Borneo Island - Mount Kinabalu

UNESCO World Heritage Site

I was once stayed in Borneo, an island in Southeast Asia, and the third-largest island in the world. Borneo is divided into 3 countries namely Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia with hot and humid weather almost throughout the year. There are many adventurous activities you can do here in Sabah such as scuba diving, the wildlife at Kinabatangan River, a quad biking tour, paragliding, Padas river white water rafting, water sport such as flying fish, jet-ski, parasailing, and sea walking and don't forget to climb the Mount Kinabalu. 

For the purpose of this content, I am going to emphasize more on my personal experience with Mount Kinabalu and you should visit, explore, and climb it before you die. Why? 

Do you know that Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Borneo that stood at 4,095 meters (13,435 feet above the sea level) and one of the highest in Southeast Asia?

I have done it twice, once in 2019 and 2020. To be honest, it is not easy, but with a sufficient amount of training or perhaps if you're an active person, stamina shouldn't be a problem right? Besides mental and physical preparation, you must be well prepared for complete equipment and proper apparel. I still remembered clearly when I did not bring my headlamp and gloves, which I have to rely heavily on my phone while the other hand freezing cold holding the rope ascending to the summit. I can bear with the freezing cold in the morning for the next 4 hours (< 10 Celcius) without gloves on the summit trail, as my worst experience when I had to walk both sides of the Great Wall of China with only a t-shirt on, a thin jacket and sports pants. Windy, freezing, snowy, and freezing cold. My water bottle went from liquid to ice. Thus, my second trip to the summit of Mount Kinabalu was a smooth journey, "as a smart man make a mistake, he learns from it and never repeats it again" 

In my own personal management, I have divided into 3 different categories; Essentials, Important, and Optional. I have to plan things that are disposable and non-disposable as well for the sake of reducing weight throughout the journey. However, at the end of the day, it still depends on individual preference. Some might go for convenience and bring all kinds of stuff to the summit with the help of a porter. I was considered an "average climber" due to the number of hours I took to ascend to the summit and descending to Kinabalu Park.

6 hours journey              Begins at Tempohon Gate to Panalaban (Resthouse & Pendan Hut)

4 hours 15 minutes         Base camp to the summit

3 hours 30 minutes         Summit to the base camp

7 hours                           Panalaban to Tempohon Gate

20 hours 45 minutes, that's almost a day but it's worth your time! As "life is too short and you only live once for a very short time to wake up with regrets"

 Things you have to prepare in advance before you climb Mount Kinabalu are:

Essentials

1. Headlamp
2. Waterproof gloves with good grip
3. Warm clothing
4. Good trekking shoes (recommended waterproof shoes)
5. Climbing pole
6. Hiking bag & disposable Raincoat
7. Beanie hat & cap
8. World travel adapter (for the international climber)
9. Neckwarmer

Important

1. Personal toiletries
2. Small microfibre towel
3. Extra clothes and socks
4. Snacks, high energy drink, or food
5. Packed lunch

Optional

1. Sunglasses
2. Sunblock lotion
3. Medication (pain killer or/and altitude sickness)
4. Insect repellent
5. Sandals (use for wet bathroom or freezing floor)
6. Small power bank

You're required to wear your climbing ID tag at all times for the purpose of checking in at your accommodation, passing through checkpoints, and to ensure that Sabah Park authorities to identify individual who is on the summit trail and making sure that everyone is safe.

I will make sure that my bag is within 7 kilograms or otherwise, it will get heavier as you are getting tired. I have this experience where I carried 10 kilograms for my second climb and I have to give away some of my electronic gadgets to the mountain guide as a way to say thank you for being so kind to help me out in most of the time to the summit. Along the way to the resthouse at Panabalan, there are rain shelters and huts with washrooms in every 100 m - 450 m.

Kandis Shelter

1,981 m

Ubah Shelter

2,081.4 m

Lowii Shelter

2,267 m

Mempening Shelter

2,516 m

Villosa Shelter

2,691 m

Paka Shelter

3,080 m

Pendant Hut

3,289 m

Sayat-Sayat Hut

3,668 m

The Summit of Mount Kinabalu

4,095.2 m

After I have arrived at Panabalan, I have the opportunity to stay at Laban Rata Resthouse (2 bunk beds in a room) and Lemaing Hostel (more than 15 bunk beds in a room). 

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