However, going there has not proved to be a smooth task, I
wouldn’t say I have given it full effort, but I also won’t say I didn’t give
enough effort. After many years of absent from mounteneering, basically it’s
not so easy to resurrect this hobby because, first, there are no ready-to-go
kakis or companion like I used to have, it costs so much more and more hassle
when I’m not active member of my uni outdoor organization. Of course, it’s not
an apple to apple comparison.
Before Rinjani, me and my rinjani buddy planned to try out
Mount K for preparation. Mount K trail is easier than Rinjani, eventhough it stands
higher, if Rinjani is grade 5, Mount K is grade 3 in difficulty level, based on the testimonial of people who had done both. But we could
never secure a place in the rest house, until we canceled the trip.
Long story short, when a new colleague of mine mentioned
Mount K, I thought it was more than just a passing remark and it was. We didn’t
really plan it at first, because of leave problem and other commitments, but
when we kicked start, it literally took half a day from enquiring about it to
booked trip. I always like it when it happens, especially it’s something that I
know I would do, just when and with who. Anyway, far before that, I had clearance
from my Rinjani buddy that he didn’t have the intention to climb Mount K this
year.
So here it goes..
Thursday, 25th October 2012
(Note: 25th Oct was just a bloody ordeal story
about hiccup we had in the airport. You might want to skip the blahblahblah
yadda yadda yadda)
From steady unsteady planning to squeeze the whole climbing
processes in 3 days, making use of public holiday so we didn’t need to sacrifice
our leave (because I can’t too!) we found out that we need to leave office one
hour earlier to make it, since we needed to cross Malaysian border first
because we were going to fly from Malaysia. In my previous office, it would be
a very simple task by just asking my boss on that very day. But in the new
company, it would be best if we made clear our intention first far far far faaar
ahead before the actual day.
Anyway, a simple goodbye had proven to be very celebrated. I
felt slightly bad that it’s not Mount Everest that we were heading too, because
everyone was very supportive and cheering our early departure from the office.
We managed to book a private cab sending us directly to
Senai Airport, Johor Bahru Malaysia. The guy was a bit late and I already
started to shuffle my feet impatiently when he finally showed up. As predicted,
there were some traffic near the check point, but after that it was okay.
Good thing about traveling in a car, we didn’t need to go
down to clear the immigration, only need to make our head visible when
immigration officer was peeping into the car. We reached the airport as
scheduled.
It has been.. seven years since I last visited this airport
and it is much better and newer now. We went around looking for meal and
settled for KFC, with rice, big portion as we might not be able to eat anything
tomorrow morning. So the planned itinerary was:
Thursday: Board evening flight to KK. Reach before midnight,
overnight in KK town.
Friday: Bloody early in the morning before rooster manages
to cockle doodle doo, transfer for 2 hour car ride and reach mountain base
around 7am. Reach rest house before 3pm, overnight in Pendant Hut, Laban Rata.
Saturday: Even more bloody early in the morning, before all
the drunkards go home, climb the summit, sunrise, then descent by 8am start to
via ferrata point, and descent down and reach mountain base in the afternoon.
Travel to and spend the night in town.
Sunday: Leisure morning, afternoon fly back to Singapore
So everything got deadline because we were very keen on
making via ferrata happens. If we missed the schedule we might not be allowed
to participate in the activity for safety reason, so everything had to go
through as planned.
Of course, it was not.
After our big dinner, we went around for a while before
proceeded to the waiting room. We were happily chit chating about anything when
we heard the announcement that the flight would be delayed because of light
problem in the KK airport runway.
I started to have uncomfortable feeling that it’s going to
be serious, so delay sounds good. Airport problem can lead to anywhere more inconvenient
and, of course, it happened.
When the airline crew was handing out some refreshment, my
friend came back two burgers and weird expression on her face and brought the
news that the flight had been cancelled, everyone was told to board tomorrow evening
flight. If described accurately, there is some solid metal block fell on top of
my head that flatten it before someone throws me a bucket of cold ice water and
shouts in my ear,’Mount Kinabalu my ass. Never going to happen. As always.’
A few other passengers started to crowd around my friend to
ask her more about the information. I know there were no more other information
at that time, my friend even said that nobody said anything if she didn’t ask.
Still in denial, I felt too distracted to join in the conversation with the
rest and walked to ask the hamburger lady.
