Update from the trip organizer, we will now be starting from Mersilau Gate instead of Timpohon Gate.
Mersilau trail is actually longer but it is reported to have better scenic views.
All the rest huts and our likely route of ascend as well as descent during our Mount Kinabalu attempt.
Our start point would be at the green balloon which is Timpohon Gate and hoping to reach Laban Rata by at least 4-5pm in the evening.
Altitudes of major points in the trail :
Timpohon Gate : 1888m
Laban Rata : ~3500m
Low’s Peak : 4095m
These are the figures that are commonly found everywhere, we’ll be doing an update when we have finished the climb and return back home safely.
After the climb we’ll write up a new post that would include all the details of the trips such as time taken, ambient temperature at various timings etc…expect a long list of stuff!
Click on the above image to see a larger version!
We missed last week’s training. And got to know from Jo’s email, they did one round at Bt Timah last Sunday. And heard we will be doing a bit more compared to last week.
Stressed up as i was worried that I might not be able to catch up with the group.
Meet at 3pm at visitors’ centre. Got to know Bee Har today. So today’s training is the 6 of us.
We started to walk up a slope to one of the stairs and started climbing. The stairs at BT is something like those on Mt KK. The stairs are not the normal height we find in our HDB flat. It’s higher and the ground is made of stones. Some of the grounds are uneven which cause me to be unstable when stepping on it. And it’s tough to walk on! I was actually quite ok during the 1st set of stairs. Thought this will be the only stairs we were be climbing and the rest will be on flat ground. Fat Hope! We reached the 2nd set of stairs and it’s tougher and longer. I got to push myself very hard to continue it. My heart was beating so fast during the climb. I thought of an idea… I started to count every step I take, and it make me feel not that tired. We finished the set of stairs and walked to another set of stairs. And again, we got to climb down and up the stairs. As my legs were aching, I don’t feel like continuing. But I knew that I can’t just sit there and cry, cause no matter what I do, at the end I will still need to climb to get out of BT. Chee Siang was so nice. He picked up a “white ball flower” and passed it to me. My thought is, I want to bring this “white ball flower” to higher ground so that they can grow into a new plant. Chee Siang picked a few for me and I hold it in my hand, at the same time talk to the flower to divide my mind so that I will not think of my tirness. A bit crazy looking but who cares. No one is near us. These method also work for me. I was able to reach the top holding the flower and feeling not that tired. I blowed the flower on the ground and hope it will grow into a pretty plant. The last set of stair is the toughest of all. Height of each steps are high, very uneven ground and lots of people climbing. We can’t slow down as there’s always people behind us. Done with the last set of steps, we were so tired and started walking down back to the visitors’ center.
During this training, I actually slow Chee Siang down. The rest of the group walked very fast and we were always left far behind. But he was always beside me encouraging me. Beside encouragement, determination can also made someone complete a difficult task. We just need to be determine and continue doing what we planned to do.I planned to complete every training and finally complete the main motive of the training, reach the submit of Mt KK. And I won’t want to stop halfway up the submit. Even if I can’t continue, I hope it’s due to physical and not mental. But of course I will train up my physical to make sure that it’s enough to reach the submit.
Last words : Thought of quiting in the middle of the tough training. But with encouragement from Chee Siang, I am able to complete the whole training. I will like to thank him for that. And hope I will be able to walk & climb faster for the next training. Let’s train hard together!
Today had our first group training and meet up with the rest of the members that will be going to submit Mount KK with us.
We met up with Jo and 3 others at the Carpark in Macritchie at 9am but as there were lots of people around and we have never seen the rest of the group before we just stood by in a corner of the carpark and after a while Jo came by and ask us if we are part of the team.
Happy to have finally met up and not just standing there and waiting we were introduced to each other and were notified that some would not be able to make it today due to personal/work commitments. To get things going as it was getting late, both of us walked together with Jo and the other team took the opposite direction as it was slightly shorter and they were still waiting for one more member to arrive.
Only the two of us were dressed in jeans, tees and boots! the rest of them were all out in normal walking/jogging gear only! we were like fish out of water but did not bother us as there was no point mooching about it too.
Weather was pretty good during our walk, inside the vegetation was warm thou as usual, luckily we had our hydration bag with us so drinking was easy.
The three of us was chatting and getting to know each other during the walk , turns out all of us like outdoor stuff! talking about future climbs, about backpacking et…
The day being a Saturday, everywhere in Macritchie was buzzing with people walking and jogging, we had to constantly give way to others as the trail was wide enough for two person to pass side by side only at most parts.
We met up with the other two team members some where near the Tree Top walk Ranger station and continued walking (for the other two, they did an about turn and joined us as the distance was about the same).
The walking pace picked up and very soon the two of us were left behind as our legs were starting to hurt slightly in the boots and getting hungry as well. We tried to catch up with them by encouraging each other that we can do it etc… which worked well as we manage to catch up and follow the other three closely till completetion of the walk.
After the end, both of us just wanted to go home and clean up and change into some light clothings and eat, Jo and the rest went to Long House for lunch.
After we got home, about two hours later, it rainned heavily! we said to each other, luckily we had completed the training and were home and comfortable before even the sky turned cloudy.
Quick training stats :
Distance covered : ~11km
Time Taken : ~3hr-3.5hrs
Last words : feeling not too bad as we had a break from training for about 2weeks already. Keep it up!
Our 2nd hike training at Macritchie reservoir, this time we were having our water bags already and thus did not need to stop for drinks and also made drinking alot more easier! Initially we wanted to just try walking 3km again but this week we are feeling fine and our boots didn’t hurt as much compared to the previous trip. so
when we reached the 1.5km mark we just continued on.
When we reached the 3km mark, we were deciding to continue to the Tree Top Walk or to turn back. Going to the tree top walk meant this trip would end up being either 10km or 11km in total.
As we did not bring any energy bars or food to eat, we decided also for the better for our legs to just stick to our original 6km plan, we don’t want to over stress our bodies as it would be pretty inconvenient to be walking around during work with sore legs.
Although the first 3km was pretty tiring as our bodies get used to the exertion, the return 3km was a whole lot easier.
1st 3km : ~45mins
2nd 3km : ~30mins
Next training session : 10km or 11km tree top walk track
We went to MacRitchie on 8 June 2008 at abt 11am. Wow… MacRitchie is packed with people on Sunday. Some camp kids walking around the places making a lot of noise talking through their walkie talkie, youth playing dragonboat, etc…
Plan was to take Route 1 and walk 3km in and out. A total of 6km that we planned to cover.
Excited about the day, as this was my first time hiking in MacRitchie with my new boots.
Didn’t feel good wearing it, even before I reached MacRitchie. Thought I should be able to make it through the 6km, but when we were at about 1.5km, I felt the back of my feet starting to hurt alot. I sat on the bench and removed my boots only to find that my right feet had a blister. As I was in pain, we decided not to continue walking but to turn back. CheeSiang suggested that I loosen the laces on the return journey, but must be careful as loosening the laces means that there will not be support on my ankle.
Saw a bunch of monkeys at the side of the trail eating and looking at passer-by. A group infront of us must have fed them with food that’s why all the monkeys came down from the tree to take the food from any passer-by. We continued walking and avoid looking at them.
Finally, we returned the starting point.
Saw an uncle washing his shoes with the water in the Reservoir. Don’t know if he realized that the water he drinks at home is from this reservoir.
So in total we have hiked 3km in 1.5 hours. Slow…
We will have to practice more during the weekdays and come back next week to hike… hopefully we can complete the 6km that we planned this week.
