Trans Titiwangsa Hike - 3 mountains in 33 Hours

Ni gambar aku baru lepas muntah, hehe...

baru nak start ni..

Arman and the gang jemput naik V1 – Korbu 7162ft, Gayong 7129 ft dan Yong Belar 7155 ft. Selepas Gunung Tahan hari tu, masuk ni dah 4 gunung G7 aku dah naik. RM200 lebih bayaran untuk guide, permit mendaki, permit empangan ulu kinta, insurance bagai.

Naik dari Empangan Ulu Kinta, Ipoh dan turun di Blue Valley, Cameron Highland the next day.

Reading dari blog-blog tempatan (tak banyak) sebagai panduan untuk apa yang kita akan hadapi masa kat gunung tu nanti. Actually, 2 blog je aku baca, satu Vespa dan satu lagi blog arman (kuchalana). Jadi, blog ni akan aku curahkan semua tips supaya berguna untuk para hikers yang lain.

Muntah masa naik 4WD, nearly hypothermia masa kat kem H20, tidur dalam hujan, track lunyai, jumpa member atas gunung, dapat makan free atas gunung, pesta atas gunung, life and death decision to continue or not at some point - antara pengalaman yang aku nak kongsi.

Jom kita bahagikan cerita ni dengan 3 segment iaitu sebelum, semasa dan selepas mendaki.

Meet up at Sungai Buloh

Dah Sampai Ulu Kinta - Makan Dulu

Lepak kat masjid ulu kinta, masjid al muttaqim (kot)

SEBELUM

Training Plan

Ni first time aku nak hike 3 gunung, so, preparation kena ada. Training la apa lagi, naik bukit saga dgn apek, sekali pegi naik dua2 sekali, baru sengal kaki tu.

Gunung G7 ni kalau kat puncak memang sejuk walaupun tengahari, track mencanak, lumpur, banyak akar kayu, batu licin, kena guna tali, panjat tangga, pokok duri-duri, kepala terhantuk kat dahan pokok - dah tahu benda-benda macam ni, so, prepare je lah.

Itinerary & Logistics Plan

6hb - bertolak dari rumah arman, bermalam di masjid ulu kinta dan jumpa En Am, guide dari Sos Militant (satu group hikers/guide).

7hb (sabtu) pukul 6.30am lepas subuh naik 4WD dari masjid, terus ke empangan ulu kinta.

8hb petang - expected complete the whole journey dalam masa 28 hours (pukul 12.00pm)

Petang tu jugak, boleh balik rumah ke pangkuan keluarga masing-masing.

Guide and Team Member Plan

To ensure the completion of this hike, guide dengan team member kena pilih la sikit. Open kat member-member yang rasa mampu untuk habiskan - tak terlalu laju dan tak terlalu perlahan.

Teringat cerita kat gunung semangkuk bulan December 2015 lepas, ada satu group buat hiking trip daypack, tapi sorang member perempuan sangkut dan pewai. Kesian.

So, balik ke cerita asal, kita kena tahu kemampuan setiap ahli kumpulan kita. Kalau laju, tunggulah orang belakang, kalau slow sangat, tak perlu la ikut awal-awal supaya tak menyusahkan group korang nanti.

  

Selepas subuh, kitorang gerak. Macam ni la cara aku duduk, pening ooo

Gear Plan

Apa yang korang expect kat atas tu, kena lah sediakan awal-awal. Contoh, Sejuk - bawak windbreaker /waterproof rain jacket. Aku beli kat Karat Adventure brand Kopling - RM250, memang best. Tapi masih sejuk lagi..huhu.

Expect korang nak kena tidur malam - so, nak bawak sleeping bag, besar la pulak - beli sleeping bag liner (RM50) kat Karat Adventure.

Boleh juga consider fly sheet dengan ground sheet for single person - ni untuk next adventure tapi trip kali ni dia beri pengajaran supaya sediakan tempat tidur untuk elak hujan.

Emergency Blanket, water filter, plaster, krim panas, panadol, lighter, swiss army knife (beli kat Mr DIY je), wisel, blinker light, Head light memang kena ada

Kasut - aku memang tak suka sangat nak pakai kasut berat-berat ni mcm kasut hiking, aku suka kasut trail (boleh guna trail run dengan hiking sekali). Aku pilih Brooks Cascadia 10 (tu je yang aku suka).

Bagpack - aku ni tak suka sangat bermalam lebih 2 hari kat hutan, kalau boleh, semua nak compress dan daypack. So, barang-barang semua kena ultra light (ringan nak mampus). So, aku guna Deuter Speed lite 20 litre, ringan, boleh isi banyak barang. Kesian aku tengok hikers lain yang tidur bermalam-malam kena bawak ration (makanan & minuman), baju, dan barang keperluan lain. Berat ooo...

