Mount Kinabalu 4093m

Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in south-east asia and offers a unique climb from tropical luxuriance through montane oak forest to the rocky sub-alpine summit plateau. The climb starts from Mount Kinabalu Park Headquarters, only a couple of hours drive but already more than 1500m above Kota Kinabalu on the coast. Here is ample accomodation from dormitories to comfortable two person cottages. The climb is usually done in two days from here. The use of an authorised guide is compulsory while a porter is an optional luxury.

Many of the trees and flowers are unique or extremely rare but to the uninitiated novice in matters botanical there is no doubt that the pitcher plants steal the show. Even the most casual observer cannot fail to notice these impressive insect guzzling monsters with up to a pint of liquid waiting to lure and drown the passing fly or mosquito.

Just above the tree line at 3350m is a comfortable rest house where most parties spend the night. My sunset picture is taken just outside this mountain hut.

Before dawn next morning everybody is up and climbing by torchlight towards the summit. A steep rock step is aided by a fixed rope which, when we were there, continued all the way to the summit even where the way became quite flat. Many people have been lost on the mountain in the past, some never to be seen again. The rope and the compulsory guide make this now extremely unlikely even in the thickest mist. Nevertheless the early start is a good idea to enjoy the views before the regular mist descends on the summit. This is something which I can only speak of by hearsay as we enjoyed a rare occasion when the mountain remained clear all day.
It is not a good idea to climb too quickly as the wait for sunrise at the summit is exceedingly cold. The picture shows the rising sun illuminating the mountain's third summit, Victoria Peak. The arrival of daylight reveals the remarkable summit plateau of the mountain, a vast expanse of smooth rock with a weird assortment of rocky pinnacles rising from it, like the udder of an inverted cow as I have heard it sacreligiously described. By good fortune for the peak bagger the highest pinnacle, Lows Peak, is also one of the easiest. On the way down you can take a glimpse into the dizzy gash of Lows Gully which splits the eastern side of the mountain. With the early start the descent to Park Headquarters is easily done in one day, now with the glow of satisfaction of having climbed one of the world's most spectacular and interesting mountains.

.... for lots more information on the plants visit Flora of Mount Kinabalu

...... and for more information on climbing the mountain visit Malaysia / National Parks

........ or Howard Lim Chong Han's comprehensive Guide to Mount Kinabalu Summit Trail

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