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Summit
Trail
is
the trail that you will be using to climb to the Mount
Kinabalu
peak.
After having a nice rest overnight at Kinabalu
Park HQ chalet, you
should wake up before 6.30am and get ready with all your climbing gear.
Have a breakfast and go to the Kinabalu Park HQ office to get your
climbing permit, a name tag, your guide and maybe porter (if
necessary). You will be taken to the Timpohon
Gate,
the entrance to the
summit trail where you will start climbing. Buses are provided by the
park for climbers and it will cost about RM5 per person. It is a 15
minutes drive along the 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) winding and a steep
uphill road leads to directly to the gate.
Most climbers will start
their climbing at 8.00am from Timpohon Gate. After a short registration
at the gate, you will be surprised that the short first section of the
rough gravel and sand track leads down, not up, across small gully to
join the main flank of the mountain, and past the little trickle of
Carson's falls, named after the first Park Warden.
Timpohon Gate. This is where you
will start your climb.
From here the
trail
rises steadily as a series of rough, uneven steps, right up to the
overnight huts at Laban Rata (3,272 meters/10,735 feet).
Along the
way there will be 7
shelters (pondok), where each shelter have toilets and untreated
mountain water source. The shelters afford the weary some well earned
rest at intervals and the water tanks will make it easy for you as you
do not have to carry heavy water bottles with you. The average time
taken to reach Laban Rata is about four or five hours.
Get
your FREE Mount Kinabalu
Summit Trail Map here.
The PDF
version of the map is actually the route for Mount Kinabalu Climbathon.
If you like to downoad the PDF version, bear in mind that there will be
no stops for first aid.
Pondok
Kandis
The first trail shelter,
Pondok Kandis, is reached at 1,981 meters (6,499 feet), where excellent
views are to be had looking down to the coast (southwest). It is a
steep 30 minutes climb to the shelter.
My climbing
partners. You can
see that we are all exhausted!
Pondok
Ubah
Continuing along
the Summit Trail for another 20 minutes, you will arrive at Pondok
Ubah, 2095 meters (6874 feet). It is a shelter just below a well known
site for what must be one of Borneo's most unusual pitcher plants,
Nephentes sp. It might be slightly off the trail, but you could ask
your guide to point out it to you.
Pondok
Lowii
Soon after, an
overgrown track leads off left to the radio station, but the main trail
continues to the right contouring around the ridge. The forest becomes
thicker and mossy, tree ferns are abundant and everywhere the long
spiky shoots of climbing bamboo pierce the mist. You will arrive in
Pondok Lowii (2286 meters, 7500 feet) after 30 minutes of climbing. The
air is damp and green moss and ferns carpet the ground and stunted
trees. The trail splits soon afterwards, leading to Sabah Radio and
Television Station, a restricted area on the left, and the continuation
of the Summit Trail on the right. The trail winds through the dwarf
forest. Clouds often envelop the trees which festooned with ferns and
orchids.
Pondok
Mempening
After 40 minutes
you will arrive at Pondok Mempening (2518 meters, 8262 feet) with wild
begonias growing nearby. Stops at these shelters give you time to
observe the squirrels, tree-shrews and birds that seems so unafraid and
come looking for discarded food on the ground.
Ultramafic
soil-
distinguished by its
orange-cinnamon colour, with the shorter forest, dominated by Leptospermum tree.
Another species of Leptospermum tree.
Layang-Layang
(previously known as Carson's Camp)
Soon you will
emerge onto an open exposed ridge at Layang-Layang 2,702 meters (8865
feet), where a small tin hut provides a welcome resting place (though
not an overnight stop) for weary climbers. It was a 30 minutes journey.
Here wild raspberries and a view to the East make a rest or lunch stop
enjoyable. At this point a band of ultramafic
soil, distinguished by
its orange-cinnamon colour, crosses the trail and the vegetation
changes dramatically. The forest becomes shorter and much more open and
is dominated by the second species of Leptospermum that grows on
Kinabalu,
L. recurvum, with its tiny
grey leaves. This is also the zone
of insect-eating pitcher plants which Kinabalu is famous.