So, bila dah berat, nak langkah naik pun susah, tu yang pewai tu (ikut kemampuan masing-masing).

Bag jugak tak boleh la kecik sangat, tak muat pulak barang penting.

Baju dan seluar - dri fit la senang, basah cepat kering tapi bau tak hengat la

Head Light - ni pasal lumens (pencahayaan) sesuatu lampu, lagi tinggi lumens, lagi terang gitu dan lagi banyak makan bateri. so, beli yang boleh terang nak mampus dan boleh adjust brightness dia supaya jimat bateri. Aku punya brand fenix (lampu cahaya kuning).

Ration Plan

Makanan ni subjective sikit, ramai aku dengar bila esok nak race, makan macam-macam, esoknya muntah atau cirit birit. Kesian.

Makan benda yang senang digest dan sesuai ikut perut masing-masing. Aku makan roti je, kurma dan raisins. So, kena plan. Biasanya masa training tu, biasakan makan benda-benda ni, supaya dia serasi dengan body.

Technical Plan

Buat research sikit pasal Gunung tu, berapa tinggi dia, tough naik dia mcm mana, muntah hijau ke..gitu. Start dari elevation berapa, kalau dari kosong meter, memang azab la. Korbu ni start dari 250 meter nak sampai ke 2183 meter, so azab maut..huhu.Tapi turun kat cameron tu,dalam 1,500 meter rasanya, so, azab kurang sikit.

Biasanya kita akan stop dekat kem.  Kem kasut ada, kijang la, seroja la, last water point la, so, plan apa nak makan bila kat setiap check point ni. So, bila kita dah tahu apa kita nak makan, minum, kita boleh agak apa dan berapa banyak nak kena bawak.

Head Light pun kena plan gak, berapa lama dia boleh tahan. Aku budget 5 jam abis, 5 jam tu pukul berapa, dan masa tu korang kat mana, kena tau ni, supaya korang tak kantoi kat tengah-tengah panjat tu, lampu padam, so, beli bateri lebih untuk boleh guna 2 kali ganda.

Communication Plan

Inform la orang rumah ke, member ke cakap nak masuk hutan bila masuk dan bila keluar.

Dalam hutan ada tempat ada signal phone, ada tempat takde.

 SEMASA

Sebelum Panjat

Dari masjid kat ulu kinta tu naik 4WD ke empangan ulu kinta. Aku naik pandang ke belakang. Sampai tempat nak start naik tu dalam 10km katanya, turun je aku terus muntah. Motion sickness le katakan. Makan panadol, mintak kat abang jawa. lupa plak aku bawak panadol..huhu. Terima Kasih Abang Jawa.

Start dengan final briefing oleh Am (sos militant guide) - macam mana style hike, macam mana nak kekal dalam satu kumpulan, macam mana nak tau berapa jauh team member kita depan atau belakang.Jerit je, dan depan atau belakang kena sahut. kalau sahut, diorang dekat, kalau tak sahut, jauh tu, so, orang depan kena tunggu orang belakang.The best tips jalan dalam hutan adalah

bertiga katanya. Kalau sorang injured, sorang boleh teman, dan sorang lagi mintak bantuan.

Final briefing oleh En AM

Am akan jadi Leader depan, Arman akan jadi sweeper dan yang lain-lain kat tengah-tengah.

Elak Pacat

Letak le Yoko-yoko atau krim panas kat kaki (flanil, deep heating rub), stokin dgn kasut, gerenti pacat tak naik. On the way naik Korbu banyak pacat, so, selamat berjuang.

Mula-mula dah pukul bukit, tak tinggi, tapi muntah hijau

Ghaz (kiri) dengan gaya tersendiri melepaskan penat

Trail/Track Evaluation

Stage 1 - Trail Head ke Water Fall

Start 7.48am from trail head (tempat start mendaki)

Jarak - 3.71km

time - 1 jam 42 minit

Jam - pukul 9.28am

Trail condition : Dry

Trail difficulty : moderate, Start dia rata dan pukul bukit

Water fall dia cantik, ambik gambar tengah senyum kat sini, lepas ni takde dah.

Masa ni banyak pacat hinggap kat kaki. So, be alert.

Waterfall yang sangat cantik

Macam ni wak, tangkap gambar

River crossings - be careful

 

Leech checking every 10 minutes

Stage 2 to Kem Seroja

Jarak from start - 5.27km

Time - 2 jam 33 minit

Jam - pukul 10.19am

Trail condition : dry trail

Trail difficulty : moderate hard

Jarak from Water Fall – 1.56km

Time from water fall to seroja : 1 jam 9 min

Masih banyak pacat masa jalan. Tak face any difficulties.

