Mount Kinabalu Climbing for ALAF Fund

Salam Hormat

Alhamdulillah mission accomplished! 

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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”

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!

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.”

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. 

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!

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.

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.

You can donate generously just click at http://bibd-alaf.org/donate-to-alaf/

SirNoordin

AkiNabalu

Related Link:
https://sirnoordin.blogspot.com/2019/02/bibd-alaf-programme-mount-kinabalu.html