We got to the starting point about 9ish and was given a rough guide as to what the hike was about as well as safety tips. We were then given the impossible task of recording every single item that we've packed! (what the...??). Anyway, after all was set and done, we started the hike. Please note that everyone was all smiles when this photo was taken.
The first challenge we encountered was a flight of stairs that literally beat Batu Caves' hands down (i kid you not). With about 5-10 kilos of extra burden on our shoulders, this was no easy feat.
But anyway, i won't go through the whole hike as this would be soooo boring. The hike to the campsite took us about 3 hours and although the terrain wasn't remarkably difficult, we were all a little tired and more than a little sweaty by the time we got there.
A little lunch and an hour and a half or so later, we were off again...this time to the summit and much to everyone's relief, without the big hiking bags. Instead we were told to only bring necessities ie food, water, etc.
The hike to the summit was easily the most challenging thing i've ever done. You are tested to the limits of both your physical and mental endurance. Going through steep climbs, caves, dodgy ladders (have i ever mentioned that i am extremely scared of ladders?? I can jump out of planes, go on a bungee rocket, would loooove to do a bungee jump, no worries, but give me a ladder???...that freaks me out). But anyway, there were also huge rock formations that we had to climb using ropes, which called for courage and strength that you thought you had none of anymore.
(summit photos)
Oh and another thing, i had my first camping experience! I have to admit though, camping is so not as great as the hype that it gets. I think most of us (the girls of course) are scarred for life from the condition of the "toilet" and basically found more peace of mind by peeing in some out-of-the-way bush, even with the looming threat of leeches and whatever other creepy crawlies out there.
4 hours sleep later (for some it's even less!) and a few leaking tents later, we were off again for the hike down. Ooh...AND i saw a leech for the first time in my life! They're kinda like this obscure slimy little thing that looks like a snake under a very powerful shrinking lens.
3 hours later and i have never been so glad to reach civilization (in this case it was the smoking area of the resort) in my life.
To be honest, even with all the challenges that we had to face, and the amount of hiking that actually went in it - we started at about 9.30 am, got to base camp at 1pm, left for the summit at 3pm and got back to base camp at 3am! - about 15 hours in total, it was a totally unforgettable experience.
We had an excellent bunch of people and like it always is, when you put a bunch of people together in a difficult situation with the same goal, they tend to bond with a common tie and that was what happened. I was inundated with calls and text messages from friends up to 3-days later asking me about my back from my fall (another story which we won't go into right now), which i tremendously appreciate :).
We all went home with the worst possible muscle strains on our calves, thighs, knees, ankles, arms and shoulders, but also with a sense of achievement. Yes, we all should be proud of ourselves. Despite all the injuries sustained, the sheer exhaustion and the general feeling that you just can't go on anymore everyone did....kudos to all :)
Those who generally have trouble learning from their mistakes are now in the midst of planning a hike up Mount Kinabalu in November :)
So let it all begin...again... :)
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