Stage 3 to Kem Kijang

Jarak from start - 7.54km

Time - 3 jam 45 minit

Jam - 11.31am

Trail Condition : wet

Trail difficulty : hard

Jarak from Seroja to Kem Kijang : 2.27km

Time taken  from Seroja to Kem Kijang : 1 jam 12 min

Stage 4 to Last Water Point

Jarak from Start - 8.97km

Time - 4 jam 56 minit

Jam - 12.42pm

Trail condition : wet

Trail difficulty : hard

Jarak from Kem Kijang to Last Water Point : 1.43km

Time taken from Kem Kijang to Last Water Point : 1 jam 11 min

Jumpa dengan Mizi belantik (kanan) kat sini...

Kat sini ramai hikers tengah rehat. Wak jawa siap mintak curut kat Mizi Belantik. Kat sini juga merupakan last water point, so, sila refill air sungai. Lepas ni, punca air kat H20. Dalam 5 jam perjalanan ooo.....!

Lupa dah masa ni kat mana, tapi ambik breather sikit, makan nasi himpit dengan serunding, 3 bungkus aku bedal....lapar ooo...

Stage 5 to Peak of Gunung Korbu

Jarak from Start - 10.84km

Time : 7 jam 29 minit

Jam : pukul 3.14pm

Trail Condition : wet, muddy

Trail difficulty : hard, very hard at certain point

Temperature : 24.4 degree

Rehat time : 20 minutes

Jarak from Last Water Point to Puncak Korbu : 1.87km

Time taken from Last Water Point to Puncak Korbu : 2 jam 33 min

Sampai jugak puncak Korbu...lega

 Gambar joget takde la pulak

Atas puncak memang sejuk, 20 degree rasanya. Masa ni tengah cerah lagi, tapi dah petang. Tak ramai orang lagi kat sini. Lepas rehat seminit, ambik gambar, kita teruskan perjalanan. Masa ni, memang lega la sebab dah sampai 1^st puncak.

Satu la keajaiban dunia ni, hutan dia kat sini semua di liputi lumut atau bahasa amerika latinnya mossy. Memang tahap mossy forest gunung irau, lagi cantik dari irau sebabnya tempat ni jarang orang usik, Gunung Irau dah macam bukit bintang dah orang masuk keluar, abis lumut orang buat carpet.

Stage 6 to Simpang Proton

Jarak from Start : 13.13km

Time : 9 jam 26 minit

Jam : 5.12pm

Trail condition : muddy, slippery

Trail difficulty : very hard, upper body movement, watch your head

Jarak from Puncak Gunung Korbu to Simpang Proton : 2.29km

Time taken from Puncak Gunung Korbu to Simpang Proton : 1 hour 38 min

Cantik mossy forest dia. Rino tengah offer makjun dekat wak

Simpang proton ni, open space, kecik je. Ia merupakan simpang di antara puncak gayong dan jalan menuju ke Yong Belar. Nak pegi puncak pun 13 minit ooo...jalan lecak, tanah lembik.

Ghaz, seorang yang tabah menghadapi cabaran

Stage 7 to Gunung Gayong

Jarak from Start : 13.26km

Time : 9 jam 40 min

Jam : 5.25pm

Temperature : 20.6 degree

Trail condition : wet

Trail difficulty : easy

Rehat time : 10 - 20 minutes

Temperature : 20.6 degree

Jarak from Simpang Proton to Puncak Gunung Gayong : 130 meter only

Time Taken from Simpang Proton to Puncak Gunung Gayong : 13 minutes

Penat tak terkata, duduk sambil termenung

Lega jugak bila dah sampai kat sini. Dari Korbu nak sampai sini bukannya jauh pun, 2.42 km je, tapi dia punya azab naik, aduhai....mencanak kau!

Berjaya jugak sampai ke puncak gayong...siap pakai head lamp oi...sejuk!

Kat sini, kita prepare gear untuk jalan malam. Temperature pun dah drop dah masa kat sini. Masing-masing tukar baju rainjacket. Hujan pun masa ni, setitik dua je. Hari dah nak malam. Pukul 5.25pm matahari nak tenggelam dah. Head Lamp pasang.

Arman pun duduk termenung gak

Stage 8 to Kem Cerek

Jarak from Start : 14.06km

Time : 10 jam 30 minit

Jam : tiada rekod

Trail condition : wet, slippery

Trail difficulty : hard

Jarak from Puncak Gunung Gayong to Kem Cerek : 800 meter

Time taken from Puncak Gunung Gayong to Kem Cerek : tiada rekod

Nak sampai kat sini azab gak...

penat oi..!