The classic f-up service that is favored by sneaky company
to handle crowd, is to put a robotic talking person who would robotically do
robotic thing and patiently answer furious question with useless answer over
and over again. That was what happen. So this hamburger lady would keep
repeating. ‘Flight cancel.’ ‘Fly tomorrow, same time.’ ‘I don’t know.’ ‘Please
show me your boarding pass for refreshment.’ ‘Flight cancel’. ‘Aeroplane not
flying.’ ‘Tomorrow.’
Nobody seemed like giving her more reaction that
shock and quiet, nervous grin, some actually looked like they were ready to
turn back and went home just like that, some kept asking same question with
same answer. I got very agitated with robots and asked her to call the manager
to talk to us, demanded more explanation. She kept repeating nobody was around
to talk to. Whoa! What do you mean nobody was around to talk to? What is the
actual explanation? Somebody has to explain. If nobody is around, CALL THEM to
get their asses here (I dddddiddn't really use ass word, but I swear it was so closssse). The robot tried to repeat the standard operation
procedure but I was done listening to her nicely. Few passengers now started to
speak up together to demand the manager or whoever who could give us more information
that we deserved.
Beside us, there was another crowd and thankfully, there
were some uncles who rose up the same demand with more market worthy loudness
than my impatient snaps. We were all gathered and soon everyone else was
speaking too with unison of demand to speak to someone who was not robot.
The rest of the night was tiring. From the lame effort of
the ‘manager-S’ trying to dismiss us, lame explanation and solution, to they
were trying to give in to the demand but worthy discussion turned into ugly
discussion. What I hated the most with technology was that everyone started to
raise their hand and point their precious iphone to record or snap picture,
ridiculous.
My friend acted fast to retrieve her check-in bag so that
she could get her phone to try to contact our operator. The thing was,
everything was planned and paid for, we were scheduled to climb tomorrow
morning and there were very very small possibility that we could make it,
therefore everything would be wasted, so she was trying to find out if there
were other solution or compromise that they could make for our sake. I was
doubtful that we could get their respond, it was already almost midnight but we
were trying everything.
There were few people in the passenger who
tried to reason with the manager, so that we could get better solution instead
of just being stranded in the airport, anything better than boarding the same
flight tomorrow night, we could probably got some earlier schedule tomorrow
morning or fly from other airport that is reachable from there.
Originally the discussion went alright with some hiccup,
then it turned worse when ridiculous demand are being made from other
passengers. I retreated back and didn’t want to participate anymore, and saw
that my friend managed to contact the operator, although we didn’t have rigid
solution yet.
Long story short, we decided to just abort the
getting-ridiculous group effort and did our own effort to secure ourself with
whatever early flights tomorrow, since there was no better solution. We went
down to the office and explained our case and the staff was understanding. Not
long after, everyone else went down to the office too and it became an ugly war
again. However, we had secured some attention and were told to wait for
everybody to be gone so that they could make good arrangement for us.
We managed to get early flight tomorrow while mostly
everyone else would be transferred to KL to catch early flight from there, they
needed to travel by coach tonight. We also did some adjustment to our coming
home flight, from afternoon we changed to latest possible flight, even switch
destination to fly back here instead of Singapore. Despite very little possibility
to climb, we still retained that tiny hope.
We pondered every possibility, from delaying the climb and
coming back, to not climbing at all to not flying at all, with consideration of
schedule, the availability of the rest house, timing etc etc. In the end, we
kept all fingers and toes cross that if everything come perfectly, there would
still a glimmer of hope that we would be able to make it. Small glimmer of
hope, but it beats nothing.
Funny, I had very strong feeling that I needed to buy some
travel insurance for this trip. But since we were insured by the operator for
the climb, I didn’t go ahead and buy the travel insurance. If we did, all the
expenses and failed trip or flights would be reimbursed and at that very moment
what I wanted to do was to kiss all the hassle goodbye, go back home, recover
my cost and try again next time. Instead, we had to struggle but it ended up
good and worthy to look back experience.
We couldn’t help but feeling that we were in some sort of
amazing race when we had to do all resources and wits strategically to get
ahead. And I was very happy too that my friend, first time traveling together,
was the sort of companion that I hope for, quick-witted, resourceful, logical
and not complaining. I think we might make good amazing race partner if we can
win by riding bicycle, bike or walk since none of us can drive.
