Kota Kinabalu Climb: Tips and Things to Prepare for Beginners
It was a 3D2N package booked for Mount Kinabalu Climb through Amazing Borneo and indeed, by the name itself they made our experience amazing! Let's go!
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The Mountain
Mt. Kota Kinabalu is one of the tallest mountains in Southeast Asia and is situated in Kinabalu Park island of Borneo, Sabah Malaysia. It is 4,095 metres above sea level and about 8,700 metres traverse from Timpohon gate going to the summit, one-way. Almost 5 months of preparation: from planning a new adventure, deciding what to do, looking for cheap flights, engaging with a reliable tour agent, researching and reading blogs to get more info and tips, and lots and lots of exercises to make ourselves ready, preparation for our outfit to wear and things to bring on the day. Summing all these, Big smiles were on our faces coz we were able to reach the summit.
A day prior to the climb
A day prior to the climb, we were picked up from the hostel where we stayed for 1 night (Borneo Backpackers). Almost 2 hrs travel from Kota Kinabalu City to Kota Kinabalu Park where we stayed and sleep for the night waiting for the next day. They provided a dinner buffet for us to load ourselves with carbs and fruits.
Wear Layers
At the park, the temperature is already different, you will experience feeling cold at night, so better wear your jacket. There's a water heater in the room if you choose to take a shower at night or in the morning. But we skipped having a shower when going to sleep because it was really cold and we needed the heat in our body to keep us warm for the next day's climb. You can use wet tissues to wipe your body. Don't think too much for the next day and sleep well.
Day 1: Wake up at 5:30 am and prepare yourself for the climb
We had a light breakfast and collected our packed lunch (sandwich, apple, and a small bottle of water). Make sure your baggage is already prepared. For the things you don’t need in the climb, you can leave them at Kinabalu Park at 12RM per bag and for the things you need to bring with you, you can ask a porter to carry them at 10RM per kg from Timpohon gate to Laban Rata. Rent out a walking stick at 10RM to aid yourself in balancing during the long hours of walking when your legs are trembling.
Meet your guide
Meet your guide at the office and ride the van from Kinabalu Park down to Timpohon gate for the starting point of your climb which is approximately 20 minutes. Make sure you are fully loaded with energy for the day. You will go thru unending stairs and big rocks on the way, approximately 6 kilometres distance till the end of the 1st-day journey.
Lunch Stop
Stopped at Layang layang hut for lunch and rest for a while. Don’t rest for too long and as much as possible avoid sitting when resting to avoid leg cramps. After lunch, continue climbing on the big boulders of rocks and you might be feeling cold as the temperature becomes cooler and cooler as you ascend the summit. You will be seeing different kinds of vegetation as you climb which will amaze you and even more admire the beauty of nature. Normal hours of climbing will take about 4-6 hours up to Laban Rata where you will take a rest and wait for the 2nd day's climb.
Take note:
If you arrive for more than 6 hours, you need to pay for the excess hour at 100RM/hr. Luckily, we were able to make it after 6hrs and 30 min, so we didn't pay any extra fee. Have your supper at 4:30 and prepare for the next day’s climb. Take a rest and sleep early. Make sure everything is already in your bag for the next day’s climb.
Day 2: Wake up at 1:45am, prepare yourself, go down for early breakfast with all your things packed up
Wear a suitable jacket, gloves, beanie, and neck warmer as it’s already very cold in there in the early morning. Headlamp on and ready your whistle in case of an emergency.
Around 2:30 am, you’ll start your ascent to the summit
On this day you need to climb about 2.7 km in 3-4 hrs to the summit. First, a few kilometers is a steep wooden and rock stairs, and then came the rope section wherein you have to hold the rope and climb thru big rocks. Don’t be a hero; follow what the guide says as they know what’s best for the climbers. One mistake and it will cost your life. You're safe as long you hold on to the rope and follow the person before you.
Reach checkpoint before 5 am
Before 5am you need to reach Sayat-sayat checkpoint to continue your ascent to the summit otherwise you are not allowed to enter. After the checkpoint, congratulation, you can now see the peak but still, have to walk for more than 1 kilometre to reach Low’s Peak. Only two magical words will fuel you and make you keep going, “Almost There” as you are already seeing the view of the peak and some of you are already experiencing the sunrise. When you're up there, you will forget almost all the pains and difficulties that you went through. It's very nice and gives you an amazing feeling that you are able to make it!!! Yes, you made it!
Journey back to Laban Rata
Around 8am, it's time for your journey back to Laban Rata, the same route when climbing but this time it's more challenging as you will be seeing the very steep hill that you were able to climb at dawn when it was still dark. It's very hard to descend especially for people whose afraid of heights. But just put in mind that “You were able to climb up, then you're also able to go down thru it”. Faster your pace as you need to reach Laban Rata before 10:30am to have your heavy breakfast or else no more food awaits you.
Check out before 10:30 am
Check-out from your rooms should also be before 10:30 am as you will pay charges after that time. Rest for an hour or less and start your journey back to Timpohon gate which will take approximately 4-6 hrs and exceeding that allotted time means charges will be applied. Don’t worry and bear in mind that if you were able to make it to the top on time, a big chance you will also be able to make it down on time. After the long day's climbs, go for a food trip and massage. Prepare for tomorrow’s painful leg effect, which says, “Wow, I made it!!!!”
Tips and Things to Prepare ( especially for beginners):
1. Exercise
Exercise and more exercise to make your body fit. Go with stairs climbing for at least a week and hike to test your endurance.
2. Wear Layers
Prepare suitable attire, especially for the 2nd-day climb. The temperature will drop to 5-2 degrees in the morning and colder and more windy at the summit.
Bring: winter jackets, waterproof pants, gloves, headlamp, whistle, beanie, neck warmer, extra battery for headlamp, hiking shoe, and poncho
3. First Aid Kit and Medication
Prepare pain relievers, and tablets for headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, and the like that may happen. Better to be prepared. Take some panadol, dimenate, cogesic cream, etc
4. Something to Eat/ Snacks
Bring some energy bars, chocolates, sour candies, water, banana
5. Aggressiveness to climb the summit
Set your mind that you can do it and you will.
Take note: I did experience altitude sickness from day 1 of my climb, I vomited and felt dizzy but still, I was able to reach the summit because I believe I can do it and YES, I did!
Be in a group of aggressive, positive, energetic, and supportive people and you will become one of them.
Have fun and be safe ^__^
Do you want more adventure?
Go ahead and check out my Backpacking Trip in Cambodia and see the ruins of Angkor Wat
Where am I going next?
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