Dari Gayong kita turun bawah, ada naik, ada turun, manageable la. Tak tinggi sangat nak naik pun. Tapi Cuma teknikal sikit di mana masa turun dan naik nak kena pegang banyak benda. Ramai team member dah start jadi kelawar dah tapi belum fully transform lagi. Dah slow, berhati-hati.

Gambar jam aku ambik kat sini tak clear la pulak. Blur...adui, suwey betul. So, tak tau pukul berapa aku sampai kat sini. KAlau nak ingat memang tak la...time tu ingatla, bila balik rumah, semua lupa.

Stage 9 to Puncak Junction

Jarak from Start : 16.33km

Time : 12 jam 47 minit

Jam : 8.33pm

Trail condition : muddy, slippery

Trail difficulty : very hard, upper body movement, watch your head,

pitch black, easy to get lost, began to slow down

Jarak from Kem Cerek to Bukit Junction : 2.27 km

Time taken from Kem Cerek to Bukit Junction : tiada data

Masa ni kat puncak junction ni...pergh...paling tension sekali

Nak sampai kat puncak junction ni memang makan masa, sebab gelap. Careful memanjang. Berapa kali aku terhantuk kat kayu, terjatuh terkangkang. Lepas tu plak, kena panjat-panjat akar kayu, selit-selit bawah pokok tumbang – dalam gelap.

Masa ni jumpa hikers lain yang sama tengah naik, bawak beg besar, pergh memang malim gunung la diorang bawak beg berat.

Satu section aku dengan Rino tak jumpa track, masa tengah naik. Satu kelemahan area ni, dia tak banyak penanda arah tu, plastic ikat kat pokok tu. Nasib baik jarak antara kita ni tak jauh, jerit “Am”, tiba-tiba Am menyahut, dia suluh kat kitorang, dah terlajak sikit kitorang ...kah, kah...

Stage 10 to H20

Jarak from Start: 19.13km

Time : 16 jam 02 minit

Jam : 11.48pm

Trail condition : muddy, slippery, rocks

Trail difficulty : extreme hard at certain point

Temperature : 19 to 22 degree (extreme Cold)

Jarak from Bukit Junction to H20  : 2.8km

Time taken from Bukit Junction to H20 : 3 jam 15 min

Temperature : 19 degree

Tengok tu sampai H20 pukul berapa, 11.48pm, Sejuk, penat toksah cakap la.

Masa on the way ke sini, aku beberapa kali lost direction, tak nampak rino kat depan, laju pulak mamat ni. Kat belakang aku wak, ghaz dgn arman – jauh la pulak. Jerit lagi nama Rino, nasib baik dia patah balik, kesian pulak aku tengok dia...haha...

Hujan sejak dari Puncak Junction – 4 jam jalan dalam hujan. Temperature drop kepada 19 darjah celcius berserta angin kuat jadi lagi sejuk. Badan penat, sejuk, gelap, dah malam. Kita berharap ada la orang camping kat H20, boleh la Tumpang kopi ke, shelter ke, Tumpang kasih ke.

Ada satu section ni masa turun dari H20, kena turun pijak dahan pokok, dan meniti sikit dahan pokok tu – seumpama pokok tu yang menjadi tangga untuk kita turun ke bawah. Memang scary le, bila suluh kat bawah, tinggi jugak ni kalau jatuh. Memang berdoa je la aku. Tapi team member lain bagi support, AM suluh Rino turun dari bawah, Rino suluh time aku turun, Aku suluh time ghaz turun, dan seterusnya (penat pulak nak ulang). Ada coordination di situ.

mossy forest...wak sedang memerhati organism yang berada dalam lumut, nak buat ulam katanya

Turun punya turun, tak sampai-sampai. Dah naik fed up jugak la, dalam fikiran aku, ni betul ke jalan ni. Last sekali sampai jugak ke H20 pukul 11.48pm. Sejuk bukan main sampai ke tulang.

Di sebabkan angin kuat, hujan dan suhu sejuk, dan berita mengatakan ke Yong Belar pun angin kuat dan sejuk, kita decided untuk rest here. Takut hypothermia kalau kita teruskan. Jadi, stopkan jam suunto dan recharge here.

Keluarkan emergency blanket. Selubung. Bukak kasut, stokin.

Terima kasih la kat hikers yang ada kat H20 tu bagi shelter dan tempat panas la jugak. Tapi aku dengan arman kena tidur luar. Aku tak kisah la sangat, dah penat, aku baring je atas tanah, bagpack jadi bantal. Sarungkan sleeping bag liner. Tidur macam udang.

Terlelap la aku di buai mimpi ngeri. Tapi pukul 3 pagi aku terjaga, sebab terlalu sejuk. Sekali hujan da, takde space nak tidur kat dalam.

