Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Climbing the peak of the highest mountain in South East Asia, Mount Kinabalu.
Staying at the Mesilau Nature Resort.
Mt. Kinabalu is the largest mountain in S.E. Asia. It’s a popular, but challenging 1 1/2 day trek to the top. We drove to a less well known part of the park, to stay at a resort at the base of the mountain. What we didn’t realize was that climbing to the peak from this side of the mountain would add an extra 2 or 3 hours to the journey, each way! To do the trek, you have to hire a guide, and you have to spend the night in the mid-mountain accommodations (base camp). It turned out the base camp accommodations were full, so we had to wait a day at the base. This enabled us to take a guided walk through the lower rainforest, discovering rare Nepenthes pitcher plants .
The resort was very peaceful, set tastefully into the mountain side, surrounded by rainforest. Oddly, it felt like we were the only ones there. It was probably due to the extra few hours of trecking we had unknowingly gotten ourselves into.
The lower half of the trek up Mt. Kinabalu was one of the most beautiful hikes I had ever been on. The area is so lush, and full of hundreds of different plants. The trail is immaculately built and maintained, with steps and hand rails (maid of local hardwood) where needed. Every kilometer or so, there’s a sheltered hut, with benches to rest on (is it a sign that I’m getting old, when I start appreciating these things?).
After about 6 1/2 hours of hiking over rolling foothills, and up the steep mountain, we arrived at the base camp accomodations. We had an early dinner at the 3300m restaurant, and tried to get some sleep in the chilly dorm-style accomodations. We rose around 1:30 AM for breakfast, and then followed the white guiding rope (and continuous stream of headlight) up the mountain, across slick rock, to arrive at the summit in time for sunrise. It was quite cloudy, even raining at times, so the view wasn’t as clear as it could be. But it’s still a very rewarding feeling watching the sun rise above the clouds.
The descent was quicker, but it still wasn’t until 2:00 in the afternoon that we got back down to the base. Feet and knees and thighs were burning, biological clock was all messed up… after one beer, we were out for the count.
01 Pitcher Plant
We spent a few days in the Mount Kinabalu World Heritage Site. The base camp resort was at 2000m featuring day time highs in the low 20’s. A very welcome break from the tropical heat we’ve been experiencing for weeks. Here’s Jo admiring the largest of the carnivorous pitcher plant species found on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu.
02 Mt. Kinabalu at 4AM
The climb to the peak of Mt. Kinabalu takes two days with a brief sleep at 3300m. To peak before sunrise, we awoke at 1:30AM for a quick breakfast and caffeine injection. This shot was taken at about 4:00AM somewhere along the ascent.
03 Kinabalu Peak
We made it! At 4095m, it’s the tallest peak in South East Asia. It’s all worth it at the top, with spectacular views and freezing cold!
04 The decent
A dramatic view looking out on the top plateau.
05 Misty vapour
Around 3800m, the morning mist dances off the mountain.
06 Hmmm beer.
A well deserved Tiger beer delivered with a smile after our epic hike.
