Monday, 16 September 2013

Mount Kota Kinabalu Sabah (4D4N) Part 1 - Kinabalu Mountain Climbing



On the 1st day, we departed from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu late evening, 8pm and the flight was delayed 2 and half hours due to the Kota Kinabalu airport facing some lighting technical issue. All the evening flights were delayed. We waited at Changi Airport and Airasia apologized for the delay and all passengers were given 8 dollars coupon for a dinner/drinks in the Airport cafe. 

With 2 1/2 hours delay, we reached Kota Kinabalu Airport around 1am. We took a cab to our hotel, then shower and straight a way go to rest cause  6.30am our 2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climb will began. We had booked this 2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climb at Singapore with Amazing Borneo Tours online before we go to Kota Kinabalu. Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in South East Asia (4095.2m).

Amazing Borneo Mini Bus pick-up from our hotel lobby at 6.30am and depart on 2 and half hours journey to Kinabalu Park Headquarter.

At Kinabalu Park Headquarter, our guide arranged for all necessary registrations and assign a mountain guide to accompany and guide us along the whole climbing. we also collected packed lunch for our journey to Laban Rata. The weather here is cold with temperature around 20 Degree Celsius at 1866.4m height.

 Kinabalu Park Headquarter Entrance

 Kinabalu Park Headquarter
Kinabalu 1

Loading/unloading place. There is a lots of transport bringing tourist for this climbing tour.
Kinabalu 2

Mt. Kinabalu Summit Trail Map
Mount Kinabalu 3

After Timpohon Gate, we saw a water fall.
Mount Kinabalu 4

Beginning of the climbing.



Mount Kinabalu 5

Reached Pondok Ubah at 2081.4m height



High stairs....

Nice view along the journey...


A lots of stairs to walk.

Nice wooden stairs


At 2252m height after a 2km walk.

Cables and water pipes run along the walk way supplying to mountain top.

3.5km walk reached Pondok Mempening.

stairs...



3.5km at 2634m height.


Local people carry food to restaurant.



Rock walk... Need to be careful.



The trek will pass by different vegetation zones from Oak and Chestnut to mossy and eventually to alpine type of vegetation. Amazing scenery..

Yellow Rock stairs all the way. Felt challenging...




Mist? ...it's consider cloud crossing over the mountain...




Big stairs yellow rocks... Random rock arrangement




High Slope.. Need to pull the string to go up. I had started get dizzy due to lack of oxygen.



A lots of rock walks



Reached Villosa Shelter at about 5km, 3051m height




Near Paka shelter area. All the local carriers rest at this area due to the oxygen at this height is low, then get started to continue the journey to Laban Rata.

Beautiful rocks and plants at this area.


The tree at this height look unnique..

Our journey started to rain, the rock walk get wet and slippery.

After struggling for long time under low oxygen condition, finally reached Waras Hut at 3243.7m height.

Its feel like reached heaven. The views are so nice. And I thought that we have already reach Laban Rata at the moment reached this area.






We can see the low peak from Waras Hut.


We continue walking upward and finally arrive into Laban Rata Rest House at 3272m height. We took about 5 hours for the journey today. Buffet dinner is prepared at Laban Rata restaurant for us.

Amazing view from the lobby of Laban Rata Restaurant.




After the dinner, we walk up to the Gunting Lagadan Hut at 3323.2m height. This will be the house that we stay for tonight. It was very cold here which approximate around 2-4 Degree Celsius.


On the 2nd day, we wake up 2am for supper and plan to for the continuation of journey toward the summit of the Mt. Kinabalu. But unfortunately, it was a bad day, rain and strong wind. And we are not allowed to climb due to the bad weather. So, we continued sleep on that night.

Early morning, a few photos taken from Gunting Lagadan toward the mountain side, keep for our memory.






After the breakfast, we get ready to go down from the mountain.

And photos taken along the journey back. It is a wonderful place. If has opportunity, I'll come again to see the sun rise at the summit and enjoy the amazing scenery. Wohoo...












We reached Kinabalu Park Headquarter around 3pm and collected Certificate of Achievement. Afternoon tea was served at Balsam restaurant.
 Then, we are transferred back to Kinabalu City which take about 2 hours. All the people look tired and slept inside the minibus... :) It was a wonderful trip even we can't reach to the summit. Hope will come again next time...

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