Aku tidur duduk pulak, still sejuk. Emergency blanket aku adjust sikit, cover sikit jangan bagi udara masuk, pun ada gak yang masuk. Last2, aku buat total make over, adjust balik betul-betul emergency blanket tu, tidur mengiring, lena sampai pukul 5.00 pagi. Lega.

Lepas tu Arman plak kejut suruh bangun, aduhai....

Lepas tunggu semua siap, refill air bagai, aku pulak tukar stokin fresh, lega, tapi bila masuk dalam kasut basah, sejuk la balik. Glove pulak dah lama dah basah, sejuk. Jari kecut. Tapi fikirkan nak pegang-pegang benda nanti, tahan je la pakai glove basah sejuk tu. Pukul 6.08am kita gerak balik menuju Yong Belar.

Start dari H20 (reset jam balik)

Stage 11 to Kem Kuali

Jarak from H20 : 4km

Time : 4 jam 53 minit

Jam : 11.00am

Trail condition : muddy, slippery

Trail difficulty : hard

Jarak from Start : 23.13km

Antara Kem-kem yang kita rasa best, sebab dah nak sampai

Masa on the way ke Kem Kuali ni lah, suhu drop paling minimum 14.4 degree celcius. Arman cakap jari dia dah tak rasa dah...huhu. Memang sejuk! Walaupun kita panjat bukit guna kederat, tapi peluh tak keluar. Kabus je kat depan. Bila hembus nafas, macam keretapi wap...maksudnya betapa powernya aku.

Dah pukul 8.00am pun masih gelap lagi. Aku cakap mana la matahari ni, angin toksah cakap la, bertalu-talu tibai....dia punya sejuk, pergh....!!!

Start dari H20, Rino pakai seluar hujan, RM5 beli katanya. Yang kelakarnya, baru je 5 minit panjat, seluar tu dah koyak sikit.  Lama-lama koyak makin besar, aku kat belakang senyum sorang-sorang.

Stage 12 to Gunung Yong Belar

Jarak from H20 : 4.35km

Time : 5 jam 42 minit

Jam : 11.51am

Trail condition : muddy slippery

Trail Difficulty : hard

Temperature : 14.8 degree (extreme cold)

Jarak from Kem Kuali to Gunung Yong Belar : 350 meter

Jarak from Start : 23.48km

Akhirnya sampai gak kat puncak yong belar. Lega, dekat nak pukul 12 tengahari kat sini, tersasar jauh dari plan asal. Tapi nak buat macam mana, stranded kat H20 akibat cuaca.

Antara gunung-gunung di banjaran

Kasut abis lunyai, basah, stokin pun basah...layan je la..

Walaupun dah tengahari, temperature kat puncak memang dewa abis, sejuk gila! Menggelupur aku cari tempat takde angin lalu. Tapi pemandangan kat atas ni, subhanallah ! Cantik Sangat!!

Awan Kapas katanya..

Banyak gunung ganang kat depan, lepas tu ada awan kapas ropol-ropol membaluti gunung yang kita lalu tadi...pergh...terdiam la aku jap. Memang worth it, lupa segala penat lelah aku. Tapi kejap lagi teringat la balik...ha, ha...

Stage 13 to Kem Kasut

Jarak from H20 : 5.49km

Time : 6 jam 53 minit

Jam : 1.01pm

Trail condition : extreme muddy, slippery

Trail difficulty : moderate downhill, technical, watch your step

Jarak from start : 24.62km

Jarak from Yong Belar to Kem Kasut : 1.14km

kasut sapa tertinggal ni

Cepat la Rino...kitorang nak guna pinggan tu...

Masa turun dari Yong Belar ni , track dia dah start lunyai. Lumpur, selut, lopak air sepanjang perjalanan. Aku kena selut dalam sikit lagi nak sampai buku lali. Pergh...

Bila jalan je, bunyi ‘ceplash, ceplash’, bunyi “scrrooot” bermakna kasut tenggelam kena tarik balik.

Makan nasi lauk sardin...paling sedap di dunia

Masa ni jugak seluar hujan Rino abis koyak dah, kelakar betul. Sebelah kaki kiri dia tu koyak sampai pinggang, last-last tinggal getah je...adui...kah, kah...

Tengok la seluar rino tu...kah, kah...

Kem kasut tempat dia berlumpur gak, tapi masih ada hikers camping kat situ. Am dengan Arman memang kat depan. Bila aku sampai kat sini je, diorang tengah makan nasi lauk sardin. Pergh...

Aku pun di offer makan jugak. Apa lagi, siap tambah tu....Terima kasih kepada team uitm trengganu rasanya, sebab bagi kitorang makan.