Friday, 26th October 2012
By the time we left the airport, it was 2.30 am in the
morning. The airline provided hotel nearby for us, which to our surprise, was a
very good class hotel. Everything was paid by them which was great. We had
early morning shower before managed to get few hours sleep and board the bus to
the airport again when the sun finally up.
While having breakfast in the airport, we were still trying
to plan what we were going to do, because nothing could be confirmed. The final
decision was to fly to KK and proceed to the mountain base that very day. If we
were able to secure place in the rest house for Saturday, we would make the
climb Saturday morning and tried to catch late afternoon flight back on Sunday.
Plan A. Plan B is to catch Monday flight (with consequences of cost and leave)
if we couldn’t make it back on Sunday. Plan C was to stay in KK doing other
things, probably skydiving that I had been dreaming of even though I might have
to do it by myself because my friend was looking at me funny when I suggested
it, like every other friends. Haha.
Anyway, we boarded the flight and started to make promises
to ourselves what would we do if we were able to do Plan A as gratitude. I
couldn’t remember how long was the flight, I supposed by the time we landed in
KK it was around one o clock. We were picked up by a friendly uncle (arghhh I forgot
the name) and board the long journey to the mountain base, munching on
yesterday burger as our makeshift lunch.
I couldn’t sleep along the way, when we started to go
through winding road, there were a lot of churches along the way. At least,
there were church signs. It might be some modest village chapels, because every
time we only saw few modest houses among the greenery, but literary on every
corner there was a sign.
We opened the window wide and enjoyed the wind, the weather
started to get cold and finally we reached the mountain base area around 3. It
was much much better and modern looking than I thought it would be. Well,
overall, this is the most luxurious mountain climbing experience that I had
been. Normally the registration post was a mere single hut or even nonexistent.
This one looked like a mountain resort.
]
We went down and looked at a group of out of shape ang moh
and told ourselves that if these angmoh could make it down by 3, we would be
able to. Because in order to catch our flight back, we had to descent and reach
the mountain base again by 3 the latest. However, we were told that since we
were getting via ferrata, the schedule would be pushed much later and we needed
to be much more faster in order to reach the base by 3.
We still registered for via ferrata, decided to try to risk
it. After registered everything, we tried to find accommodation for us that
very night. We found one simple but clean hostel nearby and settled our stuff.
It was a very modest room with a window overlooking a
kampong house, the bathroom was communal, most of the hostel floor was made of
wood therefore the noise of children walking around vibrated the whole hostel.
It was pouring hard by the time we were inside, the weather started to get
freaking cold but I still insisted on shower and hairwash because it was a
luxury! I wouldn’t know when would be my next shower and hairwashing party.
After shower, we ran a short distance under pouring rain to
a simple eating place, ordered friend rice, sweet tea (my favorite in mountain
is super sweet), we chatted for a long time enjoying the cool weather. Both of
us could speak about just anything and everything, there was no topic too weird
because strangely, we seem to be the kind of person who bother to think about
anything and everything in the universe and question it. I got to say, I’m very
happy to find someone to match my gibberish way of thinking, gibberish in a
good way.
We tried to catch early sleep to cover the lack of one
previous night. But instead of banking in, I’m losing out because I couldn’t
fall asleep and kept waking up, especially during the night when there was a
big rat running around inside the wall and ceiling making a lot of noise.
Saturday, 27th October 2012
I didn’t prepare myself as much as I wanted to for this
climb, I climbed staircase and did some jogging if I had the chance.
I notice that getting closer to the date, instead of getting
fitter, I was getting more restless everytime I exercised. Recognizing the old
problem surfacing, I had low blood count and low blood pressure, the recurring
thing that happened to me the most during my teenagers year. Sometimes it
surfaced during adult time but not often. So the symptoms are starting with
light headness, short of breath, difficulty breathing, cold sweat, followed by
tunnel vision, vision went red, everything red, and if not followed by sitting
down might lead to fainting. It’s unpredictable when and where it would happen.
The only time it really screwed up my activity was during my
uni mountain climbing when me and my three friends scale Mount Gede-Pangrango.
(Luckily, only one time!) I couldn’t take another 5 steps up and had to give up
the summit and waited for the rest, it was a bummer.
I had been worried this time and it was proven to be back
not long after we started the ascend. All the symptoms were back and I couldn’t
explain how much I cursed it, when I finally set step on this mountain, it
happened. I felt helpless and disappointed, but decided to keep it slow and
tried.
