Trip To Mount Kinabalu - Chapter 4 (8 March 2008)

Arrive at Laban Rata (on the Summit Trail of Mount Kinabalu) at about 4.00pm.
At Laban Rata one can have some meals to regain back their energy in the resthouse's restaurant. Bearing in mind that the prices of the food there are quite expensive. It is because the raw material are brought up there everyday - by foot. For example, the ordinary 'mee goreng' (fried mee) is about RM8.00 to RM10.00 per plate (normally it would cost about RM3.50 everywhere else). The restaurant serve local and some western dishes.

But lucky for us...we had buffet dinner all prepared for us

Most of the Mount Kinabalu climbers will sleep early, the latest is at 9.00pm after having dinner. It is because we have to wake up early - at about 2.00am, to continue for the second phase of the climb.

Ok..I'm all set and ready to head up to the Summit of Borneo - the Low's Peak.

Above Laban Rata, the trail continues as a series of wooden ladders, fashioned out tree roots and branches. A good torchlight is essential. As most of the time you have to hold something for stability, it is best if you have a headlight. (THANKS ALEXANDER LEE FOR YOURS)This gives way to flatter, more easy walking.

Ropes are fixed at difficult places, but these are more to inspire confidence than from necessity. Please be close to the rope. You would not get lost if you stay close by. There are some places where the trail is very steep, almost 70° angle.

The air here is so so thin...i had to breath so so fast.
I was goin out of breath..

45 minutes later, we reached Sayat-Sayat. This is the highest mountain hut at 3810 meters (12,500 feet). The dwarfed vegetation at this altitude contrast sharply with enormous silver black dome of the summit.

After checking our passes...we were good to go.
Tough grasses and other plants cling to rock cervices, flowering and fruiting only a few centimeters tall

After passing the 8km mark with the South Peak and St. John's Peak on the left. From here the bare granite slabs stretch endlessly ahead to the pile of jumbled rocks that is Low's Peak

Gorilla's Peak

I'm on top of the world!! The Low's Peak

The view of the surrounding peaks is magnificent. By 6.00am, we will be able to see most of the peak very clearly. This is usually the best time to take pictures of the sunrise and the peak. By 7.00am, most of the climbers will start to climb down the summit, back to Laban Rata.
Another picture of Gorilla's Peak
Actually i dun see the resemblance

Further down on our right will be the South Peak. If the weather is clear, we will also be able to see Kundasang and Ranau town from here. Along the summit plateau, we will walk down with Ugly Sister's Peak and Donkeys Ears on our left
I just LOVE the south peak. My Favourite. Peak Look at it's curve!!

Ugly sister's Peak

Donkey's Ear Peak

Summit plateau with Kundasang small town at the background. That's steep

Soon, we arrived at Sayat-Sayat Hut wherewe can refill your water bottles with the mountain water. (Some climbers keep the water from Sayat-Sayat as a souvenir - it's the water from 13,000 feet above sea level). 45 minutes later, we then arrived at Laban Rata.

check out the phone booth there!!

With our Guide Francis at St. John's peak
Francis was so so sweet..he held me throughout the journey down the slopes. We were fast!!!
...and we were the 1st to arrive at Laban Rata at 9am

Most of the climbers will arrive at Laban Rata at about 9.00am. We can then prepare ourself and our backpack for the descent. Pack quickly, have some breakfast (buffet bfast was provided) check out from Laban Rata and climb down with our guide - slowly. If you do not have enough training before the climb, this would be the most difficult part for you. When climbing down, you are exhausted and most of your weight will fall on both of your thighs, knees and the ball of your foot. Be very careful. Most of the accidents happens during the decent.

Lunch was ready for us when we reached Kinabalu Park.
Buffet Lunch

After lunch...the journey back to Borneo Global Backpackers I couldn remember anything from then on after lunch. I slept through the whole 2 hours journey back