Stage 13 to Kem Tudung Periuk

Jarak from H20 : 8.57km

Time : 9 jam 22 minit

Jam 3.31pm

Trail condition : extreme muddy, slippery

Trail difficulty : moderate downhill, technical, watch your step

Jarak from Start : 27.7km

Jarak from Kem Kasut to Tudung Periuk : 3.08km

Kem Tudung Periuk ni kira check point last la dalam pendakian kitorang. Lepas Kem Periuk ni, next ialah kebun sayur. Memang nak abis la. Tapi dia punya azab nak abiskan adui....sejam dua gak la

Stage 14 (Final Stage) to Kebun Sayur

Jarak from H20 : 10.67km

Time : 2 jam 11 minit

Jam : 5.42pm

Trail condition : muddy,

Trail difficulty : moderate to easy,

Jarak from Tudung Periuk : 2.1km

Jarak from Start : 29.8km

Keluar je dari hutan tu, kita berada di atas bukit, kat bawah tu Kebun Sayur Cameron highland.

Kat sini jumpa pulak dengan satu team hiker, diorang tak sampai atas, sebab hujan, sejuk dan angin malam sebelumnya. Jadi, kitorang di offer makanan lagi, nasi dengan ayam masak merah.

Apa lagi, perut pun dah lapar...hentam je la.

Bateri dah abis, malas nak recharge, dapat tengok time je

Muka Puas dapat complete...

Mari beli, selonggok singgit

Win photo....saujana mata memandang...kebun sayur..

Lepak kat sini dalam 20 minit. Lepas tu kita pun turun bawah melalui kebun sayur.

Dalam 5 – 10 minit berjalan, ada sungai, melintas guna pokok yang juga berfungsi sebagai jambatan.

Lepas tu masuk dalam kawasan hutan. 

Laluan paip

Berhati-hati, silap-silap tergolek

Lepas tu lalu kat satu kawasan orang panggil area paip. Kerana banyak paip besar-besar tangan kita yang berselirat warna hitam.

Kita terpaksa meniti paip tersebut, jauh gak..hantu betul. Tergolek-golek di buatnya.

Stage 15 (End) to 4WD – getting out

Jarak from H20 : 15.11km

Time : 1 jam 15 min

Jam : 7pm

Trail condition : dirt road,

Trail difficulty : easy,

Jarak from Kebun Sayur : 4.44km

Jarak from Start : 34.24km

Sampai lah satu kawasan yang menuruni tangga batu dan akhirnya sampai ke tempat 4WD menunggu. Lega.

Berakhirlah pendakian yang mengambil masa 33 jam dan 28 minit. Aduh, penatnya...!

Naik 4WD keluar dari kawasan empangan tu menuju ke Kampung Raja. 4WD tu pulak zaman perang punya (range rover) tapi kuat lagi. Gear dia rasanya boleh pegi sampai gear 2 je, mengaum semacam macam nak pecah gearbox.

Sampai kampong raja, mandi, dan tunggu satu lagi 4wd yang membawa kita semula ke Ulu kinta yang mengambil masa 1 jam 20 minit.

Jangan tanya kenapa aku pos macam ni...ni Ghaz ambik candid...kureng

Aku duduk kat belakang dengan Am dan Rino. Sepanjang perjalanan, tidur...tak larat dah...

Sampai ulu kinta, boleh lagi pegi makan tu. Lepas tu pegi masjid , ambik keta arman, gerak balik ke KL. Heran betul si Arman tu drive ke KL langsung tak mengantuk, berborak dengan Ghaz. Aku dengan Rino dah belayar dah. Wak jawa tak berapa sihat pulak, kesian.

SELEPAS

Evaluation / Assessment

Bila tengok balik dari segi persediaan, tahap kecergasan, barang-barang yang di bawa boleh di katakan yang aku mampu dan berjaya mengharungi pendakian yang extreme.

Tetapi, aku (dan Semua team member) gagal bersedia untuk menghadapi kesejukan melampau semasa di kem H20.Kita juga gagal bersedia untuk tidur dalam hujan.So, point-point macam ni perlu di ambil kira untuk next event.

Untuk menangani sejuk melampau – thermal glove, thermal jacket, thermal pants and socks kena ada. Cuma problem dia adalah berat sikit dan agak bulky.

Menangani hujan pulak, - fly sheet dan ground sheet untuk seorang (ringan dan kecik). Pun mempunyai masalah berat gak bila bawa.

Sama-samalah fikir jalan terbaik.

CONQUERING MOUNT TAHAN IN 21 HOURS

Conquering Mount Tahan in 9 hours was a grueling climb that had pushed 16 of us to the limit. Starting from Sungai Relau (Merapoh) at 9.15am and reached the peak 9 hours later (6.12pm) was one thing we could possibly never imagine. Crossing 8 rivers with wide, thigh deep and risk being swept away by the strong current, stretching your leg muscles with a series of endless uphill, descending in a pitch black forest with our head lights, braving the rain for hours all the way down with muddy trails, cold and wet all over and rumors of ghoul and wild animal on the trail put us on a scary shit.

