Climb Mt Kinabalu in Borneo
Itâ € ™ s 2:00 am, the summit day and I'm exhausted and excited at the same time. I gain my first mountain this morning. Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo. Is 4095 meters in east Asiaa € ™ s highest peak.
Mount Kinabalu is a 2-hour ride by bus from Kota Kinabalu, capital of Malaysia Borneoâ € ™ s northern province. My husband Dave and I have come to this island to experience adventure. We have already spent time in the jungle uncle Tana € ™ s Safari Lodge to see the proboscis monkey, lizards, civets and many other creatures there by the river in its natural habitat. We have witnessed human nature at its maximum, helping orphaned and injured orangutans Rehabilitation Center Sepilok and we relaxed on the beach by the Sulu Sea. Now is the time to see what we're made of our last stop in this exotic destination.
As we ride along the winding mountain road, Mount Kinabalu is in sight and is an intimidating spectacle. Its impressive granite peak of the forest stands, casting a shadow on the earth. My heart beats just a little faster and fear creeps into my mind as being left outside the entrance to the parks.
We have covered our backpacks and walk back towards the barracks, where a guard is with us and pay our RM15 ($ 5 CAD) theme park tickets and book a room for the night. We're coming up tomorrow and in minutes, allow us to secure our guide, and accommodation on the mountain to RM300 ($ 100 CAD) each. Excited and relieved to be rising so quickly, we headed to our bedroom where we began to organize. The decision to pack light for this 2-day expedition, we will behind our big backpacks and filling a day-pack with just the essentials. Chocolate bars, biscuits, cheese and water for energy, layers of warm clothing, camera photographic, video, magazines and walking shoes is all you need. While buying a bathroom in the dining room a few that are even able to snag some warm hats and gloves from other travelers who have just returned from his climb. At the time set out in for the night, we have reduced our burden and we are well prepared for the task ahead.
The first day of the climb begins at 7:00 where we hop into a mini van for the shuttle 5km to the beginning of the runway. After signing Japly our guide and set a strong pace for the next 5 hours is a steep and exhausting. At first the road has steps and handrails built into it, but as you gain altitude, it becomes rock and becomes a narrow, almost vertical. Chargers put us to shame walking flip flops rapidly in large barrels carry the loads of wood and even steal batteries back and balanced on their heads.
After struggling for hours and wondered if the pain will never end, finally arriving at our camp in the afternoon. At 3263 meters, Laban Rata has our bedrooms and showers with hot water. The sun is shining above the clouds and put our sweat-soaked clothes to dry rock as Munch on our sandwiches and enjoy the warmth.
Dinner at sunset is breathtaking. A dazzling light show fills the sky with colors of fire, above the clouds pink pillow underneath. The celebration doesn € ™ t last long however, as we have to turn in early for our 2:00 wake up call.
The night passes slowly, and my dream is irregular. Having to face the cold a few times for a visit to the bathroom, it seems that I will never rest. I'm very nervous with anticipation for our attack to top. 2:00 arrives and quickly all though as it seems that I'm finally falling asleep, it's time to wake up. Dress quickly in our
layers, we headed Japly to meet, that will guide us through the darkness.
The air is thin and hard to catch his breath. The pace seems faster and I wonder if you will. Luckily, we reached a bottleneck of other climbers and our slow pace and my heart has a chance to relax. Soon I am in the area and maintain a steady pace, together with our group. We climbed 2 1 / 2 hour hike on steep, sheer granite balance while keeping the rope bolted into the rock. I can not see the drops pure below or above the top of huge proportions. I'm just forced to concentrate on my rise to one foot in front of another along the line of people to the summit.
By 5:15 we made it safely. The enthusiasm and excitement is immense and celebrate with joy, until we realize that we have to wait in the cold for an hour until dawn. It is longer than 60 minutes of my life. I'm wet, cold and soon my fingers and feet numb. Want to sleep, and I want to be down the mountain, relax in a comfortable bed.
Instead, we perch ourselves on the edge of a rock face in the sun the wait. And wait. The first few rays finally burst in the sky and as it rises, the heat of the body and we take in the magnificent view. The show deserves worth waiting that we overlook the vast jungle and mountains surrounding the emotional and feeling proud of our
achievement.
PoPo the Pink Gorilla (Part Two)
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