So everytime (which is often) I started the tunnel vision I
sat down and waited for it to pass. We started early around eight. Claudius,
our guide was waiting for me while my friend was in front. We each took our
pace and it was a good thing to do, it would be tiring to wait, so as long as
we managed ourselves well, we should be fine. There were a lot of climbers
along the way and the path was clear.
The terrain was not a challenging difficult terrain, but
annoying, because there are gazillion of staircases. Since this mountain is
considered commercialized, more effort had been done to ensure that it’s friendly
to the visitor, although, for me, man-made staircase are much more annoying in
the mountain, worsen by the condition I had. The other terrain is natural dirt
path and some rocky steps. Almost all the way to the Laban Rata rest house, we
were in the protected forest with greenery on left and right. Only once or
twice we came across some clearing with breathtaking view.
I took one step at a time, surrendering my cursing spirit to
make it further. After a while, I suppose what was left is perseverance to make
it. I needed more stops but I was very sure I could make it on time, call it
f-up momentum, but there is a momentum, with every short breath, quick break
and dragging of steps, at least I found out that I still had that little energy
and small deadlines in the way before I had to stop and sit down. Every break
lasted about less than a minute because that is the right thing to do as the weather
was getting colder and the altitude was higher. If I took longer break, I might
lost whatever dim momentum that I had and even drifting to sleep, and all the
funny feeling that crawl inside asking me to stop.
It certainly not a pleasant experience this time, of course,
and as usual, I would wonder why would I pay to suffer like this. In my mind,
this would be the last time I climb mountain. Of course I miss the time when I
was still strong enough to carry gazillion stuff and big water bottles up my
back, but adding to all that, this time I climb with the funny drifting feeling
because of the megaloman low blood pressure attack that couldn’t choose a
better time. And worse, this time we had to climb with a deadline too, we
needed to make it to Laban Rata by 3 o’clock so that we wouldn’t miss via
ferrata briefing.
The distance to climb was 6 kilometer, most of it was
ascending. Our destination for the day was the Pendant Hut, 3,289 meter or
10790 feet, before 3 pm. Along the way there would be some map or small wooden
plank indicated the milestone that we had reached, 4 kilometer, 4,5 kilometer
and so on. Another luxury thing (I would use this word a lot) for Mount
Kinabalu is there are a lot of toilet stop along the way with water tub to find
your water resource. I don’t know the conditions of the toilet, but it looked
very proper concrete building from outside. The interval distances are very
generous also, so don’t worry about having to dig hole or find shrubbery to do
business.
Anyway, since business in the mountain is never been my
forte, I always carry a rock as I believe would prevent me from making big
business based on old urban legend that my uni climbing kakis share with me. It
has 100% success rate for me. For small business, since we sweat all the time,
there was no need to do so as well. In very limited chance when I really need
to do small business, it took a lot of effort because I couldn’t get it done! I
had stage fright to perform in nature. Mahahahhaha..
We met a lot of other climbers, some descended to
go back down. I met one guide who looked like he was coming from China, shaolin
time, because of his white long beard. I sat next to him in small wooden bench during one
of my break hoping that he might be some powerful martial art man who would be
able to give me a flying dragon push directly to the summit or taught me some
cool floating moves. I found out that he had been guide for 20 over years and
on the age of 50 over years. He was taking a group down to mountain base
(anyway, the day after I met him again, he was already guiding new group going
up the mountain. Hats off! But no special effect that I could learn to help
myself)
I also found few people who were in the same pace with me,
either in front or behind with the same f- look and we shared the silent bond.
Finally, amongst the fog, among my silent wishes that I
would see clearing with white building, I saw clearing with white building, it
was Laban Rataaaaaaaaaaaa. I finally reached, and it was not bad at all. It was
15 minutes to one o clock and we manage to climb so-called faster than everage climber. I
think it’s a miracle for me and realizing how lucky I was for almost all
previous climbs when I was free from the ‘attack’. There were still some wooden
staircases to Pendant Hut but finally we took off our shoes and walked into a
room full of wooden chair where we were going to spend the night there.
We were the first team to arrive, amazing race mood,
although I felt so light headed that I couldn’t feel like standing another
minute. We settled down our thing, grab for bloody sweet tea before got the
coldest of lifetime but the most luxurious shower in the mountain. With the chattering
teeth and numb fingers, I manage to wash my hair painfully among the
not-so-warm, collllllddddddd, not-so warm again, bloooddyyyyy cooooollllllllld
shower.
