Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

[3xcalibur]

Hey guys,

Thinking of climbing Kota Kinabalu which is located in East Malaysia sometime in the middle of September.

Has anyone here been there before? Would greatly appreciate any tips/advice/stories, espcially if people have had good experiences with certain hotels/ tour operators.

Thanks in advance!

[Mifferz]

Went up at it this year in January. From K.K (an hour ride, bring warm clothing because the buses/coaches there have aircon at full blast = freezing) take a bus to the base station of Mt K where you sign up and pay your fees. I stayed here the day before http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldet...=avdc&sc_pos=5 which is approxmiately 20min walk away from the base station. Nice dinner they serve although vegetarian.

I would highly recommend doing the overnight package and NOT treking up and down it in one day... like I did just to save money.

Seriously the single most difficult thing I ever done mentally and physically; serious fitness required and I consider myself fit doing running, boxing and did a bit of hiking with a 5kg backpack before the trip. Started up at 7:30AM, reached the peak by 12:50pm (1pm was turn back time, even if you're half way!) and had 10minutes to rest/suck it in before forced to head down before 5pm. Legs were absolute jelly, had to grab hold onto the sides with both hands to take a pee haha. My guide was a 155cm 40year old man and was bouncing around like a mountain goat while puffing a ciggy.

While average joes, 60 year olds I met before said their overnight trek was hard but manageable...

Bring a head torch, warm clothing, a decent size water bottle that you can refill at tanks that's scattered over the path. Energy food/snacks for the trek because you will burn calories and the food they sell at the lodge (forgot the name) is dearly priced. I rocked up to the lodge when breakfast buffet was nearly finished and sneakily grabbed a plate of food without paying the buffet price

Hiking poles - you can rent these before the trek, I'd recommend them even if you think it looks stupid. They do help.

Jacket - it might rain or be blasting cold winds. Bring it

edit: Noticed you're located in Clayton, Melbourne. For reference of the track: if you've done the 1000 steps before, then it's 100 times more difficult than that. The track itself has big fat steps, dirt, stone, rocks, mud, tree roots - mixed bag.

PROTIP: when ascending and descending rather than taking a big 'vertical' step that looks a shortcut, step on the lower steps even if it's to the side. Better for the knees.

[stevenx]

Originally Posted by 3xcalibur

Thinking of climbing Kota Kinabalu which is located in East Malaysia sometime in the middle of September.

Has anyone here been there before? Would greatly appreciate any tips/advice/stories, espcially if people have had good experiences with certain hotels/ tour operators.

Thanks in advance!

Kota Kinabalua is a city. Mt. Kinabalu is the thing people walk up

I've done most of it. It's not too difficult but does take a fair bit of effort.

Originally Posted by Mifferz

I would highly recommend doing the overnight package and NOT treking up and down it in one day... like I did just to save money.

I had no idea that was even possible. I signed up for the Kota Kinabalu to Laban Ratah in one day thing, then Laban Ratah to summit to Kota Kinabalu for dawn.

I'd have said... don't even think about doing that - going from Kota Kinabalu in the morning to Laban Ratah that night. Sea level to hero doesn't work so well. It's high. Spend a day at the park headquarters to kinda acclimatize.

Seriously the single most difficult thing I ever done mentally and physically; serious fitness required and I consider myself fit doing running, boxing and did a bit of hiking with a 5kg backpack before the trip. Started up at 7:30AM, reached the peak by 12:50pm (1pm was turn back time, even if you're half way!) and had 10minutes to rest/suck it in before forced to head down before 5pm. Legs were absolute jelly, had to grab hold onto the sides with both hands to take a pee haha. My guide was a 155cm 40year old man and was bouncing around like a mountain goat while puffing a ciggy.

That sounds shit We started the walk at 11am, reached Laban Ratah by about 5pm. Ate, drank (water - beers were like 30 ringgit each), went to bed exhausted at about 7pm and were woken at 3am for the final walk to the summit.

I'm not ashamed to say that I didn't make it. In fact, I didn't make it any higher than Laban Ratah.

When we started, I had a mild head cold. Thought it was just a small discomfort in passing. Add some significant physical activity, dehydration, and altitude to the mix and I was fairly miserable. Our guide looked at me and said "no." I listened. I went back to our dorm and slept. Another guy who had a cold tried and failed, and I heard that he ended up spending two days at Laban Ratah to recover.

I didn't think the walk itself was too difficult.

While average joes, 60 year olds I met before said their overnight trek was hard but manageable...

Sounds like that's what I did. Hard, but not impossibly so and actually kinda cool.

Bring a head torch, warm clothing, a decent size water bottle that you can refill at tanks that's scattered over the path. Energy food/snacks for the trek because you will burn calories and the food they sell at the lodge (forgot the name) is dearly priced. I rocked up to the lodge when breakfast buffet was nearly finished and sneakily grabbed a plate of food without paying the buffet price

Hiking poles - you can rent these before the trek, I'd recommend them even if you think it looks stupid. They do help.

Jacket - it might rain or be blasting cold winds. Bring it

The lodge is Laban Ratah. It's hugely expensive. Everything has to be taken up on the back of a dude, which explains why. So pricey. Think of all the food and cooking gas they have to take up each day! I think drinking water is filtered up there in season.

Head torch, warm jacket, rain/wind jacket with a hood, good hiking shoes, water, snacks, a sleeping bag liner (if you're doing it overnight), a camera and a spare battery (seriously you'll take so many photos), beanie, more water, toilet paper, nasi lemak, and definitely - definitely! - take a hiking pole... because:

For reference of the track: if you've done the 1000 steps before, then it's 100 times more difficult than that. The track itself has big fat steps, dirt, stone, rocks, mud, tree roots - mixed bag.