Pondok
Villosa
After about 45
minutes and at about 2,690 meters (8,825 feet), you will arrive at
Pondok Villosa. It is situated at the top of an open rocky patch and
soon the forest becomes more stunted. Superb vistas can be had of the
mountain towering above you as you follow the path upwards. At the top
of this open area at about 3,050 meters (10,000 feet), a
small
track leads off to a helipad on the right and it is worth making this
five minutes side trip for the dramatic view of the towering peaks from
the helipad on a clear day. Shortly after the helipad junction, you
suddenly leave the ultramafic
soils. The forest again changes back to
taller trees draped thickly in mosses, and orchids cover the ground in
between tumble granite boulders.
Pondok
Paka
Another 45 minutes of
journey, you will arrive at the seventh shelter, Pondok Paka at 3,080
meters (10,105 feet), named after the Paka Cave nearby, famous as the
place where Low, Whitehead and others slept before making the final
assault on the summit. The Paka cave, on the edge of a small stream, is
really nothing more than a large overhanging rock. It can be reached
along a rather overgrown track to the left, which continues above the
cave to join the main trail higher up. This detour is fairly steep but
takes only a little longer than the standard route.
At last... Laban Rata
Resthouse.
Laban
Rata
The thinning air makes
it harder to breathe, but the accomodation complex of Laban Rata lies
about another 40 minutes ahead. The Laban Rata Resthouse is equipped
with running water, electricity, a restaurant and indor showers and
toilets. Electric heaters are provided in the rooms
(in Laban Rata
resthouse) as well as blankets. This is the resting place for most
climbers. You can have your meal, wash yourself up and just have a nice
rest with your travel
guidebook to read.
made the trip on Christmas Day, some tips to share as return thanks to all the tips i've got from this great site: pack light, unless you're going to hire porter. knee guards and trekking pole/ wooden stick very useful for people who are not used to mountain climbing. panadol extra and maxolon/primperan (anti nausea medication) work well for mild mountain sickness symptoms.
also try the via ferrata (see www.mountaintorq.com) if you're not scared of heights, won't regret it!
Irene Lem KL
Posted at 1:25am on Monday, December 29th, 2008
It was my first climb to Mt Kinabalu on 18th December by using Timpohon trail. It was a very very wonderful experience as i finally made it to the summit! I will opt for Mesilau trail probably in the year 2009!
Norm Kuala Lumpur
Posted at 5:25pm on Wednesday, December 24th, 2008
Nice feedback & tips from other climbers, thx.My friends and I are climbing in March 09. Is the climb up a lot tougher than the challenge in the Mulu jungle to Camp 5. Tough but fun , except when it rains ..leeches and sandflies lurk around..
Abd Gani Paijan, Jailani Hasan, Isar Ade Labuan Liberty Port Management Sdn Bhd (
Posted at 12:44pm on Saturday, December 20th, 2008
It was a great journey indeed,...never in my life before reaching the highest peak in south east asia, I will be there at the summit.It was great a moment. Initiated by LLPM MD Mohd ALias Abd Rahman and OD Norsiah Abdullah,we carried the LPM 10th anniversarry flag flying at the top of the mountain. Thanks god Allah the almighty.
Jailani Hasan Labuan FT
Posted at 12:37pm on Saturday, December 20th, 2008
it is a life achievement that I will never ever forget the rest of my life
beauty ranau,sabah
Posted at 9:18am on Thursday, December 18th, 2008
i never climb mount kinabalu.So sad but true..well,mayb next time..
