malay tourism: Mountain Kinabalu

Mountain Kinabalu

Since 1946, Sabah's seat of government has been based at KOTA KINABALU, or KK as it's universally known. Although not pretty architecturally, it's got a buzz equal to anything outside KL with its plethora of markets, cafés and bars. Most travellers grow fond of KK, not least as its bright lights and excellent eating are gratefully received after a spell roughing it on Mount Kinabalu or at Uncle Tan's Jungle Sanctuary. Aside from the State Museum, KK's major highlight is offshore Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, whose five unspoilt islands are just ten minutes by speedboat from the city centre.

At 4093.4 meters, most people claimed that Gunung Kinabalu is the highest mountain in South East Asia. Even the British television claimed that it is the highest, quoted during the 1997 Kinabalu International Climbathon televised preview, where they've got the top three places. But what about Puncak Jaya (mostly known as Carstenz Pyramid) and Naga Pulu? Both of them in Indonesia's Irian Jaya and still in South East Asia. I know that there are misleading statements about the height Carstenz Pyramid, but I've assumed it to be 4884 meter and the height of Naga Pulu as 4862 meter. Therefore, I assumed that Gunung Kinabalu is not the highest in South East Asia.

And some people claimed that Kinabalu International Climbathon is the toughest climbathon in the world. I doubt that. Have anyone ever seen the Tahan Climbathon? How many people are injured, got lost, and even died in such a climbathon. In Malaysia alone, I think Tahan Climbathon is much tougher than the Kinabalu Climbathon.

Nevertheless, climbers to Kinabalu will still be amazed by this one of the highest and most impressive mountains in the Pacific. This mountain is an igneous intrusion, not large by some standards, but impressive in that it rises so high and all alone. The top-most part is somewhat of a plateau, with a number of pinnacles rising from the granite surface.

Gunung Kinabalu has been a major attraction in Malaysia, for people who wants to feel the adventure or just want to enjoy the cool refreshing air. Every year hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world come to Malaysia, just to go to this amazing place. It is believed that Kinabalu Park has one of the richest floras in the world.

Gunung Kinabalu is also popular for its Low's Gully. In February, 1994, a party of ten British and Hong Kong soldiers, under Lieutenant Colonel Robert Neill, attempted to penetrate the the impenetrable, forbidden place. From the beginning, the expedition was ripped apart by personality clashes, suspicion and elitism, as if the gully exerted an evil influence on the intruders from the start. What was to be an adventure of a lifetime, became a journey into hell. The villagers surrounding Mount Kinabalu believe the mysterious Low's Gully in the center of the mountain is inhabited by the spirits of their dead. It is a forbidden place they never dared enter.The few others who had dared never returned. Hemmed in by impenetrable jungle and strewn with gigantic boulders and huge waterfalls, the gully can be reached only by climbing the 14,000-foot mountain and then descending into the unknown.

For the more complete resources of information and lots of pictures about Mount Kinabalu, click here.

Height: 4093.4 meters (Highest in Malaysia, Third highest in South East Asia)

Location: Crocker Range, Kinabalu Park, Sabah

Foot: PublicWorks Department's Power Station, Kinabalu Park

Duration: 3 days

Expedition type: Lightweight backpacking

Accomodation:
No camping is allowed. Mountain hostels are provided at a minimal price, but heavily booked during festive season. Kitchen, with utensils available. Sleeping bag is also provided.

Suggested Rucsac Capacity: 40 liters

Estimated Rucsac Loading: 8-12 kg

Water Supply: Available at youth hostel

Summit temperature: 1-5 deg Celcius

To get to the foot of mountain:
Take a flight to Kota Kinabalu Sabah. (Redirect flight from Kuching International Airport, or Kuala Lumpur Internatinal Airport). From Kota Kinabalu, take a bus to Kinabalu Park. The bus leaves Kota Kinabalu at 7:30 a.m. every morning and arrives at the entrance of the Park Headquarters about two hours later.The return trip to Kota Kinabalu is at 8:00 a.m. The power station is 4 kilometers from Kinabalu Park Headquarters.

Mountain Guides:
Only licensed mountain guide allowed. Available at the Park Headquarters. Have to be booked early.

Estimated Budget (From K.L.): RM 1000

Emergency:
Every climb through the headquarters will be recorded.

Note:
All visits and climb have to be book at least 1 months in advance.

Contacts:

Sabah Parks
Lot 3, Block K, Sinsuran Complex
P.O. Box 10626
88806 Kota Kinabalu
Sabah, Malaysia
Tel: 60-88 211881, 211652, 212719
Fax: 60-88 221001