Day 3-Part 2 -- Reaching New Heights: Mt Kinabalu (4, 095.2m asl) Borneo

Mt KK Trip: Day 3-2- The Sweet Descent (28 Oct)

The whole day of activities of summitting Mt Kinabalu at 4, 095.2m asl and completing its Lows Peak Circuit Via Ferrata at 3, 776m asl are the most memorable (ofcourse) times of this trip. However, like other mountaineering expeditions; climbers must complete the journey by leaving the mountain safe and sound.

At exactly 1:45 pm, the guides have informed us that we need to start packing our things and the descend will commence as soon as we are ready. They have reiterated that we must start to go down and reach Timpohon Gate before sunset. They strongly discouraged us to go down late as it is not permitted and unsafe. Unsafe because it is tough to negotiate the terrain when dark and nocturnal wild animals are also starting to go out. We do not have a choice but to quickly pack up and leave the mountain smoothly.

Today's journey started when we all woke up at 1:00 am to prepare for summit bid and started climbing at 2:00 am and finish at 1:00 pm. We need atleast 3 to 4 hours to go down and reach Timpohon Gate. Sooner or later we will arrive to the foot of the mountain by 6:00 pm. So tough that on the same day you are in a very long hours climbing and descending Mt Kinabalu. However, it is worth it.

All set and ready for a " Sweet Descent"

At 2:00 pm, all things are packed and we started to go down. Really sad but we need to go down. We wanted to stay there for one more night to enjoy the mesmerizing view of the mountain but we cannot. Over staying there is prohibited for we only booked one night stay at Pendant Hut. Doing so will cause inconvenience to the other climbers. Booking for Mt Kinabalu climb can be done a week before for regular summit climb only. However, booking the climb itself plus doing the Via Ferrata must be done 2-3 weeks ahead of time for participants that will do the Via Ferrata will stay at Pendant Hut (3, 289m asl). A hut exclusively prepared for those who will take the Ferrata. This booking is First Come First Serve Basis. So must book ahead of time. 

Before we go down, we say a little prayer and ask guidance from God. We checked the time and temperature. Weather is also fine. We had left Pendant Hut at exactly 2:00 pm with fair weather and at 9 deg C. Full gear ahead; waterproof jackets and trekking pants on. Batteries for our headlights were also being set just in case we will be caught in the middle of the dark.

Hardcore climbers are so fast that they go down and negotiate varied terrains like kangaroos hopping and hopping from one place to another. My sister and I, also Mike and Moth are left behind. We slowly go down, chitchatting, enjoying the view and managing terrains very carefully. 

Tired because of the whole day activity, we felt that our knees are slowly giving up. Every step of going down is really painful. Really taxing. So taxing that our knees are absorbing the weight of our body. Thanks to our trekking pole that we can transfer our weights to the pole. Thus, reduce our agony.

Adding to the injury, we can really feel that we are getting weaker as we go down. Due to the high altitude and fatigue. We tend to stop always to take a breather. Our minds are saying go on anyway we are going down now but our body and our knees want to surrender. We sometimes joked that "Now what? Who told us to climb and now complain" and we all laugh out loud.

I can still remember that every KM or kilometer mark there is a hut for the climbers to rest. We also count these marks. Not just counting actually, we always looking for the marks both the kilometer mark and the half-kilometer mark. We take noticed of these marks since we are so tired and we are thinking that "o the last mark is near." Psychologically relieving somehow. Every time we encountered the mark we say "here comes the 4.5km mark, the 4km mark, the 3.5km mark so on so forth." 

I can also remember that we were the last group to descend the mountain on that day. Although, there were few mountain guides and porters going up and down along the way; the mountain was generally quiet and clear. We felt that we owned this day. 

What we have observed are animals like squirrels, wild boars, bats, birds, snakes, and wild dears. We also enjoyed the fantastic view of the mountain. I can see pitcher plants and plants that are unique to my eyes. We can also hear the sounds of nature. The whistling sounds of the wind and the branches and leaves that sway as the wind blows.