Stranded at Kem Luis for hours due to rising water level prevented us from crossing over at 3.00am. Moving on a large pack during descending is a must to avoid any unwanted incident and improved confidence level. We ended the journey at 7.00 am after 21 hours of sleep deprived. Care to take a ride?

The brave hikers and guide

Background

Hiking one of G7 mountain is always been my dream. G7 is a series of mountain in Peninsular Malaysia  with a height of more than 7,000 feet. There are 7 mountains in total : Gunung Tahan (7,186 ft), Gunung Korbu (7,162 ft), Gunung Yong Belar (7,156 ft), Gunung Gayong (7,129 ft), Gunung Chamah (7,210 ft), Gunung Yong Yap (7,110 ft) and lastly Gunung Ulu Sepat (7, 089 ft).

Gunung Tahan, being the toughest and hardest of all, standing 2,138 metre, will push your mental and physical strength. There are several routes used either via merapoh or Kuala Tahan but the most popular one is via Merapoh i.e Merapoh – peak – merapoh.

I drove from KL to Sungai Relau Taman Negara Merapoh, 12 hours before the hike.  Slept in my car at the administration office’s compound. The rest of the gang scattered around sleeping near the gazebo.

It is compulsory for 4 x 4 to transport you from Sungai Relau to Kuala Juram (15km), its in the package. Later, on the day of your return, they will pick you up at your target date and time, please refer to your guide for arrangement.

There are No phone signal transmission at Sungai Relau office and Kuala Juram, please update your loved ones 5km before entering sungai relau which is at the main road. Its a dead zone here.

Sungai Relau office is complete with toilet and water supply – prepare your things here. You may find a signage for mobile phone signal available while on the climbing track.

Before Hike -Training

Training will concentrate on leg muscle, long hours and simulation 2 months before the hike. Gunung Nuang to Peak – 2 times. (Gunung Nuang) Pangsun– Peak – Janda Baik – Peak-Pangsun (11 hours). Bukit Saga-Peak-Bukit Apek Peak-back to Bukit Saga – 3 times. Gunung Nuang to Kem Pacat – 1 time.

Yes, the training improves me a lot.

Gear Used

Cap, Drifit Tshirt, 3 quarter tight, running socks, Brooks Cascadia 10, suunto ambit 2 wrist watch

Deuter Speedlite 20Litre backpack

Mandatory item : drinks 2 litre, emergency blanket (RM5), Lighter, Head light (with extra battery)

What else in the bag : 700ml plain water in soft bottle, coke 700ml, thin sleeping bag (RM50), bag rain cover, power bank, handphone with cable, suunto watch cable, empty plastic bag, heat cream, band aid, panadol, power gel 2 pcs, water filter tube (to filter mountain/river water in case of emergency).

Food supplements : 2 sets of egg sandwiches, 2 pcs of bread, 5 pcs of bread with margarine and kaya (sweet coconut paste), red apple – that’s it.

On The Way to Sg Relau

Sungai Relau (about 394km from Kuala Lumpur – almost 4 hours journey) is a location whereby all registration, declaration of items and completion of forms need to be done one day before (close at 4.30pm) actual hike. Luckily I have En Arman to help us to declare on that day. I handover the hiking bag plus the items to him before hand (thanks Arman).

Having tips from otai 

Ample parking space 

The gazebo and toilet are in the background 

The entrance to Kuala Juram, Our 4x4 vehicle will go through here 

The entrance to the office 

Nasi lemak for breakfast, nasi with lauk for lunch 

Those who ordered breakfast and lunch, please collect here 

Ishak, Man Abd Shukor and Syed having their best breakfast of the day

The night before, we were informed that the hike will start at 8am. Not as I expected for. I have to re-evaluate the risk that we will return back to Kuala Juram by 2.00am!

The Day of the Hike

The 4 x 4 should reach around 8.00am to bring us to the starting point i.e Kuala Juram. However, they arrived 30 minutes after. Delaying the hike, will also delay our return time...adui. There were 7 of us in our group Arman, Man Abd Shukor, Ishak, Jawa Terakhir, Syed, Ghazz and myself. Another 9 hikers were from different group.

Kuala Juram

We reached Kuala Juram around 9.00am (15km journey). Kuala Juram is some sort of small village complete with surau, toilet and few small halls (I don’t think there is electricity for us to use here). It is also a Kelah (type of fish) sanctuary (complete with CCTV) – the fish is protected. This is a starting and ending point. We will spend one night here as planned while waiting for the 4 x 4 the next day at 9.00am to transport us back to Sg Relau. We started hike around 9.15am, 16 of us with 2 guides. Ustaz nan (one of the guide) made a final  briefing and pray for 10 minutes.