Again, I never stayed in a hut before, it was always tent,
outside, flipping and flapping wind, cold toes, nose tip and natural toilet or
spring. This time we were protected by a building, we had a barrack to sleep,
table to put hot tea that kept hot for a long time instead of holding the
burning cup on top of bonfire (I miss the bonfire the most) with gloved hand, burning my tongue before two
three swap of wind and it became cold tea.
We even had board game to play and cosy Christmas feeling,
clean hair, clean and dry clothing, even pajama. We hung around in the common
area, chatting and playing game while one by one the other team started to
arrive. I didn’t feel well but of course it was much better than the climbing
time.
Almost four o’clock a burly guy and another skinny athletic looking
guys came down with rows of ropes, carabiners, harness and taught us how to do
via ferrata. Technically it’s almost the same with rock climbing, climbing in
the predestined path that already had safety points. The first person would lay
out the safety rope and the last person would be the belayer. The differences,
via ferrata was mostly down and horizontal, so if in mountain climbing, the
belayer would be your last life line but they are standing solidly in the ground
(for basic normal mountain climbing), In via ferrata the belayer might go down
with you because they are also subject to the gravity when you fall.
Anyway, it’s nice to be introduced to all those ropes again,
and upon my curiosity, there are actually rock climbing on top of Mount
Kinabalu. Not exactly at the highest point, but freaking high. And of course,
you need to endure climbing the mountain, going to the top to just reach there.
The guy suggested at least one week expedition for rock climbing activity. I’m
sure it would be pretty nice and epic to do rock climbing there, where the
normal height is going to be added with overall mountain height where you can
see everywhere else around you. Wait until I find my fountain of youth or if I’m
crazy enough one day..
After the briefing, we were crawling inside our sleeping bag
to straighten our back while waiting for dinner. The dinner was served in Laban
Rata, and the dining area was packed with people so we just sit outside. It was
cold and windy, but it was nice and fresh. The scenery was very amazing that I
regretted a bit I didn’t bother to carry my camera there. We had lamb stew, hot
soup, those are the two dishes that I remember because I attacked mostly those
two only. As usual, I didn’t have the ability to eat in the mountain. I was
hungry, but I couldn’t eat, I tried the best I could and gulped down some lamb
stew which I don’t normally like, but lamb was heaty and it must be good to
replenish my energy and lost of body heat.
We walked back to Pendant Hut after meeting Claudius, I was requesting
him to start our summit climb start earlier than normal 2-2.30am because I didn’t
want my condition to slow us down since we had deadline to catch for via
ferrata or mountain torq. He agreed to pick us up at 1.30 and even said he
would appear as early as 1 am.
That night, again, I couldn’t sleep well. I probably got
just two hours of combined sleep and woke up before one o’clock to prepare.
Sunday, 28th October 2012
Claudius only appeared at 1.30 but we were all ready.
Putting up our head light (that thing look ugly but it was pretty handy) and
glove, brought water bottle, camera bag, raincoat, beanie and buff, we were
ready to go.
The path was dark but it was full moon. I always love the
mysterious night climb when everything was quiet and the moon was shinning
lonely at us. It was always a mystical and intimate feeling to be on very high
ground on that moment that I always treasure. We walked pass another small hut
before we reach the gate to start our climb to the summit.
In the beginning of the climb, I almost felt like my old
self and normal, the climb was almost easy that I didn’t had to worry about
tunnel vision and breathing difficulty. The climbing was unique, we had dirt
path, staircases and…rocky rock climbing, where we had to rely on one rope to
climb up the very steep rock wall in the dark. If you fall, you fall. So there
was an existing rope, we need to scale it up, relying on upper body strength
with the help of lower body. The climb was uncomfortable and not easy for the
back, it’s certainly something we didn’t expect and nothing like other
mountains.
We went through a lot of that, finally we passed the Sayat2,
a significant mile stone, took a short break, and continued to walk in the
clearing where the ground below our feet was just the rock, the body of the
mountain, steep, uneven, where I started to have my tunnel vision again. Damn!
We were the first to climb the summit, during the way, there
were two or three other people who overtook us. But it was the great feeling
that, eventhough we were dying, we knew we were going to make it on time.
So near yet so far, it always is. Everytime it seemed like
we had reached the highest point, there was another higher point beyond that.
