18-November-2006
I have been climbing for over three years, but I still can.t get enough of it. Each expedition holds a wealth of new experiences and challenges, which teaches me to be more patient, observant and responsible. There.s an exhilarating .high. every time I reach the summit of a mountain, luring me to the next climb and the next adventure. To date, I.ve scaled about 10 mountains in Malaysia, including Angsi, Datuk, Jerai and Ledang.
In March 2005, nine of my friends and I went for a trip up Gunung Stong. Standing at 1,422m, Gunung Stong is the highest mountain in Kelantan. We took the night train on Friday, reaching Dabong at 8a.m. From there, we took a-half-an-hour trek, a boat ride across Sungai Galas and a short drive to the base of Gunung Stong. Climbers are required to register at the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN) office here, before embarking on the climb.
As is customary, we appointed .spiritual. head in our group who is responsible to remind us the .codes of behaviour. While on the climb. This include not being a braggart and not behaving in an overly rowdy or lewd manner. After a brief prayer for safety, we began our climb through a narrow path winding through a forest of rattan, bamboo and tall grasses. The climb was not very steep, but each of us was carrying about 20kg of food and equipment. We didn.t realise just how difficult it was going to get until our path ended at the base of a rock wall rising more than 45 degrees steep. It was a struggle, but we managed to clear the rock wall. After a threehour trek, we reached Baha camp, our base camp for the night.
Baha camp has been in operation since the early 90.s and is the stopover for climbers who are on their way to Gunung Stong or the nearby Gunung Ayam. There were a few other groups at Baha camp and we made new friends exchanging notes on our experiences. We had a fitful sleep that night and spent the next day relaxing at Baha Camp. We decided to take a short walk to a nearby waterfall, one of the seven that can be found in the area. The water collected in a shallow pool at the bottom of the waterfall was nearly frigid, but we simply couldn.t resist having a dip.
Nothing beats a good, hot meal after a day of frolicking at the waterfall. That.s one thing we do well during our trips. eat well. On many occasions, others had complimented our group for taking the time and patience to prepare proper delicious meals. We.ve perfected the art of packing frozen foods, including chicken and fish, which will last for at least three days. With our designated chef extraordinaire, preparing his specialities, we were undoubtedly the best fed
among the many groups camping out at Baha camp on that trip!
A jungle jaunt followed afterwards. Exploring the area surrounding the waterfall, we found all kinds of interesting plants, including wild ginger and the infamous traditional herb, tongkat ali. We also saw fleeting glimpses of the lotong, a species of monkey with long arms and light coloured fur moving through the treetops. One particular area overgrown with bamboo plants caught our interest. In one section, the bamboo plants had all been flattened, as though a steamroller had driven through it. After a moment, Joe . a guide of the camp . told us that it was caused by wild elephants that pass through the area to get fresh water from the river.
I could have spent days exploring the area, observing the colourful and sometimes strange flora and fauna. But time flies when you.re having fun. Early on Sunday morning, we continued our way up to the peak, a journey that took about six hours, with two river crossings and only one break for lunch. The higher we went, the flora seemed to grow shorter and more sparse. The closer we got to the top, the climb got harder.
Finally, we could see the pinnacle of Gunung Stong marked by a huge granite boulder. When we reached the top, we all took a deep breath, admiring the view-the expanse of lush green jungle, the blue sky and in the distance, the peaks of Gunung Ayam, Tera and Noring Timur. The sense of satisfaction we had at the summit was priceless!
Malaysia has so much natural beauty, a precious heritage that should be protected, admired and enjoyed. We.ve met many foreigners who appreciate our national treasures, sometimes even more so than we do ourselves. Mountain climbing is one way to enjoy this natural beauty. And even as I stood on the summit of Gunung Stong, my mind was already on our next trip . a climb up to the 2,100-metre Gunung Irau in Pahang. I look forward to this trip, which will bring my friends and I to even greater heights and highs!
Source/See more : http://www.virtualmalaysia.com/community/travel_experience/
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