Journey begins at 2.00am
I don’t know if I really sleep between 7.30pm to 12.30am, but surprisingly I wake up feeling fresh and no pain on my legs, well I was thinking this maybe the clue for me to ascend to the peak. My mental state stays very positive and I told myself that I won’t give up easily.

After light breakfast, we start to hike up at 2.00am, the temperature at Laban Rata is only around 8.0 degree celcius and I know the remaining 2.5km trail up to Low’s Peak is going to be tougher than I could imagine.

The staircases are surrounded very closely by thick scrub and they can seem quite claustrophobic by torchlight. There are a few people who actually experience nausea, vomit and dizziness due to the altitude change as we ascend. Thank god I don’t have those sickness and it’s strange that I feel more energetic this morning. But anyway I’m walking in very slow & steady pace with my mountain guide.

The real challenge – open rock face
When we reach the open rock face, this is actually where the real challenge begins, the previous miles that we have walked is nothing compare to this.

There is a white rope that accompanies all climbers to Low’s Peak begins here with a very steep climb up some potentially treacherous rock faces. I am literally pulling myself up of the rock face and it’s quite a exhilarating experience.

I reached the Sayat-Sayat check point at 7km around 3.50am and I’m now very determined that I want to go up there to see the sunrise.

The final 1.5km
The gradient can become incredibly steep in parts at this point, my heart is racing and I almost feel like giving up as I’m so extremely tired, breathless and I can feel the uncomfortable pressure over my head, I think that I’m risking my life. But then my mountain guide helps me a lot, he tells me when to walk, when to rest and the best way to approach the tricky steps. The climate is really cold and I can feel my toes, my face and my hands are freezing.

The first sunlight

It’s almost 6am and the sun begins to rise and the sky lightens, as much as I wanted to be at the peak but I just resists as I don’t want to wear myself out. I just stay on to my slow & steady pace and finally I reached Low’s Peak around 6.30am.

I’ve made it!!

On top of South East Asia’s tallest mountain (4,095 m)
The sunrise, the views out over the clouds and the valleys below are simply breathtaking, making all the effort worthwhile. I will really regret if I didn’t push myself up to here and miss this spectacular view. The peak is crowded with climbers waiting to take photos and some are taking rest to regain their breath. We took a lot of pictures and although we are all cold and exhausted, everybody seems proud and happy.

The sunrise, my first time seeing this….

The mountains view

The clouds is just within reach….

Descending to Laban Rata & Timpohan Gate
Descending is actually more challenging & dangerous at this point as our legs are so sore and especially climbing down the open rock face.
It took me about 3 hours to reach back Laban Rata as I descend very slowly. I rest for a short while and have a quick bite, then I packed my stuff and begin to descend to Timpohan Gate at 11.00am, which means another 6km trail to walk down!

I walk cautiously at a very slow pace as I do not want to hurt my knee, which a lot of people would as it’s often harder to walk downhill for long periods than it is to climb uphill. I keep feeling that I wanted to collapse due to a combination of severe fatigue, dehydration and depleted energy from the exertions of the morning. I stayed closed to my guide and listen to his advice, the walking stick which I’ve bought at the foot of the mountain also helps me a lot in giving the support I need.

Me and my dedicated mountain guide

The end…..
Finally I reached the foot of the mountain at 3.30pm, although my muscle are sore but I’m very happy and proud that I’ve conquered the Mt. Kinabalu, despite of the severe cramps that I have suffered. And I really appreciate the great support from all the volunteers and my dedicated mountain guide cum porter, they are a great bunch of people. I’m not fit but my will power is definitely stronger than my physical strength in this case. Climbing Mt. Kinabalu is really not just physical but more on mental challenge I think.

Will I attempt to climb Mt. Kinabalu again? The answer is Yes, I would want to do it with my husband and kids when they are older. So I must make sure that I’ll be physically fit enough to take the challenge again then.

See more photos in my gallery.

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Flag off at Timpohan Gate
Wake up call at 5am and everybody has a hearty breakfast and seems prepared for the climb. I’m very excited but at the same time I’m also worry about my physical strength as I hardly do any exercise and no training prior to this climb as well, in other words I’m going to have a tougher climb compare to the others.

