Mount KK Hike - Summit Challenge

Finally, it’s the long-awaiting moment. Everyone in the hut was busy suiting up for the summit challenge. Everyone was preparing their own gears in fights of the colds, high winds, strong sun and possible rains under the oxygen-deficient condition. Everyone knows it’s going to be hard. According to our guide, it will be a 3 hour non-stop hiking up to the peak.

245am, the journey started. We were fortunate to have spent the night in Gunting Lagadan hut as it’s located closest to the entrance to the summit trail. The first 30 minutes were spent trekking in the jungle before entering the real thing. We were greeted by some huge boulders. The rope strangled around those boulders played a vital role in getting everyone get through safely by holding on it. It was tough and exciting to walk on those boulders, especially at some corners where the movement can be limited. 

At 4am, we reached Sayat-Sayat Check Point. For those who have made it to the Sayat-Sayat Check Point but failed to continue the journey to the Low’s Peak, they are still eligible to get a black and white certificate indicating the elevation of 3668.1m conquered (Way to go, my friend).

The trail after the Sayat-Sayat Check Point is rough and tricky. The Low’s Peak spotted were so near yet so far from our eyes. It was 5am and there were no signs of reaching the peak. Our experienced guide keep motivating everyone of us not to give up at such point. We began to take more rests as the thin air nearing 4000m is depressing.

Dawn.

The bright is closing in at 550am. We were still finding our way taking down the very last part of the trek. It was claimed to be the toughest part among all we have went through. We took near to 30 minutes for the remaining height of 100m, to arrive at the highest peak, the Low’s Peak. The panoramic view of the holy Kinabalu Mount has worth every dirts and pains. Here comes the realizations that we as tiny human were incomparable under the creation of mother nature.

The first light.

Getting brighter and brighter.

The most popular photo spot, surrounded by clouds!

We descended to the Gunting Lagadan hut as soon as we finished the photo session. Worth to mention that the congested situation on top were uncomfortable as everyone is eager to get a snap with a wooden board as a sign of achievement to be at 4095.2m high. There were many surprising stone images found along the way down. We would have skipped them if they were not pointed out by the guide one by one. So we found cute rockprints of gorilla, rabbit and donkey’s ears. The overall summit trek has taken up approximately 6 hours and we were back in the hut at 9am.

Sunrise, from the Low's Peak!

Awesome panoramic view from the Low's Peak!

Too blessed to have excellent weather that morning :)

US! At the most wanted wooden signboard in the world lol. At the Low's Peak, 4095.2m above sea level!

The gorilla!

Gorilla blowing away the rainbow clouds :P

Can shoot this kind of photo only if there is rain the day before! Lucky star is with us!

The South Peak.

Spot a rabbit here!

Donkey ears bathing in the sun.

Descending.

The way we had under starry sky during ascending.

Getting warmer and warmer, is time to tear down all thick sweaters.

Desa dairy farm can be spotted from here!

Sayap-sayap check point!

Felt like getting down from heaven back to the earth.

The final descent return via the Timpohon trail started at 1030am after all the luggage packing and breakfast at Laban Rata. It is clear that the Mesilau trail we took while ascending to the Laban Rata offers more greeneries with some stunning mystery river bridges. 330pm, we were out of the Timpohon Gate and brought to enjoy our lunch at Balsam Buffet Restaurant at the Kinabalu Park. It is disheartening to see the poor food was served on the lunch table in the restaurant. Everyone just can’t wait to back to our Kota Kinabalu hotel for a good rest.

Reached Gunting Lagadan Hut!

Gunting Lagadan Hut located just beside the starting point of summit trail!

View from Gunting Lagadan Hut.

All the way down...

More to go...

Our guide found us some raspberry as snack :)

Bye, KK national park.

Today, my friends and I have conquered the legendary Kota Kinabalu Mount and it is definitely mind-broaden We, as Malaysians, are glad with its holy presence in our land. It is certain that the Kinabalu Mount in Sabah will always champ the travellers’ list while visiting in Malaysia.

Our certificates! Achievements! 

The legendary Kota Kinabalu Mount.