years back, I remember having to pay $15.00 for my usual Kinabalu Fried Rice at Liwagu Restaurant - just below the Kinabalu Musuem.

Dinner at Balsam Restaurant - Park HQ

Briefing for next day's climb

We stayed overnight at Peak Lodge. This is my preferred locations, as it is convenient, and clean and quiet with privacy. The cheaper alternative is to stay in the hostel at $100 per person. For comparison, the Peak Lodges costs RM 900 per night - (4 Pax)

Ming, Goh, Sow Keng, Justin, Mien, Low and Henry - All ready to go
Taken outside Peak Lodge

They looked like they are going for a golf holiday

Romantic Couple #1

Romantic Couple #2

Mei, Cindy, Sze Pei and Lim

Edwin & Sze Pei - I honestly did not expect my wife to hike so fast..

As I analysed the composition and individual members of the group. Roughly, we fall into these braod categories:-

(1) Dreamchaser... coming here to finally overcome years of procastination .. . Not necessary the outdoorish type.. but die die must climb Mt K once - type of people..

(2) Peak Bagger - a term used to describe an outdoor/mountaineer who is out to add another peak to his accomplishment

(3) Lover of Mt Kinabalu - people who will come again n again to Mt K. Becuase it is beautiful, willing to come again n again, as long as new route (eg Mesilau) or new activities (via Ferrata)

(4) The outgoing type - here for great company, laughter, or just for holiday. Reach or don't reach summit never mind, as long as good food, away from work/office, time with friends

(5) The "No Choice Type" becuase wife/husband's coming.. etc etc

The Dreamchaser are those who really amazed me ( not that accomplishment of people from the other categories is any less). Dreamchasers will push themselves to the edge of their physical limits - and then walk like zombies.. and finally give you the most amazing and satisfying when arrived at destination. If only we could pushed ourselves to the edge like they did, in everything we do !! I always learn a thing or two from individuals in this categories !!

Group Photo at Park HQ

This is my first time hiking the Mesilau Trail. After 8 visits to Mt Kinabalu, I am glad I finally did Mesilau Trail on my 9th visit ! At least I have done it !

It is definitely more difficult than Timpohon. It is indeed more scenic, and certainly longer.. I am not sure if it is less steep.. It looks steeper than the Timpohon Trail to me.. Especially the stretch just before Pondok Magnolia & the bukit at the beginning. While Timpohon only has one steep flight of steps - before Pondok Kandis.

30th April 2011 8:43 AM

A beautiful view of Mt Kinabalu - along the way to Mesilau Town

The lunch pack has really improved over the years, previously it used to be cheap and flimsy plastic lunch pack n sometimes it is nasi lemak. SSL has really put in a lot of thoughts, and give us bread, apples and mineral water.. I find it troublesome to handcarry the lunch bag. Nevertheless, for fear of having to forgo dinner, just in case we arrive at Laban Rata after 7:30pm and run out of food, we decided that carry all our packed lunch with us. I ended up stuffing 5-6 packs into my backpack.

Goh - This is the only photography I managed to take of him - too fast !!

Giant Trees, and tropical rainforest, and huge waterfalls, you don;t get to see this on the Timpohon.

Big Tree - forgot the specie

This pict was taken in the first one hour, everyone was still fresh

Extremely clean and considerate hiker - Mien... she actually changed shirt midway thru the hike... some hikers wear the same shirt for days... without washing