We had about 42 athletes and 42 escorts climbing Mt K, followed by doctors and a lot more volunteers. We were the only VIPs (sponsors rep)climbing together with a police chief from KL. We had athletes from all over, namely, Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, Selangor, Chinese Taipei and a delegate from Special Olympics Australia.

Everybody gathered at the Timpohan Gate (the foot of the mountain) around 8am, after a short speech by the Minister, we flaged off at 8.15am sharp.

Severe cramps at the beginning
I must admit that it is really embarrassing that during the 1st 0.5km walk on some stairs and uphill slopes, I already feel exhausted and have to stay aside to rest (this is how unfit I am as I told y’all). I was panting hard, heartbeat was so fast and I feel very dizzy too, I became so scared that my heart couldn’t take this extreme exercise but thanks to my colleague who handed me a sweet, after taking it I don’t feel dizzy anymore and could continue the journey.

However, when I almost reach the 1km check point, I experienced muscle cramp on my right calf and doctor had to give me the spray to relief. Not long after that, I had another cramp on my left calf and need doctor’s treatment again. This bad muscle cramps just go on & off every now and then and even the doctor don’t think I can or I should continue, but I never thought of giving up, I keep telling myself that I’m going to overcome the physical challenge.

After taking some 100 plus and bananas (rich in potassium and it’s good for cramps!), I got better and from the 3km point right up I don’t have anymore cramps. The climb however became tougher when rain falls at about 1pm, the rocks are slippery and the trails is so muddy. Thanks to my guide who lead me all the way up and I finally reached Laban Rata at 11,000 feet at 3.30pm, which means I took almost 7 hours to complete the 6km trail, it’s indeed very slow, but safe, hahahah LOL.

The Laban Rate Resthouse

Sunset view at Laban Rata

After dinner and a short briefing by the OBS guys (outward bound Sabah), everyone goes to bed around 7.30pm and must get up by 12.30am later & prepared to ascend to the summit!! The doctors actually advised me against climbing to the peak due to the bad cramps I have and they really doubt I would have the stamina. My confidence was a bit at shake as I was really suffering for the 6km I climbed today and I don’t know if I should risk myself to ascend to the summit.

In the end I decided not to think so much and just go to sleep, I’ll just listen to my body and & follow my instinct when I get up later at 12.30am

See more photos in my gallery.

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On Thursday afternoon when we arrived in Kota Kinabalu airport, the volunteers brought us for lunch at Tarampuli and we had the special fried mee. After that we were transfered to Bundu Tuhan Hostel at Kundasang, it was about 2-hours drive and we also stopped by half way to get some bananas and have a drink at the cute little hut.

Half way to Kundasang We have our drinks at this hut

The Bundu Tuhan hostel where we will be spending the night is a missionary hostel and hence it’s very basic, but rooms are clean though.

Bundu Tuhan Hostel at Kundasang

The weather is cooling due to the mountains surroudning and it’s relaxing. Dinner is served at the big dining hall, the homecooked dishes are nothing fancy but it taste great, guess all of us would need a good meal to prepare for the climb next day.

Cooling weather & nice mountain scenery

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On this coming Thursday, I will be flying off to Kota Kinabalu to participate in the 4th Special Olympics – Mount Kinabalu Challenge. My company is one of the corporate sponsors for this event and there are 19 people who have put in names in this but only 3 persons will be selected to represent the company, and I’m one of the lucky persons. Yay!

All ground arrangement (incl transfer, hotel & meals) will be sponsored and we just need to bear the return airfare, which is roughly RM 380 by AirAsia. I really think this is a great experience that money can’t buy, as I’ll be climbing the mountain with these special athletes.

The trip is taking place from April 17 – April 20, 2008. I have not been away from Dillon & Kaith for so many days before and I’m sure I will be missing them like crazy…..:(

Actually I have been to Mt. Kinabalu when I was 16!!(I’m still very young now in case you start wondering… hehehe ) Anyway, it was a shame on me that I only managed to reach Laban Rata as I was too tired and couldn’t wake up the next morning (1.00am) to ascend to the summit. (paiseh….). So this is a great chance for me to complete my unfinished journey (fingers crossed!) and I’m sure it will be a great memory for myself.

It’s definitely a great physical and mental challenge for one to make it up to the summit but I’ll try my very best. Wish me luck and stay tuned for my story and the nice photos.

See my itinerary here

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