The Climb pt3

as with everyone, the last leg start at around 2am to enable climbers to view the sunrise from the highest peak in South-East Asia. i started out clothed to the teeth. with a thick jacket cum windbreaker, gloves,& track bottom and a headlamp.

the climb is still made up of steep steps and tracking over steep mountain face assisted by ropes. the ropes are placed there by park management as without them, only the braves of chap (=local guides) will be able to go up the steep areas.
also pulling yourself up with the help of the rope take a bit of pressure off the tired legs. after a while, it's gets warm and i pulled down my jacket's zipper to get some cold air in. only when you're on open area do you fell the cold that seems to be able to seep into your bones.

the last checkpoint is at Sayat-Sayat Hut (km 7 - only 1.5km to go). you'll need to flash you tag to the park rangers/guides stationed there and do the same as you come down. They will send S&R teams to look for you if they checked you name going up but not when you come down. a system they've developed since a mat salleh lady perished up there.

this last leg is very tiring as the air is cold and thin. i found myself breathing hard and could feel my heart pumping twice as hard (shortering it's lifespan). at one point i could hear my heartbeat and wondered if it's because it's very quite or i'm going to faint or something (as in people say when you're about to die, you whole life will flash before you). but i didn't faint or anything like that. just very tired and every 2 to 4 mins i will be taking a short break.

the places you rest is also very interesting as it's usually beside a wider 'path' still on a not so steep gradient. you have to always keep your balance as losing it will cause you to fall quite a distance. you won't know how long a distance as it's very dark.

due to the many stops i made, it was getting bright as i neared Low's peak, with 500 meters or so to go, you can see some fitter chaps already at the peak and a trail of lights leading to it. i wanted to raced there but my legs had other plans. so i had to be contented by just making less stops.

as i reached the peak the sun had just emerged from behind some clouds and it really erase a lot of the tiredness. beautiful bright red sun, busting from behind the clouds, cool air, wide open space, clouds below you... you feel like you on top of the world !


you take it all in for around 5 mins and begin to fight for space behind 2 small signboards, one in Kadazan language and the other says Taman Kinabalu, Low's Peak (4095.2m). guides yelling at those who made it to the top to move aside once the photo is take. it's quite a chaotic sight, as the area is really very small.

photo, more photos and before you know it, the guys wants to go down. it's really cold up here i tell you. really cold. ok......