However, the tease was not as bad as Rinjani. After a few of what seemed like
false peak in the dark, with one with overhang (I swear I thought we were
passing a cave but what do I know, my mind was mudded), it was starting to rain
and we had to scramble for our raincoat.
We finally reached the
peak, 4095 meter, 13435 feet, I think, at 4.30 am or around that time. After
some weak cheering, we were all sitting around the peak and curled into a ball
to protect ourselves from the wind.
I felt funny as I was drifting to sleep.
Remembering that it might not be wise, I sleepily asked my friend if it’s okay
to sleep. I think she didn’t catch what I asked at that moment, I know I shouldn’t
sleep at all but it felt unbearable and soooooo nice if I could drift into the
dream land. Regardless how much I fought it, I drifted for few seconds on few
occasions. My mind was telling me that we shouldn’t be still, let’s go, let’s
go but I was almost drifting. Luckily, Claudius also had the same thinking, so
when he asked us how we felt, I told him I felt very sleepy. Hah? Sleepy? Let’s
go!
So we started to walk down, didn’t bother to wait for the
sunrise, it was raining so most probably there wouldn’t be any sunrise. Anyway,
I think it would be extremely unwise to stay still for another hour in that
kind of weather.
Slowly we moved our feet and walked. The wind whacked us
mercilessly and I couldn’t feel my lips anymore because it was numb. My fingers
were numb too, and when I squeeze my gloved hand, I could fill a cup of water. It had
been that way since we used our hands to climb the wet ropes along the way.
Mountain dew, literally, but now it’s rain water.
It was not easy to steady our steps with the whacking wind
and I remember vividly that I was screaming in my head, Wind Fairy, have mercyyyyyyyy,
go and hide. It’s bloody cooooold. I love wind but now it’s not the good time.
It was still a distance in agony, curled but walking, with faint rainwater
dripping on our faces, step by step.
And then the orange started to appear in the horizon, the
rain stopped and we were standing in the middle of rock mountain with 360
degree, shadow of the peaks around us, the big rock meadow spreading in front,
the breaking sky, and then I remember why time and again, I chose to endure
these kind of journey, and at that moment I remember that why it was worth it.
We stopped for picture, even though my fingers was still
numb that I couldn’t feel the shutter pressing. We were all woken up by the beautiful sight that is so exclusive.
The sky turned into lighter blue, the orange appeared more like it was burning
the other side of the sky, sending glittering maroon reflection onto the rock
we were standing on, and the dawn was breaking.
We spent sometime enjoying the moment, taking pictures
before making a move down to catch our via ferrata. Going down through the rope
was difficult and troublesome. To be eligible for via ferrata/Mountain torq, we
had to reach the registration hut but 8. We were there by 6.45. Henry our guide
told us we could start anytime we want, maybe we could start at 7.30, but we
told him we wanted to start soon, because we still had another deadline, to
reach the mountain base by 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
We agreed for ten minutes break, got some hot tea, we were
met by a ang moh couple who were also stayed in Pendant Hut and Henry asked
them if they wanted to join us, they declined to start too soon and complained
of being cold. Daaah? Anyway, I was happy we were on our own, that means, it
was own time own target.
Going down to Mountain torq starting point was quite a journey
itself. We were separated with Claudius and followed Henry. The path was steep,
sometimes rocky, sometimes we needed to scale rope. We took another hour or
more to reach the starting point where, again, Mountain Torq is not for the
faint hearted, it looked like we had to climb to nothingness. We refreshed the
briefing, and I would be in the front. Behind us the angmoh couple and probably
another few people just reached and one was making a remark,”there is noooo way
I’m going to do that. No way.”
I looked at the nothingness and understand why she said that
and almost felt the same. So quickly I started the first step before I thought
too much. It did look intimidating, to descend down when you could see where
you might land if you miss a step or two, but everything fun is always started
like that. Also, I would like to make as big gap as possible with that group because
selfishly, I didn’t feel like them bugging behind us, with sound and noise and
whine, especially.
We made more progress and descend down, bit by bit
familiarization. As first person, I would need to secure the rope to every
safety points before navigating and securing myself with double carabiner,
allowing my friend as the second person and belayer as the last. Henry was our
belayer, he would need to watch for us and took necessary action in case any of
us fall, technically speaking, if I got it right, if that every safety point
failed to hold us, Henry would be our last hope, that he would be fit enough to
drag up two of us by hand. Wahahaha..
