Gunung Rajah Hike via KKB (Kuala Kubu Bharu)

Introduction

Gunung Rajah via Kuala Kubu Baru.
11.8km ascending. 11.6km descending.
Started at 6.36am. Reached the peak 7 hrs 30 min later at 2.05pm.
Started descending at 3.00pm, reached car park 5 hrs later at 8.00pm. Total hike time 12.5 hours (excluding rest time). Total distance 23.4km.
Huge gap on ascending-descending time (2.5 hrs margin)..- with moderate pace.

Powered by suunto ambit 2 with route navigation from movescount. It helped!

Here is the link to Gunung Rajah via KKB in suunto moves - here

 

Not many information about hiking Gunung Rajah using Kuala Kubu Baru route (KKB). Googling the internet ended up mostly blog hiking from Bentong, Pahang. As such, there isn't much info about route, timing, trail conditions, trail difficulty, logistics, etc.

However, I've heard that many hikers using KKB route often.

Searching movescount (web application for suunto moves) for route navigation had proved that this trail had been used countless times judging from the users. So, I downloaded one route and stored it in my suunto ambit 2 gps watch.

Asking from friend Khalil Khazali and Mohd Nashriq for more information regarding route and path to take before the hike proven fruitful. Thanks Bros, I owe you one.

For those who wants to take a little adventure to Gunung Rajah, read this :
1st, all you need to do is headed to Bukit Kutu (Kg Pertak), Google for the location.
Once you got there, please park at designated area, ample parking space (parking further up will make it hard for you to go back because of the cramp space - not recommended).

2nd, head to Bukit Kutu route. You need to walk to the 1st steel bridge.

Then, the slanting steel bridge (collapsed). Be careful though.

Slanting Bridge

 Once, you cross this river, there will be a junction ('Y' shape trail road) take your left. Trail to the right will lead you to Bukit Kutu.

The 'Y' Shape trail road after river crossing (with the leaves on the ground)

Close view of the 'Y' trail

You will walk in a forest for few hundred meters with a narrow trail until you reach wider trail road. Just walk forward.

Few hundred meters, you will reach another intersection ('Y' trail). Take your left (smaller trail). 

Another 'Y' trail

after few hundreds meters from the 'Y' trail above, you will need to pass this man made fence before reaching kem BMW, just cross underneath it

Then, you are safe. This trail will lead you to Gunung Rajah.

Back to the story:
We reached first Check Point : Kem BMW in 1 hr 54 min. 6km from start. At 8.29am.
Trail condition : dry. Easy.

Few hundreds meters from here we reached intersection Gunung Rajah (right) and Lata Macau (left). I don't know how far is lata Macau. I heard it's a nice spot for picnic.

2nd Check Point at Kem Renoma at 9.44am, 7.37km from start in 3 hr 8 min.
Trail conditions: dry, wet at some point, hilly route, moderate.

3rd Check Point at Water Point, 11.55am, distance - 9.99km from start, 5 hr 19 min.
Trail conditions: starting to get annoying. More hills, slippery.

4th Check Point will be the peak of Mount Rajah. At 2.05pm, total hike from the starting point is 7 hr 30 min. Distance 11.8km. Trail conditions: wet, muddy, slippery.

Temperature here not that cold. A lot of cloud surrounding and blocking the gorgeous view. Rest for almost 1 hour here, refueling, rest.

Started descending at 3.00pm. We reached car park at 8.00pm in 5 hours. Total distance 11.6km. Total distance return : 23.4km. Total hike duration : 12.5 hours (excluding break time).

Having cold bath shower at the parking area before heading home.

Overall trail :
1st stage (start) - kacang putih
2nd stage (mid route) - moderate hard. Ascending, descending like dragon back
3rd stage (on the way to summit) - annoying, whining, hard, muddy, slippery, a lot of thorny trees.

Caution on gear use for this hike :
Watch your head! Wear cap or helmet.
Bring extra glove, or water repellent glove. (It's gonna get wet, muddy).
Bring yoko2 or heat cream- pacat macam pesta.
Bring extra socks - your wet version of trail shoes is inevitable.
Becareful of thorny trees - will tear your clothes and hurt you
Wear long sleeves and long pants - preserve that gorgeous skin texture from scratch.

Jumpa mohd Khalil dengan geng lagi 2 orang buat trans reverse dari bentong (Mak ai!) Diorang memang power!

Jumpa doc ramli, MD zain dengan pak syed kat peak. Diorang start dari bentong. Pergh...

1st camp

 

3rd check point

Made it!

2nd check point : kem renoma

This is the sketch of the direction

 

Thanks for reading.