This is Kuala Juram 

Nice and Tidy 

This is the surau where we put our necessary items for an overnight 

 The hall

 The toilet (no lights ya)

Kelah Sanctuary 

The briefing

Few Key points on the distance to summit

According to website www.tamannegara.asia , there are 8 check points we need to pass thru and the distance indication from each other.

Below chart is a comparison for each distance with my suunto ambit 2 wrist watch.

Check Point Name	Advertised Distance	Suunto Ambit 2 distance	Suunto duration and time of the day	Duration Took from each check point
Kuala Juram to Kem  Luis	5km	2.91km	1.1 hour –10.16am	1.01 hour
Kem Luis to Lata Luis	6km	No data (forgot to check, damn it!)
Lata Luis to Kem Kor	2.5km	5.64km (from starting point)	2.08 hr (from starting point 11.24am	1 hour 7 min
Kem Kor to Permatang	2.5km	4.57km  (7.07km from starting point)	3.17 hr (from starting point) 12.33pm	1 hr 9 min
Permatang to Kubang	3.5km	4.19km 8.76km from starting point)	5 hour (from starting point) 2.16pm	1 hour 43 min
Kubang to Blumut	1.5km	No data (forgot again)
Blumut to Bonsai	5.5km	12.2km (from starting point)	7.32 hr (from starting point) 4.47pm	2 hr 31 min
Bonsai to Bukit Botak	3km	No data (forgot again and again)	5.30pm	1 hour 17 min
Bukit Botak to Peak	2.4km	997metres (14.93km from starting point)	9 hours (from starting point) 6.19pm	42 minutes
Total	31.9km	14.93km	9 hours

The measurement according to the website is 31.9km one way, however, Suunto ambit 2 showed 14.93km one way. One of our group member, en Khalil's suunto recorded 35.78km for the whole journey i. e 17.75km one way . Well, since the route already programmed in my suunto, might as well I follow it. And it was correctly measured...I mean the suunto. So, follow the Suunto my friend (I might be wrong...).

Hiking & Trail Condition

Kuala Juram to Kem Luis

Easy trail, crossing rivers – piece of cake

Kem Luis to Lata Luis

Easy trail, crossing rivers – piece of cake

Lata Luis to Kem Kor

Moderate trail – starting to feel tired

We are now at Kem Kor - 5.64km from Starting Point

Kem Kor to Bonsai

Hardest – uphill all the way, muddy trail, technical as you may used all your core muscle, getting fall is easy at this stage as you are tired.

At Permatang Check point

At Kem Kunbang - the trail up to here is muddy and tough

Bonsai to Peak

Hard – uphill all the way, muddy trail, the air is getting thinner, more open space, you can see series of mountain surrounding.

 Mount Tahan in 9 hours!!

 Descending at Night

We started descending around 7.30pm, its getting dark. Some scary shit wild animal will hunt at night (hikers are prohibited to bring knife, when encounter with a tiger, just use your fist). Putting on our head lights and move on. The trail was very-very slippery. I fell countless times and as a result, there were few bruises all over my body. The head light only limit to lite up certain focus area in front of me, you may need to be extra careful. Thick fog will be present, it will also dampen the visibility but not that serious.

At 3.00am, we reached Kem Luis, unfortunately the river water level has increased preventing us from crossing over. We need to wait for the water to subside. Slept for 1.5 hours here. It’s cold sleeping on the soft ground. I pull out my sleeping bag (very thin, water proof, size of your palm when folded – I don’t know what it is called). I put on my handphone’s flash light the entire sleep. The rest of the hikers switch off their head lights to conserve battery.

All hikers except 2 (I think) have reached Kem Luis during this 1.5 hours. At 4.30am, woke up by Arman, we wanted to cross the river and it looks like the water level has subsided. After successful river crossing, it is time to walk, hike, cross river some more to Kuala Juram, situated 2.9km away.

Jebat (red shirt) and Khalil (yellow shirt) are so powerful hikers

Met Pak Syed Al Baiti at Kem Kor. There were a lot of campers that night. Fatigue, no energy, hungry, sleepy, disoriented at some point – were some of the results from the hike.

Sleep deprived - having breakfast

Finally, at 7.00am we reached Kuala Juram and its getting bright already. Washed up, had our breakfast and headed home.

Declaration back 

Part of the items in the declaration

Special thanks to all team mates who braved the rain, the dark forest, the river crossing, the hike and the Pacat (leech). You guys are awesome!!

I am self declaring that we have conquered Mount Tahan Daypack in 21 hours....yay!!