Half-way of the mountain, the weather suddenly changed. This is 3KM mark (2, 455m asl). We encountered thick mist. So sudden that we never notice as it changed. The wind blew strong and cold. We chill a bit. However, as we reach the lower part of the mountain (somewhere 1.5KM at 2, 164m asl) we felt the breeze and experienced the weather and the temperature of "almost reaching the sea level." But this altitude is still high, it is above 2, 000m above sea level. Anything can still happen. Actually Acute Mountain Sickness occurs at this point. Since we are going down, AMS was never an issue for us now unlike the time when we are still climbing this mountain.

At this point. The wind still cool but not the same when you are on top of the mountain. Temperature rises. Weather becomes predictable. So we removed our jackets/shells. Single layer shirt and pants will suffice at this point since we continue to sweat because we are moving. Our bodies become hotter.

The Carson Fall.

When we reached the 1KM mark at 2, 039m asl we can hear the sound of water splashing. It is actually the Carson Fall. We really thought that we are very close to the foot of the mountain. Psychologically speaking, our pace became faster. There was a point when we ran down because we were very excited to see the fall. 

We are dismayed to know that we are still far from the fall and far from Timpohon Gate. Our energy drained. However, we never give up. We just continue walking down at slow pace. We motivated ourselves that we will reach Carson Fall and the Gate on time. The guides told us that after 6:00 pm the Timpohon Gate keepers will close the gate and we can never go out until the next morning so we are really determined to reach the gate before 6:00 pm. We also joked that there is a big feast waiting for us once we reach the gate. I really think of foods. Lots of it actually.

What is this Carson Fall actually? This fall is located on summit trail about 15 minutes from Timpohon Gate. It is not huge but pretty high and very good for photography. It is also said that once you go down the mountain and you hear the water splashing means you are close to the gate. They also told us that it will create a psychological impact on climbers that are going down thinking that you are close to the starting point. Well, it is true. It happened to us.

After all these, even tired and our energy drained. We continued walking and walking and walking. Hopping here in there. Jogging here and there. Managing different terrains. Listening to music. Chitchatting. At last we have reach Carson Fall. We took photos of course. We take a breather and enjoyed the view. Thank God for creating all these magnificent views.

Fifteen minutes away from the gate, we continued walking. However, despite very close to Timpohon gate we still felt that we are too far from the gate. Probably because we are very tired already. Very thirsty. I finished my 1.5L water from my Nalgene container. Even a drop of it no more. So my sister shared her remaining drops of water to me and we continue walking.

Few meters away we can hear our teammates loud voice as they chitchat about our recent success on Kinabalu. I continued walking despite tired and thirsty. About 50 meters away from the gate I can now see them but to my dismay I need to negotiate a staircase up to the gate. OMG. I hate stairs because it is so taxing to the knees. I proceeded but on the last part I almost crawl to reach the last point of Timpohon Gate. At last, we are here at Timpohon Gate at 6:00 pm. Actually 6:10 pm. Gate keepers never close the gate too. 

The first thing I asked from them is water. They gave me water to drink. This quenched my thirst but not deep down body thirst. I shed lots of sweat and fats and muscles and cholesterol. Hahaha. Burned a lot. 

Few minutes had past our van arrived to fetch us and guess what our driver will drive us straight to Gaya Centre Hotel. A famous hotel in Kota Kinabalu. There, we will stay for a night and will pamper ourselves before flying back to Singapore on the next day. But before going to the hotel, we will still drop by to the Mt Kinabalu Park. We will get our certificates from the HQ. It is about 7-10 minutes drive from the gate to the HQ.

Mt Kinabalu National Park.

Before reaching the gate, we stopped along the famous overview park wherein you can take photos of the Kinabalu National Park and of course you can take photos and the background is Mt Kinabalu.

After our last picture taking with the guides, our driver and circle of friends; we boarded our van and proceeded to the HQ. On and during the ride and even before stopping along the park for picture taking I already felt lethargic. I felt muscle pain and spasms to my entire body. When I go up and down the van my legs aching. Quadriceps screaming. I fall asleep the entire ride from the over view park to the Gaya Hotel. The ride took around 20 minutes and when I opened my eyes here we are Gaya Centre Hotel.

After a long journey we will pamper ourselves to the beautiful and elegant accommodation of the Hotel. Surely, I will eat a lot. All inside my head during this time is food. I am so hungry that I wanted to eat as much as I can. Come and join me...