Thum Bukit Mertajam
Posted at 5:46pm on Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
Climbed Mt Kinabalu in April, 2008. Too bad, couldn't reach the peak. Took 8 hrs to reach Laban Rata. Considered a big achievement for me as I haven't even reached Bukit Mertajam (penang) hill top before. Experienced cramps on my leg and fingers too during the climb and also vomited after reaching Laban Rata and having headaches.No regrets. Novice like me are advice not to carry anything up. Use porter service. Just wear a wind breaker and use walking stick. Can try climbing stairs of min 10 storey buildings before going. Suprising on my way down, I'm getting much and much better and manage to enjoy the scenery and not earlier. Maybe I'll be more prepared next time ??.....
Abdulaziz Mohdali KL
Posted at 3:25pm on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
I was the eldest among our group of 14 people.My age was 56.The youngest in the group was 15 (a girl. We reached the KK LCT from KL at about 11 a.m on 30 Oct.2008. We check-in at Rose Cabin in Kundasang. The next day (31 Oct.) after taking our light breakfast at a small restaurant not very far from Kinabalu Park we proceeded to K P. We started from Timpohon Gate at 8.35 a.m. The trail from Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata considered tough especially after Layang-Layang for "not very young" people like me. I reached Laban Rata at 3.10 p.m.after taking nearly 7 hours. Most members of my group reached the Laban Rata Rest House much earlier than me.
shukur KL
Posted at 2:32pm on Monday, October 13th, 2008
I am going to climb Mt KK on 1st April 2008,anyone wants to join to make a group to split the cost?
email me at alone3180@yahoo.com
David Penang
Posted at 1:16pm on Friday, October 3rd, 2008
We took Mesilau route... highly recommended... although is longer than Timpohon route but Mesilau offers nicer view and scenery!!!
We climbed the mountain March 2009... now when I look back the photos we took... I still cant believe that I have climbed the highest mountain in South East Asia...
David Penang
Posted at 1:16pm on Friday, October 3rd, 2008
We took Mesilau route... highly recommended... although is longer than Timpohon route but Mesilau offers nicer view and scenery!!!
We climbed the mountain March 2009... now when I look back the photos we took... I still cant believe that I have climbed the highest mountain in South East Asia...
shan canada
Posted at 10:42am on Friday, September 26th, 2008
We will be climbing March 2009. Which LEKI trekking pole would be recommended?
Thanks!
John DEVON ENGLND
Posted at 8:42pm on Monday, September 22nd, 2008
Climbing on 22 Oct 08 for 3 days - cant wait.
Sarbjit Kuala Lumpur
Posted at 6:39pm on Thursday, September 11th, 2008
Thanks all you guys for the advise and info. Climbing with 20 pax in September 2008, infact 5 days time. Hope to come back with a good experience. Feel I am already there thru the realistic view on the net.
Guru Singapore
Posted at 3:46pm on Friday, September 5th, 2008
Hi,
I'm going to climb Mt. Kinabalu on 6th Sept.
I'll b reaching K.Kinabalu only at 9:30am. I'm planning to take a taxi and reach Kinabalu HQ within 11:30am-12pm. Is that time good enough to start on our climb from Timpohon gate? I've got a reservation at laban rata only on 6th sept. So, need to climb up on that day.
Kuna Negeri Sembilan
Posted at 8:31pm on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
I'll be climbing on 20th of Oct 2008...would someone want to join to split the cost?also, thanks for all the info but is there anything else i should consider?i've never done altitude climbing before and could someone tell me the type of fitness regime i will have to undertake?
Jai Malaysia
Posted at 2:53pm on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
if ur wan help to booking package 4D3N, 3D2N or 2D1N. just let me know..
hotline : +60198507730
email : lvg_dnl@yahoo.com
janice australia
Posted at 6:47pm on Thursday, August 14th, 2008
I am going to climb Mt KK on 3.10.08 on my own,wants to join forces to split the cost?
poohoo kl
Posted at 11:18am on Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
if you are going to climb mt kk around this time, i would reckon to invest in very good raincoat/ponchos. it rained a lot when we climb last week and it was really cold. we were wearing rm2.50 disposable raincoat and you can imagine the rain was sipping through the multiple holes in our cheap raincoat.
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