Saturday, June 19, 2010

Mount Kinabalu


This site is dedicated to provide essential information regarding Mount Kinabalu; the trail, tips, guides, accomodation, prosedures, natives, places to visit around Mount Kinabalu Sabah Malaysia, thus your visit would be worthwhile and safe. Links and resources published here all are related to your Mount Kinabalu climb, I will include articles and links from other sites that have credential information and useful for your visit and climb. Explore all the links and sites and enjoy your climb!! have a safe and succesful climb ya!!

Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Malaysia with height of 4,095 metres (13,455 ft). Place of Mount Kinabalu among highest mountains in South East Asia is conflicted over different views. It is located in Kinabalu National Park (a World Heritage Site) in the east Malaysian state of Sabah- coordinate 6° 5′ 0″ N, 116° 33′ 0″ E. Mount Kinabalu has several peaks and the highest peak is Low's Peak. Mount Kinabalu and its surroundings of tropical rainforest are among the most important biological sites in the world, with over 600 species of ferns, 326 species of birds, and 100 mammalian species identified. Among them are the gigantic Rafflesia plants. Mount Kinabalu has been accorded UNESCO World Heritage status.

At more than 4000 meters height. Mount Kinabalu in Sabah is not only the highest point in Malaysia, it is also the highest point in South East Asia. This is one of must climb mountain in Malaysia for its beauty and challange. I climbed this mountain in Mac 2005 and truly astounded by its unique beauty. The climb would take two days preferably. It include spend the one night at Laban Rata hut before summiting in the early hours of the morning in time for sunrise on Borneo’s highest point. The climb is not particularly technical but it is real test for fitness and endurance. However it does offer opportunity for wall climbing enthusiast to test skill on various kind of rock face on the granite plateau.


Mount Kinabalu gives you opportunity to experience different kind of climate as your climb increase along the trail. From thick rainforest with high tree gradually changes to pine tree and shorter bonsai, small orchid ( montane forest) and finally barren granite at the final part of the mountain on the summit plateau. The temperature gradually drops at higher altitude and with sun move down for the night. For local climber this is only mountain in Malaysia that could give you altitude sickness. Steep ascend from Timpohon base camp and high gain of altitude in short period could give problem for some as your body don’t have enough time to acclimatize. From my experience dizziness that someone could feel as reaching Laban Rata or Gunting Lagadan could be relieved by taking hot shower, not need for Panadol or aspirin. The trek is clear and properly maintained. Proper stairs even built on certain part of the trail. You could climb Mount Kinabalu in stylish way in your new designer sport pant and flashy sport shoes as it’s won’t likely that your pant got shred by thorny rattan, got stuck in mud or crawling for way unless you drop yourself on the slippery trek. Bear in mind that the trail is constant ascend from the start, all up no down and not much flat part. There are various routes to Climb Mount Kinabalu such as Mersilau and Timpohon trail which is differ in term of difficulty level and day taken and require some technical climbing. For normal climber it is better to stick on the commercialize route. There are also various mountain hut on the plateau such as Gurkha hut that reaching these huts would require different pass than the normal one.

LINKS & RESOURCES OF MOUNT KINABALU






Hiking skills and tips to conquer Mount Kinabalu