PROTIP: when ascending and descending rather than taking a big 'vertical' step that looks a shortcut, step on the lower steps even if it's to the side. Better for the knees.

This is completely correct. The stairs are inconsistent, parts are eroded, there are huge tree roots in the way, some steps are carved from rock or are over rock paths.

Honestly, it's awesome. I want to go back without a cold and attack it again, preferably after spending a night to kind of acclimatize. The view from Laban Ratah is fantastic, I can only imagine what the view from the summit is like

I took some photos: http://steventravels.org/gallery/ima...08/MtKinabalu/

These guys are all insane:



It starts off easily enough:



But gets more difficult...







This dude did the trip two or three times each day. With a load of goodies on his back.



More rocks:



Home for the night.



The view is pretty cool.



The summit is up there somewhere. The trees and jungle disappear slightly after Laban Ratah.



In hindsight I guess it's not too hard. Just don't rush it, or do it when unwell.

[Mifferz]

Originally Posted by stevenx

Honestly, it's awesome. I want to go back without a cold and attack it again, preferably after spending a night to kind of acclimatize. The view from Laban Ratah is fantastic, I can only imagine what the view from the summit is like

Cloudy on a crap day like I had. Was clear for like 10 seconds but can't remember it because was grasping for air. Yeah I want to do it again, this time overnight

Beautiful photos mate, those steps bring memories.

Fondest memories:

• On my hands and knees crawling the last 500m. Yep.
• Air was stupidly thin near peak and I wasn't climitised = taking two shuffles and stopping to suck in air. Repeat
• Going down from peak, it started raining and it's only rocks with a rope to hold on. Landed my knees a few times
• Learning that they have races up and down the mountain annually, and record is like.. 4 hours?!!!

[ChaoS-GoD]

Looks awesome!

I did Mt Fuji back in 2008, when I was 23 years old. Nearly passed out by the time I got to the summit from the thin air and exhaustion. But had to make my way back down after just spending 15min at the top, as I had to beat the daylight otherwise I'd freeze to death (only wore a thin jacket).

Looking at these photos, I would love to do this climb, but I don't think I have the fitness level to be able to anymore. I now puff out after a 5min run to the station on flat terrain!

It's such an awesome feeling to be literally on top of the world, and knowing that you achieved it with your own physical ability. Anyone who have such a chance should definitely go for it, it's definitely a memorable thing in ones life!

[Falkor]

Having just done the Inca trail, whilst not a mountain you are at high altitude the entire time the only thing I can say is the altitude is the biggest unknown factor.

It really makes it a lot harder when you are doing physical excercise, I hear Kinabalu is great though I am kinda interested in doing it next time i'm around that way. Although I'm not sure I can convince my wife!

[Murmur_X]

I went and climbed Mt. Kinabalu in 2006 with my brother and father, stayed overnight. Unfortunately there were really heavy rainfalls during my climb (late July) and there were torrents of water running down the track, at times it was like walking in a shallow stream up slippery rock. Took us nearly six hours to reach our overnight stay. Would have liked to have taken more photos but there was that much rain and water about that I wasn't sure the camera was going to make it - there were waterfalls on the mountain due to the sheer volume of rainfall. Given our experience, make sure you pack some warmer clothing and a good waterproof jacket. Bring water with you for the climb, and practice other climbs leading up to your trip with a heavy pack to prepare. Also, because of the weather, the ascent to the summit was called off at about 5am after waiting since 3am to make the climb, so try to travel during the drier months if possible.
I think Tour East took us for the tour, but they pretty much just got us to the start of the climb then had a couple of guys from the mountain lead our group up - two girls that were climbing with us pulled out about half-way up so one of the guides had to go back down with them. Tour company were waiting for us the next day when we got back down.
It was amazing though, was well worth doing, would love to go back and actually reach the summit. Good luck!

[myeewyee]

I did this in Nov 2010, absolutely loved it. If you are fit you can smash the trip up from Laban Rata to the summit in <90min and have the entire mountain top to yourself for a while.. cannot recommend this enough. I sat by myself on the summit watching a thunderstorm crackling over Kota Kinabalu with the whole mountain lit under the full moon .. just epic.

By the time dawn hits there will be quite a few people milling around at the summit and I found it nicer to wander away from the crowd. If you wander too far though your guide will get pissed so be warned (that's him in the red in the last photo waiting for me to come down)









It does get very cold at the top so bring some warm clothes. Also the hike down really killed my knees.. a walking stick wouldn't be a bad idea IMO.

[3xcalibur]

Thanks for all the input guys, much appreciated. Really excited about this now, although it seems the general consensus is that your body will ache from the experience.

Do you guys remember how much you paid and how you went about organising things? I know you can't climb without a tour guide but did you sort that out before arriving in Malaysia?

[3xcalibur]

Btw myeewee, can't seem to view your photos!

[Mifferz]

Originally Posted by 3xcalibur

Thanks for all the input guys, much appreciated. Really excited about this now, although it seems the general consensus is that your body will ache from the experience.

Do you guys remember how much you paid and how you went about organising things? I know you can't climb without a tour guide but did you sort that out before arriving in Malaysia?

Yes you'll need a guide. You need to book accommodation and guide separately. Can book both the day before at the 'base station'. Guides will be cheaper if you have more people to split the costs.

myeewyee - epic

[3xcalibur]

Oh can see them now. Epic indeed!