I was enjoying myself when I heard my friend also said “This
is fun!!” It was indeed fun and different. Hard for the back, as we sometimes
need to bend down in funny position but it was very enjoyable. We spent the
rest of mountain torq having good time and do the ‘two-line-crossing’ above a
valley. My wish came true as we left the group far behind that we only glimpsed
them once in a while but didn’t hear them much.
About one hour, which I think considered fast,
we finish the Mountain Torq. The record for the Mountain Torq is seven hours,
if I’m not wrong. It could be one person who held up the whole group and I
coulnd’t imagine if we were buddied up by other group who might take long time,
while all the time we kept thinking of the deadline to go down.
Anyway, we were lucky to climb the summit earlier because
when it started to rain, the official close the gate path to the summit and the
climbers who just made it there had to turn back and forgot about the summit.
We walked down quite significant distance to Pendant Hut,
happy that the first reason why we came here had been fulfilled. We took quick
shower, grabbed some bread, packed up, and Claudius was there. We were ready to
go down by ten o’clock.
Going down was definitely should be better than going up.
Although I always afraid of going down, I had got better. But, this time, the
descending felt like forever, on every milestone I kept wondering how come it
took sooo bloody freaking long. Our feet started to feel like jelly and hard to
control. We met a lot of climbers going up, offering them some smile and words
of encouragements.
I was feeling very impatient but at the same time grateful.
Looking that the amount of distance that we had to go down, I was really really
surprised that I managed to climb them. For the first time, going down
distance felt longer and more agonizing. Luckily my friend was chattering
happily and it was good to see her spirit although I was in no mood to
participate. When we reached two kilometer mark I was almost didn’t believe it.
You must be kidding meeeeeeee…still two kilometer to go? It got worse, from one
kilometer to the ending point was the farthest to me. My legs were wobbling and
in pain, sometime it folded by themselves without warning. If the legs were
listening to command, it would be pleasant, but they didn’t listen anymore, it
was as if they took the life of their own.
(note: we had extreme leg cramp for another week after we
came back to the city. We couldn’t walk properly. Every one step was agonizing
and took us a lot of time and effort. Handrails had become very important
feature for us. I couldn’t ride for a week, and everytime I see steps, even the
curb on the road side, it got me teary. Hahahahha… not exaggeration, I mean it)
When we finally reached, the joke to the final point was
gargantuan long stretch of steps climbing up, whatttttttttt….when we reached
the top we happily rewarded ourselves with cold Coke and waddled back to a van.
It sent us to the lodge where we put our other bag. We made it around 2 pm. We
made it!!!!
I had counted everything carefully and it seemed that we
still had time to make use of our unused hotel for a quick shower before going
to the airport. I don’t remember eating lunch, we straight away boarded the van
(smelly and all) to KK city. We checked in, go for good shower, we had time for
decent one and I had to waddle again like some grandma to some shop to buy a
pair of slipper since my shoes was wet, muddy and horrible looking. (but this
time it was intact!)
We made it to the airport, happily, board flight to Senai
airport again where the private transfer that we newly arranged the day before
sent us back to Singapore.
We made it!!!
From the possibility of losing everything and watch our
precious hard-earned money went to waste, we managed to do everything that we
planned to do with little bit of time inconvenience and only paid additional
hostel lodging in the mountain base. It is, I would say, very worth it. One
more thing to cross off the list. And no, I have not given up mountain climbing
yet, and I think I can speak for both of us.
And for my companion, I have enjoyed and treasured every
single moment and very happy to climb with you. I certainly didn’t expect it to
be this fun (I didn’t dare to put high expectation hahahahaha) but I am really
really pleased and happy. I admire the spirit and the wit.
We are the first team to arrive!!!
Actual itinerary:
Actual itinerary:
Thursday: Stranded at the airport, overnight unwillingly in
good class hotel, expenses paid.
Friday: Fly to KK, reach noon time, transfer to mountain
base, overnight in mountain base.
Saturday: Climb to Laban Rata, overnight in Pendant Hut,
Laban Rata.
Sunday: Climb to summit, via ferrata, descend, shower, fly
back to Senai airport, transfer to Singapore.
Picture from my friend, it always great because as usual I didn't bother to capture little things that actually matter, especially this time. So here there are:
Happy climbing
View from Pendant Hut window with my favorite game
