If you’ve ever dreamed of climbing the highest mountain in Malaysia, here’s a quick guide. To get started, book with an authorized agent several months in advance, as fewer than 200 climbers are allowed per day.
Your journey begins at the Kinabalu Park office to obtain your visitor’s tag and paperwork, such as the compensation form. Porters eagerly await here, offering their services at a flat rate of RM14 per kilo.
The park shuttle then drops you off at Timpohon Gate, where your climb begins. Your first objective is the Panalaban base camp, a 6km trek at 1400m above sea level with six rest points. You must spend a night in Panabalan to acclimatize before attempting to attack the summit.
The summit attack begins at 2:30 am the next day. It’s a steep 2.5km hike and another 800m of elevation gain. Here you only get one rest point, called Sayat Sayat, which you must reach before 5:30 am or you will not be allowed to continue. This is a critical cutoff point because all climbers need to summit by 7:30 AM, as the wind and UV intensity increase after that.
Packing requires careful planning for tropical weather at the bottom and alpine temperatures at the top. You need a large backpack (leave this bag with the porter in Panabalan) and a smaller bag with the essentials to carry during the trek. A raincoat is necessary and temperatures drop below 0°C, so make sure you’re covered from head to toe.
Bring a small towel or wet wipes to clean yourself because there are no water heaters in Panabalan and you could catch a cold if you take a bath in ice cold water.
You will be climbing to the summit for hours in the dark, so a headlamp is a must. Heating pads will keep you warm and walking poles will help your weary legs.
Beware of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Oxygen levels dip after 3,000m and you might experience headaches, tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing.
Just in the past month, there have been a few deaths and emergencies where hikers had to be taken off on a stretcher and sent to the hospital.
To avoid AMS, ascend gradually; don’t rush. There are altitude sickness pills available at pharmacies and keep paracetamol handy. Train your cardiovascular fitness and take natural supplements that improve blood circulation, such as beetroot powder or ginkgo extract.
At the narrow, steep summit, be considerate and spend no more than 10 minutes on top so that other climbers along the way have a chance to earn bragging rights.
Visit the highest post office in Malaysia at Panabalan Base Camp to get your free Mount Kinabalu-themed postcard. Write a note and send it to your loved ones and friends. The stamp only costs RM1 for domestic addresses and RM2 and more for overseas addresses.
0 Comments