For those who have climbed Mount Kinabalu before: Did you notice that you paid RM7 (USD2.15) for an insurance coverage?

And do you know what does the insurance covers? Against injuries? Bad weather? Cancellation?

It struck me yesterday when I received an email from one of our readers, Tan Boh Seng. She was asking about that insurance issue, and I personally did not realize it as an issue until she gave me her story.

I received an email form one of our readers regarding other trails in Kinabalu Park. Swen Vetters wrote:

We (3 adults and 1 child) would be interested to visit the Mt Kinabalu Park just for some trails around the headquarter and maybe a transport to the end of the road just to some view points, but not climbing to the peak.

I posted 6 photo-blog post on Special Olympic Mt. Kinabalu Challenge for the past few weeks, but I did not have my own photos included. Oh, I also did not introduce to you the medical team that went up the mountain, volunteering for the health and safety aspects of the athletes.

I received an email from one of Kinabalu Blog readers, Wenky. I hope you could benefit from then answers that I gave to her. My answers would be in bold.

Dear Drizad,

Hi, I’m a visitor of your blog, this is my 2nd time writing to you. We have a lot of questions about Mt KK climbing which needs your direction and guidance.

This would be my 6th post on Special Olympics Mt. Kinabalu Challenges. After posting about the athletes, escorts and the volunteers, this would be a post on flora & fauna of Kinabalu.

Frankly speaking, I have never shoot this much photos on the flora and fauna on my previous trip up the mountain. Enjoy!

Rhododendron sp.

Ahh… We will not be able to reach the peak of Kinabalu without them. We will cry in agony if nobody help us on carrying our 32kg (~70lb) backpack for our 1 week stay here in Sabah. The Unsung Heroes of Kinabalu.

I would like to dedicate this post to them. I wrote one post on them few months ago, but things seemed to be viewed differently when I captured it myself with my Powershot A470. By the way, this is my 5th post on my trip up the mountain with Special Olympics Mt. Kinabalu Challenge.

My fourth post on Special Olympics Mt. Kinabalu Challenge 2008. Unfortunately this time, I did not able to reach the peak. It is not because of me, but more to the athletes. Some of the athletes were just not fit to continue. Almost all whom did not able to continue experienced fatigue and maybe mild acute mountain sickness (AMS). As the last person to climb, I have to stick with the last athlete and his/her escort.

I think this would be my third post on Special Olympics Mt. Kinabalu Challenge that I volunteered to be involved. The challenges of getting 40 special athletes up the mountain became more intense at this part of Summit Trail of Kinabalu - the “Rockface”. Rockface is a place where the jungle trail ends, and climbers of Kinabalu have to start using rope to climb. At some place you also have to scramble to get up and down trail.

These are the photos taken the day we start our journey up from Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata. It was a day climb, clear day up to Layang-Layang, but it started to drizzle afterwards to Villosa & Paka. I did get some of the athletes name and where they comes from, and I must tell you that they are the few last participants who arrived at Laban Rata. I knew it because I was with the sweeper team - nobody else would climb behind me, except the renjers, guides & porters.

I am back to my clinic today. After having a very exhausting trip up and down Mt. Kinabalu on Friday & Saturday (18th & 19th April), I am now back to my usual work. Feels good to be back, but missed the fellowship with other volunteers, Special Olympics athletes and escorts.