Salam Hormat
Alhamdulillah
mission accomplished!
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| Mount Kinabalu Low Peak 6.30 am |
On Monday
11 Feb 2019, we reached the summit of Mount Kinabalu at 4095.2 metre. We did
this as charity to raise fund to help underprivileged children in Brunei. You
can donate generously just click at http://bibd-alaf.org/donate-to-alaf/
"Only a Life lived for Others is Worth Living" - Albert Einstein
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| We ready to conquer Mount Kinabalu |
Early
morning AirAsia flight AK215 from Bandar Seri Begawan to Kota Kinabalu. We went
to Imago Mall for meeting another friends from Kuala Lumpur before heading to
Kinabalu Park. There were seven amigos on this great journey to Mount Kinabalu’s
summit. We stayed at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges at Kinabalu Park. It is good for climatization
at 1,400 metre before heading up for 4,095 metre.
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| Timpohon Gate with our Malim Gunung |
On Sunday
10 Feb 2019 morning, we were among the first group registered for climbing permit and were
introduced to our guide knowns as “Malim Gunung” by the name Joseph and Jonny.
Both of them look small in size but very strong! The weather on our side. Skies are clear. After breakfast we took minivan
to Timpohon Gate at the base of the mountain where the journey begins.
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| Panalaban |
We started our part one climbing to Laban Rata where the basecamp is.The journey started at 9.30 am. Initially we were climbing
together, somehow after 2 km – Dr Fahmi and Hakim had increased their pace
which left us far behind. On the other hand, allow us to walked at our own
pace and enjoy the beautiful cool breath scenery. They reached Laban Rata at 1.00
p.m. after 3.5 hours trekking and we joined them at 2.30 pm (5 hours trekking).
The skies clear blue and windy. We hope the weather is still the same for night
climbing to summit later.
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| Yukhairi, Nazim & Affizan |
We took
rest and dinner at Panalaban Hut. The stunning views of the mighty mount
Kinabalu stretches above the clouds during sunset make it all worthwhile. By 7
p.m. most of us on the bed already as we need to wake up early morning for
climbing to summit.
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| Final briefing before climbing 2.30 a.m. |
We woke up at
1.00 a.m. and bundled in layers to face the freezing temperature. Hot Milo and
biscuit really help to boost our calories. We started our climbing at 2.30 am, it was
really struggle and difficult to catch breath. We were climbing the wooden
steps at very slow pace to maintain our breathing. Suddenly the nerve-racking
situation when Affizan lost his step on the loose gravel and off the narrow
trail from rope fence. Lucky one of us managed to hold and pull him up. It was so dark and we weren’t sure what was outside
the trail. Scary!
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| Short break at check point - Sayat-sayat 4.30 am |
As we gain
the altitude, the climbing becomes near vertical where required us to use rope
to climb up. We don’t know what to expect as it was dark and freezing cold.
After each time we used the rope, we felt so exhausted and breathless. We
reached Sayat-sayat check point at 4.30 am and we knew we had enough time to
reach low-peak before 7.00 am.
“Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing”
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| We did it! Awesome... |
My age
factor started give sign of limitation and I felt like I will never reach the
summit as every step is killing me. I felt dizzy and my legs can’t take it
anymore. At every few metre climbing, we took a few minutes break. Our Malim
Gunung kept saying, “just a bit more… “ and we got to trust them. The trail seemed
endless and felt like quitting through my head. The last obstacle of
20-metre-high of jagged rocks forced me to crawling up with nothing left in me.
Even I can see Hakim was struggling on his own pace to reach the summit. It is
so true that the 30% is physical stamina while 70% is positive mindset!
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| South Peak View |
Finally, we
reached summit at 6.30 am. Stunning views! Out of sudden, all
the pains and hard time just gone with the wind. We were so excited at the
highest peak of Mount Kinabalu. We did it! It was so surreal that we were
standing at the top of the tallest mountain in Borneo. We spent nearly 10-15
minutes before descending to south peak. Personally, I got to say this, “We have a great team who supported each other
to ensure everyone reach summit at the same time.”
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| Stunning view |
"The climb might be tough and challenging, but the view is worth it. There is a purpose for that pain, you just can’t always see it right away" – Victoria Arien
Climbing
mountain gave us physically challenge while descending is torture. Barely find
enough energy to walk down the trails back to Panalaban base-camp. We reached
base-camp around 9.30 am. After quick breakfast and rest, we continue our
journey descending to Timpohon for another 6 km.
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| We are Together! |
The knee and ankle started giving
the sign of pains, but we are very persistent not to stop walking. We were
ecstatic when we reached Timpohon Gate at 3.30 pm – “welcome back” really make
us grateful. We were walking for almost 14 hours non-stop ascending to summit
and descending to Timpohon. Awesome!
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| Final 20 metre climbing - exhausted! |
Thanks to
the great team who supported each other up to the summit and descending from
peak. The climbers were our youngest participant, Hakim 15 years, Dr. Fahmi
Ibrahim, “RMC-boy” – Faiz & Affizan, Nazim “Annapurna Climber”, Yukhairi
Yahaya@Singa Utara our Penglipur Lara and ‘orang lama’ SirNoordin 49 years old.
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| Safely back at Timpohon Gate |
Thank you
to all who have made donation to BIBD ALAF. The donation still open until we
reached our target to raise $4,000 which is equivalent to height of Mount
Kinabalu. The last 50 metre to reach summit, we were out of breath, our arms and
feet were trembling and shaking. Every metre was tough! It shows every dollar can
help and change lives of underprivileged children.
SirNoordin
